Tomasetti’s shot keeps Garnet Valley on top
TREDYFFRIN >> Sam Tomasetti openly admits she’s not one of the go-to scorers on Garnet Valley, nor one of the big shooters on the Jaguars. A starter for Garnet Valley over the last few years, Tomasetti has experienced plenty of big moments as the Jaguars have made deep runs in the District One Class AAAA playoffs.
When Tomasetti’s number was called with Garnet Valley down one to Conestoga with under two minutes left Friday night, it was inevitable she needed to make the play to change the fortunes of her team.
“I just knew I needed to make a shot,” Tomasetti said. “We needed to get a lead. I just took the ball and shot it. There was no need to think twice.”
Tomasetti hit the go-ahead 3-pointer on a pass from Maddie Ireland with 1:45 left to ignite Garnet Valley’s thrilling 56-50 victory over Conestoga in a battle of the top two teams in the Central League.
The Jaguars (13-1 league, 17-2 overall) remain in first place of the Central with the victory and are in prime position to earn the top seed in the upcoming league playoffs next week with a season sweep of Conestoga. The Pioneers (12-2, 15-3) remain in second place in the Central while their eight-game winning streak was snapped with the loss.
Garnet Valley was in danger of blowing a lead that stretched out to five points after three quarters as the Pioneers fought their way back into the game. Sarah Masicoli scored her only points of the night on a 3-pointer to give Conestoga a 47-46 lead with 3:34 to play. The lead was the Pioneers’ first since an Ellie Mack layup put them up 32-31 early in the third quarter.
After Conestoga turned the ball over for the second time in its last three possessions trying to extend the lead, Garnet Valley head coach Joe Woods called a timeout to design a play. Tomasetti’s shooting “weakness” played in his favor.
Ireland took three dribbles in the lane and passed the ball off to Tomasetti on the right wing for the open look. Tomasetti buried the 3-pointer to put the Jaguars up 49-47 and they never looked back.
“Conestoga scouted us as well as we scouted them,” Woods said. “They probably thought when Sam was open to let her shoot and take the chance. She knocked the three down and that was huge.”
“Garnet has a next-man-up mentality and she (Tomasetti) happened to be it,” Conestoga head coach Chris Jeffries said. “I expect every shot that team takes to go in. I don’t care who takes it. They’re a good team and make you pay if they leave a player open. She made a great shot. I give her and that team a lot of credit.”
The shot was vindication for Tomasetti who had to sit the majority of the game after collecting three fouls in the first half. Tomasetti’s 3-pointer was her first and only field goal of the night.
“It was hard to sit, but I like to be there cheering my teammates on,” Tomasetti said. “I felt the opportunity to contribute would be there at the end of the game and luckily it was.”
The Pioneers turned the ball over on their next possession which put Garnet Valley in the position to control the clock. The Jaguars capitalized, hitting 3 of 4 free throws to make it a two-possession game with under a minute to play. Up 53-48 with 29.2 seconds left, Ireland stole a long inbounds pass to seal the win and first place for Garnet Valley.
Maria Koblish led Conestoga with a career-high 20 points. Mack finished with 19 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks.
“It’s amazing to be back in first,” Tomasetti said. “After the loss to Springfield, we needed to keep going and win out the rest of the way. We’re close to accomplishing that.”
In other Central League games:
Springfield 46, Radnor 39 >> Bell Mastropietro hit a layup with less than a minute to go, giving the Cougars the lead for good. In the final minute, Masdtropietro (12 points, four assists, four steals) was 5-for-6 from the free-throw line to help seal the win. Jordan D’Ambrosio (16 points) drained a 3-pointer late to help spark the Cougars’ comeback. Maggie O’Connell added nine points and three assists.
Kristin Hamill scored 17 points for Radnor.
Marple Newtown 38, Penncrest 25 >> Natalie Ayoub had 10 points, seven rebounds and three blocks to pace the Tigers, who outscored the visiting Lions, 14-3, in the fourth quarter. Halle Robinson chipped in nine points and Julia Lynch added eight.
Grace Harding led Penncrest with six points.
Ridley 67, Upper Darby 34 >> Hailee Mayer scored a career-hiogh 20 points in the win for the Green Raiders (8-11, 5-9). Izzy hamlin registered a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Mel Malseed added nine points and seven boards.
Kaliesha Stevens had a team-high 11 points for the Royals.
Haverford 42, Lower Merion 31 >> The visiting Fords did most of their damage in the second half, scoring 29 points. Amanda Battista led the way with 13 points and Ashley Murphy tossed in 12.
Harriton 63, Strath Haven 59 >> Katie Fisher had 26 points in the losing effort for the Panthers.
