When playing teams from out of the area, it can often be difficult in preparing for those teams that are rarely on the schedule. It requires adapting on-the-go and making quick adjustments.
Not many had to be made on Thursday as Bishop Guilfoyle (8-1) used its stifling man-to-man defense to put on a clinic at BG's Pleasant Valley gym, defeating Bishop Walsh, 62-7.
"We have to just play our game and make adjustments along the way," Moschella stated." We didn't have to make many tonight, but traditionally that's how it goes."
Bishop Guilfoyle got off to a fast 9-0 lead, forcing a Walsh timeout with 4:07 left in the first and never looked back.
The Lady Marauders defensive pressure limited Bishop Walsh, Md., to just seven total points and forced Walsh into 31 turnovers in its opening game of the Jim Ellis Shootout.
"We played good defense and our pressure really got to them," BG coach Mark Moschella said.
"Their high pressure man-to-man defense kept us out of our offense for most of the night," Bishop Walsh coach Travis Beeman said. "Their size and athleticism really helped to exploit our weaknesses."
The size and athleticism Beeman referred to helped BG hold Walsh to just two made field goals, both of which came in the first half.
Nicole Ross hit a jumper to get the Lady Spartans on the board with 4:05 remaining in the first quarter, and BG finished the quarter on an 11-0 run to make it 20-2 BG after one.
Ally Simpson hit a 3-pointer with 1:30 remaining in the half for Walsh to set the halftime score at 42-5.
Despite the lopsided score, both coaches recognize the position that Bishop Walsh was in heading into the game with just one senior and four juniors on the roster.
"Bishop Walsh is a team that is in a rebuilding state with a lot of young players, " Moschella stated. "They lost a lot of seniors last year."
"We are trying to get experience and help develop our fundamentals," Beeman noted. "We need to keep encouraging our players."
BG's offensive attack was led by senior Brittany Boslet, who had a game-high 13 points, including three 3-pointers.
Thirteen Lady Marauders got involved in the scoring, as it used a group effort to put Walsh away early. Alexis Craig, Halee Adams and Elyssa Ehredt each had seven points, while Jenna Irvin added six for BG.
"It is important to get scoring from everyone, " Moschella said. "We have an unselfish group because a lot of our girls gave up shots tonight to get others easier looks."
The second half allowed for many of BG's younger players to get some experience, as the mercy-rule came into effect with 6:43 remaining in the third quarter when Alexis Craig made a layup to give BG the 46-5 advantage.
The Lady Marauders held Walsh to 0-7 shooting in the second half, with its only points coming from two Breana Uhl free throws in the third quarter.
"Obviously we played a great team tonight, probably the best we will play all year," Beeman stated." We just have to keep improving."
Bishop Walsh will face Delone Catholic on Friday, while Bishop Guilfoyle will face Delone on Saturday.
BISHOP WALSH (7): Matthews 0 0-0 0, Yarnall 0 0-0 0, Simpson 1 0-0 3, Czapski 0 0-0 0, Morin 0 0-0 0, Dunn 0 0-0 0, Mock 0 0-2 0, Ross 1 0-0 2, Uhl 0 2-2 2. Totals - 2 2-4 7.
BISHOP GUILFOYLE (62): . Totals - Craig 3 0-0 7, Boslet 5 0-0 13, Stessney 1 0-0 3, H.Adams, 3 1-1 7, Ehredt 3 0-0 7, Miller 2 0-0 4, Luciano 1 0-0 2, Bates 1 2-2 4, E.Adams 1 0-0 2, Irvin 2 2-2 6, Ruggery 0 0-0 0, Frederick 0 0-0 0, Mallott 1 0-0 2, Yanoshak 0 0-0 0, McGhee 1 0-0 2, Spencer 0 0-0 0, Scipioni 1 0-0 3. Totals - 25 5-5 62
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Bishop Walsh2 3 2 0 - 7
Bishop Guilfoyle20 22 13 7 - 62
3-point goals: Bishop Walsh 1 (Simpson); Bishop Guilfoyle 7 (Craig, Boslett 3, Stessney, Ehredt, Scipioni).
Records: Bishop Walsh (0-9); Bishop Guilfoyle (8-1).
