Greencastle-Antrim pulls away from Waynesboro

 

By Ben Destefan

 

GREENCASTLE -- The contributions were plentiful for Greencastle-Antrim Tuesday night, as the Blue Devils pulled away for a 47-23 girls’ basketball victory over Waynesboro.

 

Leading by 10 at halftime, G-A put together a strong third quarter, outscoring the Maidens 19-4 for a decisive 39-14 advantage entering the fourth.

 

Nine different girls scored at least one point for the Blue Devils, paced by Lydia Crist who finished with 10. Freshman Sayge Wilhide provided a spark in the first half, netting all nine of her points before the break while Madison Sweitzer registered nine points and nine rebounds in the win.

 

“We’re seeing the progression,” Greencastle coach Mike Rhine said. “We knew what to expect from Lydia and Sweitzer, but with a lot of these other girls, this is still new to them at this level. Putting Sayge in there and having her knock down shots and then to get some strong rebounds out of Olivia Winslow, that’s huge for us.”

 

With the victory, the Blue Devils improve to 6-4 overall and 4-1 in Mid-Penn Colonial Division play, remaining very competitive in the league approaching the halfway mark. Monday’s make-up game at Shippensburg represents the final Colonial contest in the first or two rotations.

 

For Waynesboro, Tuesday served as another opportunity for the young Maidens to grow as a group. Although still winless (0-11), Waynesboro is trying to focus on improving every time out.

 

“We got a lot of shots tonight, so that’s a good thing,” Waynesboro coach Allison Steiger said. “We’re still turning the ball over too much and giving up points, but we’re trying to build on the positives. We have inexperience across the floor, so we just have to keep working on it.”

 

Wilhide was the difference in the opening half, hitting four jump shots including a buzzer-beating 3 at the end of the first quarter for a 10-3 Blue Devil cushion. G-A carried a 20-10 lead into the locker room before Crist emerged much more aggressive in the third. Held scoreless early, Crist registered all 10 of her points in the frame to headline a strong surge by Greencastle. Jordan Yeager added five points in the quarter, granting the Blue Devils another offensive weapon.

 

“This one felt good,” Rhine said. “To come out the way we did there in the third quarter, I was really happy to see that type of effort.”

 

Abby Sheasley led Waynesboro with five points while Taylor Clawson knocked down a pair of jumpers to notch four points in the fourth.

 

“We just need some of those shots to start falling and good things will happen,” Steiger said.

 

G-A returns to action Saturday at Chambersburg in the Dunks for Drew Showcase while Waynesboro hosts James Buchanan Friday as part of Pack the House night.