Onto the states
Lady Gators host first-round PIAA game after epic WPIAL final
PITTSBURGH — Geibel Catholic’s girls basketball team finally reached the Petersen Events Center in senior Emma Larkin’s final year.
After a 47-46 loss to Serra Catholic in an epic final played without injured star center Mallory Clemmer, the Lady Gators face another challenge.
Geibel will host a PIAA tournament game Saturday after falling in the first round of last year’s state playoffs following a consolation loss to Aquinas Academy.
Clemmer and her 22.2 points and 15 rebounds per game will not be available for PIAA play.
The Lady Gators (23-2) host District 6 third-place team St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy (24-3) with a 1 p.m. tipoff.
After Friday’s game, Geibel coach and Emma’s mother Sara Larkin looked ahead.
“We’re going to take a couple days off, I can tell you that for sure, with the low numbers,” Sara Larkin said.
Clemmer’s absence leaves Geibel with six healthy players on its roster. Its starting five — Emma Larkin, Janiah Darnell, Alexa Morgan, Emaleigh Horn and Paige Dolan — played the entire game against Serra.
Emma Larkin turned in a double-double in the district final with 22 points and 10 rebounds, Morgan hit four 3-pointers in scoring 15 points and Darnell hauled in 12 rebounds.
“We need a little bit of rest,” Sara Larkin said.
The plan was to take the weekend off and then regroup on Monday in preparation for Saturday.
“I know we’re going to have a tough opponent so we’re just going to take a couple days rest and pull everybody back together on Monday and prepare for that Saturday game.”
Sara Larkins was pleased to be playing at home.
“It’s great we get to host,” she said. “We’re not on the road. Last year we had a four-hour bus trip up to Otto-Eldred. So we’re excited to actually host a state game.
“It’s not over yet. These girls are playing some phenomenal basketball, every single kid out there, even Paige Dolan stepping in for Mal. We’re looking forward to it. It’s going to be a good game.”
Sara Larkin reflected on the unfortunate injury Clemmer suffered.
“If you were at the game on Monday (52-50 overtime win over top-seeded Aquinas on Feb. 23), you saw the celebration at the end,” she said. “It was unfortunate. It’s something they do after every game. They jump up to each other, she fell backwards, lost her balance, tried to catch herself with that left arm, broke her wrist, clean break.
“Luckily we avoided surgery. They were able to reduce it, get back aligned. But she’s not going to be on the floor.”
St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy — not to be confused with St. Joseph of the WPIAL who Geibel defeated in the quarterfinals — defeated Williamsburg in the District 6 third-place game, 75-73. The Wolfpack had a 21-game winning streak snapped in a 62-61 loss to Bishop Carroll in the district semifinals.
The winner will play the survivor between the aforementioned WPIAL St. Joseph squad and District 9 champion Clarion Limestone in the PIAA second round on March 11.
If the Lady Gators could get on a run in the state tournament, a fourth meeting with Serra could be a possibility. They split their two regular-season games in tying for first place in Section 2.
“I wouldn’t be opposed to a rematch with Serra,” Sara Larkin said. “This is good competitive basketball. Nobody wants to come in and blow somebody out, you want to have a good, competitive, fun game.
“So I welcome that opportunity absolutely.”