Wyomissing
we did it in counties and then doing it in districts again, defeating the same team, is just incredible.”
Wyomissing took the lead in the first quarter and remained ahead for the remainder of the game. Junior Amaya Stewart made her presence known early, scoring six points and dominating on the glass to help the Spartans take a 13-8 lead after eight minutes of play.
“She has unbelievable hands,” Anders said about Stewart. “Her game and her skills, they just continue to grow every single game, every single day at practice.”
The reigning two-time Berks Player of the Year, Stewart finished with 14 points and 19 rebounds. The center had 12 rebounds in the first half and finished the game 4-for-4 from the foul line.
“It was a little bit more of an expectation, just like winning the county final,” Stewart said about the victory. “A lot of people were rooting for us, a lot of people were expecting us to get back to this point.”
Wyomissing went on a 7-0 run midway through the second quarter and led 2213 at the half. The Spartans had 19 rebounds in the first half, while Delone Catholic (22-3) had just four.
“Not letting them get any second shots or any second turns, it’s huge,” Stewart
said. “We did our part on that end.”
Wyomissing remained in command during the third quarter and led 3319 heading into the fourth. Hurleman had four points in the third and finished with 10, marking her second straight game in double figures.
While she made a big impact on the offensive end, is was Hurleman’s defensive leadership that prevented the Squirettes from getting back into the game.
“She just gets out there (and) gives it her all,” Anders said about Hurleman. “I’ve never had a kid that has played every single day with the effort that she gives day in and day out. I’ve been coaching now 21 years.”
Delone Catholic scored 13
points in the fourth quarter but it was too little, too late, as Wyomissing cruised to the win. Junior Megan Jacoby led the Squirettes with 10 points.
“We stuck with the game plan that we had, which was guarding their shooters, making sure that they were limiting them to one shot,” Anders said. “They were going to get a shot off because they’re a good team.”
After tearing through the county and district playoffs, the Spartans now head into the state playoffs, which begin March 9, riding a wave of momentum.
“Every day is just as important as the next,” Anders said. “They demonstrate that and that’s why they’re playing their best basketball right now.”