There’s no doubt about it, the Catoctin girls basketball team is a solid group. The Cougars have won almost every game this season and they’ve done so in impressive fashion.
But as good as Catoctin has been, the squad has been living underneath the shadow of a giant: The undefeated Smithsburg Leopards.
Catoctin fell to Smithsburg in last year’s Class 1A West Region II title game and rank No. 2 behind the Leopards in this season’s region rankings. The Cougars opened to a 5-0 record earlier this winter before their perfect season was spoiled by, guess who, Smithsburg.
Needless to say, when Catoctin visits Smithsburg on Thursday night, the Cougars will be playing with a chip on their shoulder.
We’ve selected this high-powered matchup as our Game of the Week.
Led by top players Kesley Troxell and Brooke Williams, Catoctin will be aiming to spring the upset of the season. Doing so, however, won’t be easy against Claire Bono, Skyla Mastronardi, and a Smithsburg squad that has beaten all but one opponent by double-digits this season.
Don’t be late for the tip-off.
In the weeks and months to come throughout the high school sports season, we plan on spotlighting multiple teams and sports with our Game of the Week. Any big upcoming contests we should know about? Send suggestions to Andy Sandrik via email at [email protected].
Catoctin at Smithsburg
Tip-Off: Thursday, 7 p.m., at Smithsburg
Records: Catoctin enters with a 12-2 record, while Smithsburg checks in at 14-0.
Last game: The Cougars topped Clear Spring, 82-29, while the Leopards are coming off a 62-26 win over Boonsboro.
Last meeting: Smithsburg and Catoctin met earlier this season, with the Leopards posting a 71-52 win.
Meet the Cougars: Catoctin is eager for a rematch with Smithsburg after a 19-point loss to the Leopards earlier this season … Since that loss, coach Amy Entwistle’s Cougars have won seven of eight games … Catoctin, ranked No. 2 in Class 1A West Region II behind Smithsburg, is scoring 55.9 points per game and allowing 31.1 … The Cougars get their roar from 5-foot-10 forward Kelsey Troxell. The Hagerstown Community College recruit leads her team in scoring (14.0 ppg), rebounding (7.6 rpg), and steals (3.6 spg) … Brooke Williams, a 5-foot-10 forward/point guard, complements Troxell nicely, averaging 10.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per night … Madelynn Myers (7.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg), Leah French (6.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg), and Olivia Hoyt (5.5 ppg, 6.9 rpg) lead the supporting cast, with Emily Burgee (3.6 ppg), Maddy Whetzel (3.4 ppg), Kassidy Kreitz (3.2 ppg), and Autumn Glotfelty (2.9 ppg) also seeing regular minutes … Catoctin will be looking to snap a three-game losing streak in its series with Smithsburg.
Meet the Leopards: Coach Todd Bono’s Smithsburg girls have been the definition of unstoppable this winter, with the team winning by an average of more 31 points on a nightly basis … The Leopards, who are scoring 66.6 points per game and allowing just 35.2, have only had one opponent that’s been able to stay within double digits: Linganore, which fell 66-57 to Smithsburg on Dec. 26 … Three girls — Claire Bono, Skyla Mastronardi, and Jayda Tyler — have been averaging double-digit point totals this season … Bono, a 5-foot-11 junior guard committed to play for the Naval Academy, leads the Local.News1 coverage area in scoring average (18.2 ppg), while also posting strong averages in rebounds (5.3 rpg), assists (4.0 apg), and steals (3.6 spg) … Mastronardi will be playing for William & Mary next year, but for now the 5-foot-10 guard has been dominating on the court for the Leopards, averaging 17.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 4.4 steals per night … Tyler has been solid as the team’s No. 3 scorer, averaging 10.5 points and 4.2 rebounds per game … Smithsburg’s supporting cast includes Kara Hoover (8.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg), Jenna Todd (7.9 ppg, 6.8 rpg), Mariah Turner (2.2 ppg), Macy Peters (1.9 ppg), Taylor Shusko (1.5 ppg), Reagan Furajter, and Niriah Arthur … Smithsburg, the defending Class 1A West Region II champion, checks in at No. 1 in the latest region rankings.
Sandrik’s pick: Smithsburg by 15.
