The Belle Vernon girls basketball team begins the PIAA playoffs Saturday, traveling over two hours northeast to Clearfield.
The Leopards (22-4) are the fifth-place team out of the WPIAL and will face the District 9 champion Bison at 1 p.m. on their home floor at Clearfield High School.
“We’re excited and looking forward to getting back on the floor for a game,” Belle Vernon coach Cornelious Nesbit said. “We had a great scrimmage against Baldwin Wednesday. I thought we played really well.”
The Bison (18-6) weren’t challenged by the City League’s Carrick in a PIAA subregional game. Clearfield rolled to a 64-22 win over the Raiders a week ago.
“I’ve watched a few of their games. They’re a good basketball team, but I’m confident that we’re going to go up there and get the win,” Nesbit said. “I think the biggest thing is can we get off to a quick start against a good team on their home floor. It doesn’t mean we havve to be winning, just playing well and in a close game. If we do that, I think we’ll be fine.”
In the win over Carrick, the Bison featured their “big 3” heavily, which Nesbit said has been their formula all season long.
“They have three really good players,” Nesbit said. “All three are different. We don’t necessarily have to stop all three, just kind of contain them. That’s just going to be a matter of us taking pride in our defense and controlling and slowing them down.”
The Bison will feature a starting lineup with the trio of junior forward Sonny Diehl, a 6-footer who is averaging 21 points per game and 11.8 rebounds; sophomore point guard Eve Helsel (5-11), averaging just over 18 points and nearly seven rebounds; and senior Mia Helsel (5-9) sits at 13.6 points per game.
Those “big three” will be joined by senior Myleigh Hudson (5-6, 4.6 ppg) and senior Elia Evilsizor (5-9, 1.4 ppg).
“They play five kids, maybe six, and that’s only if they have to,” Nesbit said. “I also think this is a game that the competition we’ve played all season long will have us prepared.
“No. 15 (Mia Helsel) is the shooter. One of the games we saw, she had nine 3-pointers. “(Eve Helsel) No. 3 is a really good point guard. She’s shown that she can really make some tough shots going to the hoop. We have to be aware and cut her off on her way to the basket. She is a little like (Mia) Sostaric from EF.
“I think their best player is No. 1 (Diehl). She’s really athletic and plays really well in space. They’re going to keep the ball in those three girls’ hands. We have to be at our best with our communication.”
The Leps will counter with their usual starting lineup fronted by freshman guard Lyla McConnell (11.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.4 apg and 2.0 steals per game) and sophomore wing Aubrey Brown. The 6-2 slasher can do everything on the floor and is averaging 10.1 points and just under eight boards.
Forward Isis Almyty, a 6-1 freshman, is averaging eight points and eight rebounds and again will be a big factor for the Leopards.
Junior guard Abby Russell will have the assignment of stopping Mia Helsel, and junior forward Saylor Lee, a 6-0 forward, will be the fifth starter. She’s averaging 7.0 points and 5.0 rebounds.
“We want to play fast. They’re mostly a man-to-man team, so we want to get up and down the floor and dictate the pace of the game,” Nesbit said. “We watched them against a good Forest Hills team, Hollidaysburg, so we know they’re battle tested. This is one of those games that our stars need to go out there and be stars.
“I’m expecting Aubrey, Lyla, Abby and Saylor to go out there and not be rattled on the road. I think we need to establish Isis early, offensively and defensively. She’s going to clog up that middle on defense and not let them get to the rim.
“Abby on defense, she’s used to playing on a team’s top player. Size doesn’t matter to her. She’s going to be able to limit the shooter’s touches.”
Nesbit thinks the Leopards will again have a size advantage, much like they’ve had all season.
“We have to make sure we take advantage of Isis in the post. A lot of basketball is played outside-in, but we can’t be afraid to let the ball get inside and look back out. We can hit shots and when we do, it’s dangerous.”
Nesbit said his team shouldn’t have issues if Clearfield tries to press, again, thanks to the teams they’ve played all season long.
“We’ve seen all that and it’s not going to surprise us,” he said. “We’ve seen the 1-2-2, the 2-2-1 … I really think that’s an advantage for us to get up the floor. We just have to make our layups when we break their press.”