Mount Lebanon: Back On Top as Queens of the Girls AAAA Mountain

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, March 2, 2012 | 9:16 PM

A year ago, heavily favored Mount Lebanon was stunned in the WPIAL Girls AAAA title game by Shaler, keeping them from a third straight district crown. Friday evening, it was the Blue Devils doing the stunning as they handed top-seed Oakland Catholic only their second loss of the season in a 58-49 victory at the A.J. Palumbo Center at Duquesne University.

It looked like it would be an easy night for Mount Lebanon as they scored 13 of the games first 15 points en route to a 20-6 score after one quarter.

With the exception of Bobbi Baker starting to heat up for the Eagles, the second quarter was much of the same for Oakland Catholic as they struggled from the field and had trouble against the taller Blue Devils. A late Eagles bucket by Rachel Vigliotti cut the deficit to 32-21 at halftime.

Baker scored the first six points for Oakland Catholic to start the third quarter, but Mount Lebanon continued to hammer the ball down to the blocks and while an 11-4 Eagles run to end the quarter continued to cut into the lead, the Blue Devils still led 41-37 after three quarters, setting the stage for a thrilling final quarter.

Oakland Catholic continued to inch closer thanks to the three point shooting of Corey Taglianetti, who’s three near the five minute mark gave the Eagles their first lead of the game at 47-45. Then with four and a half minutes left, both Baker of OC and Kelly Johnson of MtL left the game with four fouls. 21 seconds later, both re-entered with the game tied 47-47.

The Eagles took a 49-47 lead on Baker’s final points of the night. As it turned out, they would also be Oakland Catholic’s final points of the night. A Liz Tommasi bucket tied the game at 49-49, then after a Emma Pellicano free throw, another Tommasi field goal made it 53-49 with 1:17 left.  The with the score 53-49 Blue Devils, Baker had a shot blocked by Jordan Holmes and six second later, Baker picked up her fifth foul. Mount Lebanon sealed the deal on their third district crown in four years with four more points in the final half minute.  

Oakland Catholic, trying to win their first WPIAL title since 2006, was led by an incredible performance by Baker who had a game high 22 points. Taglianetti chipped in 9 points on three 3-pointers.  The Eagles fall to 24-2 and will face the District 6 or District 9 winner on Friday in the opening round of the state playoffs.

Mount Lebanon improved to 23-3 and will open the PIAA postseason against a Tuesday play-in winner. The Blue Devils were led in scoring by Christine Ehland’s 16 points. Johnson added 12 points with several big assists and Tommasi scored 10 points as Mount Lebanon moves on to try to win a record fourth straight PIAA crown.
 

Score By Quarters:
Mount Lebanon : 20 – 12 – 9 – 17 = 58
Oakland Catholic : 6 – 15 – 16 – 12 = 49