By Sean McBryan
Springfield (Delco.) junior Mia Valerio’s primary sport is lacrosse, which she’ll play at Richmond after she graduates in 2023. The way she played Wednesday night, you’d think her top sport was basketball.
Valerio scored a career-high 19 points to match Lower Dauphin’s team total as the District 1 third-place Cougars defeated the District 3 third-place Falcons 32-19 in Hummelstown in a PIAA Class 5A first round game.
“I train a lot for lacrosse (which starts in the spring) so my body is in the best shape right now,” Valerio said. “It also helps with the confidence thing because I know if I excel in that sport I can excel in this sport.”
After top scorer Lexi Aaron went down with a season-ending injury just five games in, it’s been a balanced effort in replacing the offensive production for the Cougars. But it was all Valerio Wednesday night and doing it on the road in a state playoff game made it even more impressive.