SMITHSBURG, Md. – A moment of reflection turned into an afternoon of deflections for the Smithsburg girls basketball team.
The Leopards ran rampant over Pocomoke for 46:53 of Saturday’s Class 1A state semifinal matchup, but it was the minute before that flurry of activity made all the difference in the world in the decisive 77-24 victory.
That moment was just 67 seconds into the game, when coach Todd Bono jumped up and called timeout after Pocomoke had taken a 2-0 lead.
“I just had to remind them of what we were trying to do,” Bono said. “When looking at the other team, (the girls) were thinking that they could have it easy.
“And we could, if we executed and did what we were supposed to do.”
Which was?
“Get the ball inside,” Bono said. “So, I just had to remind them, ‘let’s go to the paint first and then look for the three.’”
Dually noted.
The Leopards came out and scored six points in the first 40 seconds out of the timeout, erasing the only lead the Warriors enjoyed in the game. And with Smithsburg suddenly motivated, it only got worse for Pocomoke from there.
But, Bono definitely made an impression.
“He was upset at the way that we came out,” said Skyla Mastronardi. “We let them get a bucket early on, and we weren’t playing good defense. We weren’t getting the ball in the paint because they were pretty undersized.
“It was just important that we were more aggressive on defense and got the ball in the paint.”
Mastronardi led the charge immediately and then guided the Leopards to total control of the matchup.
The senior started by feeding a pass to Claire Bono for a layup to tie the game at 2, just eight seconds after the timeout. Then the Leopards turned up the pressing pressure, slapping at inbounds passes along the baseline to get easy turnovers and baskets.
Mastronardi scored 17 points, but her biggest contribution was the 11 steals, three blocked shots and four assists that kept Pocomoke in constant retreat.
The victory moves Smithsburg to the Class 1A state semifinals for a second straight season, pitting the Leopards against familiar playoff foe, Southern Garrett. Southern Garrett eliminated the Leopards 60-37 before it lost to Pikesville in the state final.
Smithsburg, the top seed in the state tournament, eliminated eighth-seeded Pocomoke with relative ease.
That six-point start out of the timeout began a 14-0 run that lasted 2 minutes, 18 seconds. The Warriors’ Camren Parker paused the spree by banking in a 3-pointer at 4:27, but Smithsburg then scored the last 18 points of a quarter for a 32-5 lead.
“At every position, we had a height advantage,” Bono said. “So, I don’t think they’ve seen a team as long as us. In our press, sometimes we (guard) the person inbounding the ball and sometimes we’re stay a little bit further back, just depending on how they attack the press. But I thought Kara (Hoover) did a great job up front in understanding which way to press.
“And I thought the passing – the interior passing, post passing – was important. We did a better job of getting all inside and getting points in the paint.”
Smithburg swarmed the Warriors to score at will.
The Leopards towered over Pocomoke’s lineup. The Warriors’ tallest player stood 5-foot-8. Smithsburg’s roster lists six taller players.
Smithsburg created its offense with the pressure as every Leopard scored. The Leopards shot 51.5% for the game (34 of 66), including 62.5% (30 of 48) from three-point range. They stole the ball 31 times.
Smithsburg opened the second quarter with an 18-0 run to take a 50-5 lead with 3:45 remaining in the half. In fact, the Leopards scored 36 straight points over a 7:50 span that bridged the first two quarters.
Pocomoke closed the half with a 7-3 run to make it 53-12 at the intermission, but the damage was done. Because of Smithsburg’s 41-point lead, the entire second half was played with a running clock.
Smithsburg used a 14-2 run to move to 69-18 lead after three quarters. The benches were cleared in the fourth quarter, but the Leopards still won the period, 8-6.
Claire Bono led Smithsburg with 23 points by hitting 11 of 14 shots, including 10 of 11 inside the arc. Jenna Todd added 10 points with seven rebounds and eight assists.
Parker and Aynaeh Pitts led Pocomoke with seven points each. The Warriors scored seven baskets in the game, including five from three-point range.
For the Leopards, next comes the chance to avenge the loss to Southern Garrett for a shot to play for a championship they missed out on last year.
“Our girls just executed offensively and added the pressure,” Todd Bono said. “They stayed locked in with each other. We made the extra pass. Again, that’s what we’ve been doing all year. It shouldn’t change now.”
Class 2A
State quarterfinal
Williamsport 40, Rising Sun 25
No. 3 Williamsport advances to the state semifinals and will face top-seeded Wicomico on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at Thomas Johnson High School in Frederick, Maryland, as part of a doubleheader with Smithsburg for the right to play for the state title.
