Mount edged outdoors

by TOM UTESCHER

Although Mount St. Joseph Academy’s indoor summer basketball league wrapped up last month, a number of the Magic players are taking their act outdoors as they play in the Upper Gwynedd League.

The schedule in this al fresco endeavor has been erratic, as our excess of rain this summer has caused numerous postponements. Despite a shower around dinnertime last Wednesday, the courts were dry enough for the Mount’s Team Green to take the court later on. With just one sub, the Greens were edged out by the Beige Bunch (mostly North Penn H.S. players) in a low-scoring contest, 23-21.

After more than six minutes of play there was only a 2-2 tie on the scoreboard, as a jumper by the Beige was matched by two free throws by Kate Hagedorn of the Magic. Hagedorn’s quickness on defense forced numerous turnovers by the North Penn club during the evening, but even lay-ups didn’t come easily for the Mount, which was unable to capitalize on many of its fast breaks.

Kaila Wiand netted a bucket with an inside move and then Jenna Poligo scored on a follow and a baseline drive to give the Magic an 8-4 edge. The Beige Bunch then went on an 11-4 run, a stretch when Team Green’s points came on two more field goals by Wiand. At the end of the period, a baseline jumper for the Magic by Rachel Collier brought them back within one for halftime, 15-14.

Wiand made one of a pair of free throws to open the second half, then she grabbed a defensive rebound and passed the ball downcourt to set up a transition bucket by Hagedorn. After a North Penn field goal, a free throw by Hagedorn put Team Green back up 18-17 midway through the half, but the Mount only managed three more points the rest of the way.

After the Beige Bunch moved ahead 21-18, one foul shot by Collier and two by Wiand tied the bout. North Penn hit the winning basket from the left edge of the foul line with a little over three minutes to go, and the Magic, who’d only deposited one field goal the entire half, could not hit another.