As Hershey continued to stretch their lead on Friday night, coach Randy Gambelunghe was able to nearly empty his bench with victory in hand.
The way things were clicking for the Trojans, he could have trotted out the eighth grade team and been competitive.
The Trojans were hitting on all cylinders at their home tournament, and dominated Gettysburg 68-26 to earn the Hershey Holiday Tournament title.
“They’re such good teammates to each other on and off the court. It just seems like right now that was like clock work. Everything they did wasn’t even coachable, it just happens,” Gambelunghe said. “They really are turning into a true team so it’s pleasing to coach that.”
If the comradery pleased the first year coach, the offensive production should have had him downright giddy. Ten different Trojans found the score sheet in the blowout, but none was more deadly than Victoria Blackburn.
The senior point guard was hotter than a firecracker in the first half pouring in 19 points. Blackburn connected on 5-of-6 from beyond the arc including a buzzer-beater to cap off a 21-8 first quarter.
“I’ve been off recently so I just thought keep shooting it, and they fell this game,” she said. “This game was kind of weird, I felt like most teams have a girl in my face, but this team they packed it in and gave me the opportunity. We were just running motion the whole time and I was open on the perimeter.”
While Blackburn’s perimeter shooting was lethal, senior Libby Nolan patroled the low block and glass.
While she finished with just 11 points, nine came in the big opening frame. The 5-foot-11 senior overwhelmed the Warrior bigs, pulling in eight rebounds in the first half.
“Everybody was giving me awesome passes and it just works out. I let it flow as it happens,” she explained.
The Trojan dominance wasn’t limited to the offensive side of the floor. It was a stifling performance defensively, particuarly on Warrior star guard Cami Boehner.
Boehner, who went for 28 points in the semifinal, had an evening to forget. She was held to seven points on 3-of-17 shooting from the field before fouling out in the fourth quarter.
“Gabbi Blackburn checked her. She teamed up with Shannon Mulvey teamed up on her. They’re both like energizer bunnies and get after it. We said if she doesn’t touch it that’d be great but if she does touch it don’t let her shoot the three,” Gambelunghe said.
Victoria Blackburn was named the tournament MVP while Nolan was also named to the all-tournament team from Hershey. Boehner and fellow Warrior guard Ellen Bair got the nod as well. Bair led Gettysburg with 15 points in the loss.
In the third place contest, Middletown rolled past Penn Manor 54-38. Jalynn Burton-Jones dominated with 32 points and was also named to the all-tournament team.