Kaitlyn McGeary, defense lead Wissahickon past William Tennent

LOWER GWYNEDD >> Wissahickon made quick work of William Tennent, 48-27, in a Suburban One League cross-conference game Monday afternoon at Wissahickon High School.

Freshman Kaitlyn McGeary led the Trojans with 15 points and senior Anna Schools joined her in double figures with 12.

McGeary did most of her damage in the third quarter. She scored nine points in the frame and helped extend a 12-point halftime lead to 16 heading into the fourth.

“I was sprinting back every time we got a steal,” McGeary, who’s 15 points set a new career-high, said. “Every time we got back I got in the hole so they could throw it right to me. I got a lot of rebounds and put-backs.”

“In the beginning of the season,” Wiss coach Rodney Cline said, “I think the speed of the game, the physicality of the game were a little bit of a shock to (McGeary). She started to settle in. She’s got all the tools. When you become a player, it’s not only the physical piece. It becomes the mental piece. Now she is starting to learn and get that mental piece.”

The Trojans (3-3, 1-2 SOL American) defense played a big role in the win. They forced 22 turnovers in the game and held Tennent to quarters of six, five, seven and 10 points.

“Give our girls credit for doing their job,” Cline said, “executing our gameplan, which we had planned earlier in the day. The girls played hard, they played together. They trusted each other and played with each other.”

After falling behind on a free throw, Wiss scored five straight in the first quarter to take a 5-1 lead. The teams traded baskets over the final minutes of the first and the Trojans took a 9-6 lead into the second quarter.

Wiss took full control in the second. Schools scored five points while the Panthers went 1-for-7 from the free-throw line to send the game to halftime with the Trojans ahead, 23-11.

McGeary’s nine third-quarter points accounted for all but two of Wissahickon’s in the quarter and topped Tennent’s team total of seven. She put in four layups and went 1-for-2 from the charity stripe.

The Trojans remained comfortably ahead in the fourth. Schools had four in the quarter and Leah Dubin hit a three to guide Wiss to the finish line with a 48-27 victory to get back to .500.

Courtney Bragen led the Panthers (3-4, 0-2 SOL National) with 12 points and Hannah Reimel added six.