Plymouth Whitemarsh rolls over Harriton
WHITEMARSH >> After allowing a layup on the game’s opening possession, Plymouth Whitemarsh scored 18 straight points and forced eight first-quarter turnovers against Harriton Friday night.
The Colonials built a 16-point lead after the first quarter behind nine points from Anna McTamney and the rout was on.
PW maintained a comfortable advantage the rest of the way and cruised to a 71-41 win on opening night of the 7th Annual Lady Colonials Holiday Tournament at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School’s Gym West.
The Colonials will look for their sixth straight tournament title when they face West Chester East, a 51-40 winner of William Tennent, for the championship Saturday at 4 p.m.
It was the Plymouth Whitemarsh defense and McTamney that allowed the hosts to build the first-quarter cushion.
PW forced eight of its 18 turnovers in the first quarter and converted most of them into quick points. The Colonials defense stole inbounds passes, forced bad decisions and barely allowed the Rams to cross halfcourt in the opening eight minutes.
“We’re very athletic and deep,” PW coach Dan Dougherty said. “Especially with Anna McTamney, Sydney Kesselman, Lainey Allen when she comes in and Gabby Cooper — they’re just so long. They get their hands on so many passes and Kate Flanagan does a great job in the middle of the pressure reading the kids’ eyes and jumping to that next pass. I feel like she had maybe four steals in the first quarter.”
McTamney scored nine points in the first quarter to help the Colonials build a 23-7 lead and didn’t slow down. She added 14 more points in the second quarter to send her side to intermission with a 43-14 edge.
“In the first half Anna McTamney finishing at the basket was special,” Dougherty said. “Through contact, getting a couple of and-ones — she had 20-plus points in the first half.
“She has a really solid all-around game.”
McTamney, a sophomore, finished with a game and career-high 28 points despite not finishing the third quarter and sitting the entire fourth.
“In the beginning we pressed very well,” McTamney said. “Everyone else was contributing a lot and they passed a lot. They gave it right to me. Very good team effort.”
Kristina Brown led Harriton with 22 points.
The Rams will face William Tennent in the third place game Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
