AMD’s comeback stings BeeGraphix in OT

Makayla Canty sank a pair of 3-pointers in overtime as the defending champions overcame a 14-point halftime deficit.

AMD Industries has long been the team to beat in the Steel City Summer Basketball League, but they found themselves on the ropes at halftime against BeeGraphix during Monday’s season-opening action.

The 30-16 halftime deficit the defending champions faced was a lofty one, but Bria Rathway and Noah Yartin’s group banded together to claw their way back and pull out a 65-61 overtime victory.

“It was a great second half,” Rathway said. “We were down 14 at the break and we let up 30 points in the first half, which is very unlike us. The girls really responded well after halftime and did what they needed to do. They played defense, they made the extra pass, pick-and-roll was good, we were knocking down shots. It was great.”

The offense came alive in the second half for AMD (1-0), as Makayla Canty scored 12 of her team-high 15 points after the half, including two big threes in overtime. Riley McCabe and Giulana Giannikas, who each scored 13 points in their league debuts, had eight and 10 points, respectively, after the halftime break. Emily Eisenberg also reached double digits with 10 points.

For BeeGraphix (0-1), the trio of Mya Glisan (19), Lauren Borella (18) and Emma Larkin (17) combined for 54 points. Coach Larry Cash said his squad will continue to gel together as the season progresses, but there were some positives to take despite the tough loss.

“We didn’t play the second half like we played the first half,” Cash said. “If we did, we would have won. We kept turning the ball over and helped them get back in it. That just kept fueling (AMD)’s fire, and they were able to get back in it. They haven’t played together, and some of them are too shy. Once I get the shyness out of them and make them feel comfortable, then we’ll be all right.”

Larkin and Glisan helped BeeGraphix jump out to a 14-4 advantage, and Cash’s squad spent most of the first half adding to its lead.

BeeGraphix pushed the score to 21-6 before a more even finish to the half left things at 30-16 in favor of BeeGraphix.

With the score sitting at 35-18, which represented the biggest deficit of the game for AMD, the eventual winners made their move early in the second half.

Eisenberg made two straight layups before back-to-back threes from Giannikas suddenly made it a 10-point game. Saylor Lee then posted her two points for the contest to break up that run, but AMD got right back to it after her interruption.

They went on a 12-0 run, taking a 38-37 advantage with 6:24 left in the contest and pushing it to 40-37, but BeeGraphix fought back valiantly.

Borella drilled a three to tie it up at 40 before each side traded buckets over the rest of regulation. DaShae Cochran and Aubrey Graney pushed AMD to a 47-43 advantage, but Glisan hit a triple and Larkin scored to retake a 48-47 lead.

The lead switched hands three more times before Glisan was put on the free-throw line with seven seconds left, trailing 53-52. She split her two shots, tying things up and sending the game to overtime.

Canty came alive in the extra period, scoring the first six points for AMD from beyond the three-point line. Eisenberg and Graney made two of four free throws to make the score 61-56 with under two minutes left, but BeeGraphix battled back again.

Larkin scored two before Glisan nailed a tough triple with 41 seconds to knot it up at 61. Cochran ended up with the winning points after she scored on an impressive feed from Giannikas, and Eisenberg buried two clutch free throws to seal a 65-61 win for her squad.

For AMD Industries, Rathway said that her squad will take the close win as a learning experience.

“You’re not learning anything if you’re winning games by 30,” she said. “It’s fun, and everyone is scoring, but these are positions where we learn.”

As for BeeGraphix, they’ll look to take better care of the basketball and make sure that they finish better.

“We’ll be fine,” Cash said. “We’ll still be contenders eventually. Everyone counted us out, but we’ve got some grit too. We’ll be all right.”

Monessen Florist 63, Trailside 57

Monessen Florist opened up its season with a narrow victory behind 26 points from Maggie Spell.

Lynsey Bernotas filled in behind her with 12 points as Monessen Florist (1-0) never surrendered its 36-29 halftime advantage.

For Trailside (0-1), a threepronged offense emerged around Bella Furno (16 points), Tia Yellock (14) and Abby Genes (13).

Trailside managed to outscore Monessen Florist in the second half, but only by a single point.

Slagus Howard Hanna 56, Cedarbrook 21

Slagus Howard Hanna dominated in its first contest of the year with a 35-point victory.

Sutton Williamson led all scorers with 18 for Slagus Howard Hanna (1-0), but she was the only double- digit scorer in the game as the victors shared the ball well. Allie Wilson had nine points and Mia Sostaric added seven more for SHH.

Michelle Jellison led the way for Cedarbrook Golf Course with nine points in what was a tough season debut for the squad.

They’ll be looking to improve offensively after putting up nine second-half points to Slagus Howard Hanna’s 26.