First 2009 win lifts Mount to 11-0
by TOM UTESCHER

After a tumble, the Mount’s Elle Hagedorn (prone) is still trying to pry the ball away from of Elizabeth Marbach of Gwynedd Mercy.

On Sunday, Jan. 4, the Magic of Mount St. Joseph Academy picked up where they’d left off in the old year, running their record to 11-0 by defeating the visiting Gwynedd Mercy Monarchs, 60-33.

Although the Magic improved to  4-0 in Athletic Association of Catholic Academies play, they struggled with their stubborn guests early on, only securing a six-point lead (15-9) by the end of the first quarter. The Mount gathered momentum after that, and had the point spread up over 20 points at the three-quarter mark, 47-26.

The offense was fueled by double-digit scoring from Elle Hagedorn (23 points, eight steals) and Steph Smith (10 points, seven rebounds), while Mary Jo Horgan (three assists) and Tara Barr notched eight points apiece, and point guard Jen Sabia had nine assists and four points.

Gwynedd (1-7 overall), which is rebuilding under new head coach John Turner, was led by Morgan Sheridan, with 11 points. Danielle Mastroeni, Kathryn Daniels, and Elizabeth Marbach registered seven, six, and five points, respectively, for the Monarchs, who saw their AACA record slip to 0-3. Four points from Alyssa D’Alonzo rounded out GMA’s total score.

Before Sunday, Mount St. Joe hadn’t played a league game since beating St. Basil in overtime back on Dec. 11. The necessity of an OT session hasn’t been even a remote possibility in any game since then, but now the Magic will be thrust into the gut of the AACA schedule, playing back-to-back bouts against Nazareth Academy and defending PIAA District I Class AAA champion Villa Maria.

How are the Magic planning to raise their game for the challenging contests ahead?

“I don’t know that there’s any rhyme or reason to it,” responded MSJ coach John Miller. “You just depend on the team’s pride that they will be ready to play. Most teams have some games on the schedule that they’re able to win relatively easily, and you just have to be mentally prepared when the tough games arrive. I just reminded the team that we beat Nazareth four times last year [regular-season home-and-away, AACA matches and District I playoffs], so obviously they’re going to have this game circled on their schedule.”