Vesey leads Mount St. Joseph past Harriton in District 1-5A first round

SPRINGFIELD >> In its District 1-5A Playoff opener against Harriton, Mount St. Joseph’s offensive engine was smooth and efficient, and Lauren Vesey was the fuel.

“That’s what a senior captain does for ya,” Magic coach Matt Feeney said.

Vesey did a little bit of everything, getting her teammates involved and hitting many shots of her own for a game-high 17 points, as fifth-seeded Mount earned a 45-35 victory over the No. 12 Rams.

The win advances Mount to a Friday quarterfinal at No. 4 Villa Maria. The winner clinches a spot in states and the loser of that contest will enter playbacks (six teams advance).

Vesey was the catalyst in Mount’s early surge, as the Magic led by 14 going into the half.

“It was definitely one of my stronger games this season,” she said. “I had been struggling a little bit with my shooting but I had been working on that, and going into districts, I know it’s important that I get more points up, and doing that as well as maintaining my role as point guard.”

Running Early >> Mount had to wait a little over two minutes for its first points of the night, but after that the Magic began to flow.

Vesey was finding people, and setting them up for easy baskets.

She hit Kelly Rothenberg cutting to the hoop to open the scoring, and soon after made a steal and passed to Grace Morrow for another basket.

“We’re a lot harder to defend as a team when we can get everyone involved,” Vesey said. “We can get five players on the court who can all play together. So I think getting everyone the ball, giving them the opportunity to be a threat really helps us to spread the court and spread the defense.”

A Grace Niekelski-to-Vesey-to-Rothenberg fast break increased the early advantage for Mount.

Harriton (11-13) hit a couple threes in the first quarter, courtesy of Mady Calhoun and Annie Aspesi.

But Niekelski scored in transition, Rothenberg drove to the hoop, and Vesey hit a three to give the Magic a 14-6 lead at the end of the first.

Mount continued its run into the second quarter.

Vesey drove baseline to extend the lead, and Audrey Bryce scored off a rebound to widen the gap to 24-8.

Kira Farmer drove hard to the hoop at the other end for the Rams, making it a 24-10 difference at the half.

“We pushed the ball really well and we applied some pressure,” Feeney said of the first-half. “And that helped us get into the game.”

Locking It Up >> The Magic put the game away in the third.

Mount’s defense continued to make Harriton uncomfortable and didn’t allow the visitors to find a rhythm.

The Magic created more breathing room when Vesey connected from three-point range, making it 27-10, and then Vesey scored on a fast break moments later to provide a 29-10 cushion.

To that point in the contest, all but three Mount baskets were off assists, testament to their crsip ball movement.

Vesey’s big game continued when she took it coast to coast to give Mount a 33-14 advantage, and it would be 35-19 Magic entering the fourth.

Harriton got within 10 late, but Mount led by double digits for the entire final frame.

Moving On >> Mount (18-7) wants to break through to states.

“We’re definitely excited for (Villa),” Vesey said. “We lost to them last time so we definitely owe them one.”

“They’re a (Catholic Academies League) opponent, a really good basketball team,” Feeney said. “We played them twice this season (going 1-1) so there’s no real surprises.”

Making Strides >> Despite the loss, Harriton, led by junior Lexy Calhoun’s 12 points, is headed in the right direction.

“This was a work in progress. I had a team that had not been very successful, and with the help of Ava (Paternoster) and Kira (Farmer), my seniors, (it was a good year),” Rams coach Chris Wielgus said. “These guys are very young. We’ve got a lot of young players involved in the program, and we’re just trying to build through the J.V.

“There was no J.V. program until we got there. So we’re trying to build the program and the interest in it. We’re really proud that we’ve been able to make it to districts twice – that’s not happened at Harriton in a long time – and to make it to the Central League Tournament. Upsetting Garnet Valley was a good thing for us.”

District 1-5A First Round
Mount St. Joseph 45, Harriton 35
(12) Harriton 6 4 9 16 – 35
(5) Mount 14 10 11 10 – 45
Harriton: Maretta Smith 1 1-6 4; Lexy Calhoun 4 0-0 12; Annie Aspesi 4 0-0 10; Mady Calhoun 2 0-0 6; Kira Farmer 1 0-0 2; Alexia Louca 0 1-2 1. Totals 12 2-8 35.
Mount: Audrey Bryce 1 2-4 4; Kelly Rothenberg 3 0-0 6; Taylor Sistrunk 1 1-2 3; Lauren Vesey 7 1-2 17; Grace Niekelski 3 0-0 7; Danielle Dodaro 1 0-0 2; Georgia Pickett 2 0-0 4; Grace Morrow 1 0-0 2. Totals 19 4-8 45.
3-pointers: H-Smith, L. Calhoun 4, Aspesi 2, M. Calhoun 2; M-Vesey 2, Niekelski.