The Baldwin girls basketball team came out on top in a tight game during the first round of WPIAL playoffs, beating Chartiers Valley on Friday, 73-72.
Sophomore Kelsey Meyer said getting the win was exciting and helped boost the team’s morale.
“It was really exciting because Baldwin hasn’t won the first round of playoffs for the first time in years,” Meyer said of the girls’ team. “It was amazing for all of us and it showed how we improved over the season and years.”
After going back and forth in the first half, Chartiers Valley got a lead in the third quarter, but Baldwin started to pick up points again during the fourth quarter.
“We got quick baskets and Lynsey (Bernotas) had a bunch of and-ones to get us all excited,” Meyer said. “She kept the momentum going in the fourth quarter.”
Earlier in the game, Chartiers Valley challenged the Highlanders’ defense.
“We need to work on our help defense,” Meyer said. “Whenever Chartiers Valley was attacking, they would have easy passes to the opposite blocks. They had easy buckets under the hoop because we weren’t having the helper on the opposite block to keep them from getting points.”
Bernotas and junior Jules Ott led the scoring for Baldwin.
“Jules Ott had over 30 points. She definitely kept us in the game and just gave us a bunch of points,” Meyer said.
One of the reasons Ott could score so many points was due to the team’s passing.
“We did well with sharing the ball and pushing the ball in transition,” Meyer said. “A lot of our points were off layups and just attacking the hoop strong and going through contact.”
Baldwin’s next opponent is South Fayette, ranked first in the class 5A playoffs. Meyer said the Highlanders must be focused and refine their game further.
“Our mindset getting into our next game is definitely just being focused on the little things like making even one more pass or being at help defense,” Meyer said. “We really have to play together as a team and just focus.”
The second-round game against South Fayette will be played at Mt. Lebanon on Wednesday, 7:30 P.M.
