The Mount's Megan Dodaro lifts off for a lay-up. (Photo by Tom Utescher)

by Tom Utescher

Working the early shift in the summer hoops league at the SMG Sportsplex, Mount St. Joseph Academy won a 5:00 PM meeting with Harry S. Truman High School, 45-32, then succumbed 46-35 to Neshaminy High in the following time slot.

With a large turnout for summer competition, the Mount has divided its athletes into two groups which play on alternating weeks, with each squad featuring a combination of varsity veterans and former JV players.

Early offense from rising seniors Megan Dodaro, Deirdre Regan, and Grace DiGiovanni nudged the Magic ahead of Truman, 7-5, during the early minutes, then the Tigers went on a 6-0 run. Coming off the bench, MSJ senior Alexa Silvestri hit a 15-foot jumper and a three-pointer to get the Mounties right back in it.

Truman edged ahead again, 13-12, but Mount St. Joe ended the first half with a 6-0 spurt of its own. Sophomore Kelly Rothenberg fed the ball inside to set up a DiGiovanni lay-up, then fellow 10th-grader Maeve Gallagher scored in transition. With 10 seconds left, DiGiovanni stole the ball back and made good on a breakaway, and the Magic arrived at the intermission with an 18-13 lead.

As the second period unfolded Truman caught up and closed to within one point of the Mount thanks to a three-pointer that made it 21-20 about six minutes in. Senior Erin Bethel answered with a trey for the Magic, but Truman stayed close for a few more minutes.

Mountie Maeve Gallagher (right) wrestles a Truman Tiger for the ball. (Photo by Tom Utescher)

The Tigers were just two points back at 26-24 when Dodaro consecutively scored two lay-ups and a free throw to touch off the decisive surge for Mount St. Joseph. Regan provided the next six points with a lay-up, a free throw, and a three-pointer from the right wing, then a drive by sophomore Taylor Sistrunk capped off a 13-0 Magic spree that spread the score to 39-24.

The Tigers broke their drought with a lay-up, but the game clock was now down under four minutes. The Mounties maintained a comfortable lead as the last three minutes produced a 6-6 standoff, with Rothenberg hitting a lay-up before Sistrunk deposited two free throws and a lay-up off of a steal.

In the scoring column Dodaro, with 10 points, and DiGiovanni and Regan, with eight apiece, were followed by Sistrunk (seven points), Silvestri (five), Bethel (three). Gallagher and Rothenberg each added two points.

In the next game, Dodaro's hot shooting hand helped Mount St. Joe get out to an 8-3 lead over Neshaminy, then the Redskins regrouped and made a little run to go up 10-8. The Mount looked to go into halftime down by just three points, but they gave up two late lay-ups and found themselves trailing 28-21 at the break.

The gap grew to 10 points when the Lady Skins launched the second half with a three-pointer, but soon Regan bagged a pair of treys to help lead the Magic back into contention. A bucket in transition by DiGiovanni had the Mount within two points of the leaders at 32-30 as the middle of the period approached.

The score seesawed to 34-32, but then Neshaminy began to separate again with back-to-back three-pointers. Some Redskin free throws near the end set the final margin at 11 points, 46-35. Regan led the Magic here with nine points, and right behind were Dodaro and Sistrunk, each with eight.

Six more points came from DiGiovanni, and two apiece from Bethel and Rothenberg.