Wissahickon’s defense too tough for Springfield-Montco

SPRINGFIELD >> Wissahickon girls basketball coach Rodney Cline likens his team’s defense to an amoeba.

Tuesday night, that amoeba spread out and handed the Trojans a come-from-behind 46-34 win over Springfield in a Suburban One League American Conference contest.

Victoriai Selverian had 14 points and Brianna Tilghman added 11 as the Trojans rallied from a first-half deficit and outlasted their hosts in the second half.

“It was all about our defense,” Cline said. “We were able to pressure them into mistakes, and then take advantage of their errors.

“That’s been the key to our success so far this season.”

The Trojans blew open a close game with a run at the end of the second quarter, then coasted in the second half to the victory.

The first half was a battle of streaks.

The Trojans went up quickly, 5-0, only to see the Spartans seize a 9-5 edge behind six points from Molly Dugan.

Springfield held that advantage until the second half of the second quarter, which saw the Trojans run off 11 of the half’s final 12 points to take a 22-14 lead into the break.

Victoria Selverian led Wissahickon with eight points in the first half while Dugan had 10 for the home team.

The second half was owned by the Trojans who got four points from Selverian en route to 34-24 lead  entering the final quarter.

Tilghman and Juliannie Griffin each had three points in the final quarter to help keep the Spartans at bay.

“Our offense comes off our defense,” Cline said. “This is a special team in that we care about each other.

“But on the floor, it’s all about our defense.”

Dugan, fresh off scoring her 1,000th point in a recent game, led the Spartans with a game-high 18 points.

Wissahickon 46, Springfield 34
Wissahickon 6 16 14 10 — 46
Springfield  9 5 10- 10 — 34
Wissahickon: Brianna Tilghman 3 4-6 10; Sydney Ott 2 0-0 4; Julianne Griffin 1 6-8 8; Victoria Selverian 5 4-6 14; Carly Fadei 1 0-0 2; Jasmine Bishop 2 0-2 4; Hilma Melby 1 1-2 4; Lexie Carradorini 0 0-0 0; Carolina Mack 0 0-0 0  Totals 15 15-24 46.
Springfield: Molly Dugan 6 5-5 18; Jameson Krewson 1 0-0 2; Mary Kate Smith 0 1-2 1; Siana Wynn 0 1-4 1; Grace Barraclough 4 1-4 10; Rileigh Serroni 1 0-0 2.. Totals 12  8-15 34.
3-pointers: Melby; Dugan; Barraclough.