Garnet Valley’s Haylie Adamski, seen during a game early this season, scored 25 points Saturday in a District 1 Class 6A playback win over North Penn. PETE BANNAN – MEDIANEWS GROUP
By Matt Smith
Garnet Valley star Haylie Adamski has long ago accepted the fact that every team is focused on stopping her on the basketball court. The sophomore sensation has faced double-and triple-team coverage all season.
Adamski missed four of her first five shots in a District 1 Class 6A playback Saturday afternoon. She was unsettled as the Jags fell behind by double digits.
Moreover, Adamski recorded her third foul 51 seconds into the second period. If the 20th-seeded Jaguars wanted to overcome No. 21 North Penn and punch their ticket to the PIAA tournament, Adamski had to be on the floor and not sitting the bench with foul trouble.
“I just have to stay composed,” Adamski said. “Once I got my third foul pretty quickly in the second quarter. I had to back up on defense a little bit. But also my teammates stepped up and that is what got us going on our end. The face guarding from the other team, I am used to that. It’s been that way the whole season.”
Adamski was off and running in the second quarter, scoring 10 of her game-high 25 points and leading the way to a 44-41 victory over North Penn.
Garnet Valley’s defense was tremendous beginning in the second quarter. The Knights led by as many as 11 points in the second quarter. One player GV needed to contain was shooter Abby Plaugher, who drilled three 3-point baskets in the lirst quarter.
“We knew that we couldn’t give them the wide open 3 and we had to pick up our energy,” Adamski said. “I think that’s what helped us win in the second half.” North Penn was held to 4 of 18 shooting in the second half. The Jags limited the Knights to two points in the third quarter.
Adamski put the Jags in front for the first time with 3:36 left in the third period. The six-footer positioned herself under the basket on an in-bound pass and scored easily. The Jags held a 28-26 lead going into the fourth, then the Knights (13-12) scored the first eight points to take a 34-28 lead. But the Jags kept fighting back.
“No matter what is happening out there, we stay together as a team and we battle,” coach Joe Woods said. “I just was reminding to play smart, play hard and hopefully we will get some momentum going
Adamski scored the game-winning basket with a steal and breakaway layup with 50 seconds to go. After GV got a stop on defense, sophomore guard Kylie Mulholland, who had left the game earlier in the second half with a jammed finger, made a bucket to increase the lead to 40-37. Adamski and Mulholland also combined to hit four three throws in the final seconds.
“We all just get together and we know that we’re never going to give up,” said Mulholland, who produced seven points and three steals. “We trust each other and we just all rely on each other.”
Savannah Saunders was outstanding on defense, particularly in the fourth quarter when she recorded a steal and layup to pull GV within a point at 35-34. Saunders finished with seven points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals.
In addition to her 25 points, Adamski accumulated 10 rebounds, five steals, two assists and a blocked shot. Freshman forward Katie Dwyer (four points, two rebounds, one block) provided a spark off the bench for the Jaguars (15-11).
Plaugher tallied a team-high 15 points for the Knights (13-12). Cameron Crowley and Caleigh Sperling added nine points apiece.