Wednesday night's Keystone Division clash between Hershey and host Palmyra had the look and feel of a big-time showdown. A perfect setting, really, for the Lady Cougars to put their experience to good use.
Targeting the play of leading scorers Kaitlyn Carmo, Kristen Smoluk or Carly Richardson would be the easy way to describe Palmyra's eventual 53-31 victory. Ron Berman knows better.
“I told the girls if we had any advantage over Hershey it's that four or five of them have played in some bigger games last year,” said Palmyra's veteran coach. “It was a neat atmosphere, a great crowd out there. With the important of the game I think our kids just peaked at the right time.”
Video: Ron Berman discusses Palmyra's victory over Hershey
No doubt the Cougars' recent success – two PIAA appearances and the District 3-AAA quarterfinals in the last three seasons – has played a role in Palmyra's 12-0 start. There's a belief in the overall scheme that few opponents seem prepared to challenge. Blue-collar work on defense is yet another factor.
“We controlled the tempo from the beginning. Obviously it's a great win for us,” Berman said. “I guess I'm pretty old school, a dinosaur-type thing, but we're going to open up with a press and we're going to go man-to-man full court and we'll do that until people beat us. That's what I've always believed in.”
WELCOME BACK, MS. JUNE: So maybe a Mid-Penn Keystone Division title is out of the question, but at least Red Land skipper Andy Bell and his Patriots are now better equipped to challenge for one of those 20 District 3-AAAA spots.
The return of 6-0 Dani June from a holiday hip injury comes in the nick of time. June injured the hip prior to Red Land's 49-47 loss in the Hanover Holiday Tournament championship round. Wednesday marked June's return as the forward had eight points, 12 rebounds and eight blocked shots in a 40-29 loss to division-rival Cedar Cliff.
Bell estimated that June, a returning Big 15 second-team pick, was around “50-percent,” but there's no denying the Patriots (5-7) need her presence to make a run. Red Land is averaging 54.5 points per game with June in the line-up. The Patriots went 1-4 and posted 42.3 ppg. without her.
FAB FRIDAY ON TAP: Plenty of signature wins are available tonight throughout the MPC. For starters, State College (9-4) and leading-scorer Kyla Irwin hits Central Dauphin (9-3) for a key Commonwealth dust-up.
Elsewhere, Hershey (10-2) will attempt to bounce back from its lopsided loss to Palmyra with a triumph over gritty Mechanicsburg. Top scorers Cecily Carl, Hannah Brown and the Wildcats (8-4) are hoping to bank a share of second place in the Keystone ranks.
In addition, Newville will be jumping as host Big Spring (8-5) entertains Boiling Springs (10-3) in a battle of 1 vs. 2 in the Colonial. Branching outside the Mid-Penn, you should treat yourself to Delone Catholic (10-2) at York Catholic (8-1). Perhaps the state's best small-school rivalry, it's always worth the price of admission when these two lock horns.
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