BVA hurt by turnovers in loss to Allderdice

The Leopards dropped a close game at the California Hoopfest.

Turnovers and late-game execution were costly as the Belle Vernon girls basketball team fell to Allderdice, 43-38, at the California Hoopfest tournament.

Allderdice made critical plays down the stretch to secure the victory. Shira Levy sank a clutch three-pointer — her team’s first of the night — and key free throws from Bailey White extended Allderdice’s lead to 39-32 with just over a minute to play.

Belle Vernon refused to go quietly though, as Aubrey Brown and Emerson LaCarte scored late baskets to cut the deficit to three. With 19 seconds remaining, White hit two free throws to put the game out of reach.

“Our issue is that we turn the ball over far too much,” BVA coach Cornelious Nesbit said. “Usually they’re unforced turnovers, which is tough. When you’re dealing with unforced turnovers, it’s not so much about what someone is doing to you, but it’s more about what you’re doing to yourself.”

Monday’s game began with both teams struggling to find their rhythm, and it proved to be more of a defensive battle. Allderdice (3-4) held an early 4-3 lead, prompting Nesbit to call a timeout following early struggles that led to multiple turnovers within the first few minutes of the game.

Both teams continued to battle through sloppy play, but it was Belle Vernon (3-4) that eventually found its groove, closing the first quarter on a 10-2 run. Sophomore forward Saylor Lee made her presence felt early, grabbing seven rebounds in the opening frame.

The Leopards held an 11-4 rebounding edge by the end of the first quarter and a 13-6 lead on the scoreboard.

Allderdice began the second quarter with renewed defensive intensity, forcing turnovers out of its full-court press and holding Belle Vernon scoreless for nearly the entire period.

The Dragons capitalized on Belle Vernon’s struggles, going on a 7-0 run to tie the game at 13. White led Allderdice’s offensive charge, earning trips to the free throw line and finishing in transition consistently. Belle Vernon’s offensive drought finally ended in the final minute of the half when Skylar Solar scored a layup in transition to retake the lead.

At halftime, Belle Vernon held a slim 16-15 advantage, but both teams’ offensive woes carried into the second half.

Turnovers continued to hurt Belle Vernon as they committed six in the first four minutes of the third quarter before scoring a basket. Allderdice’s go-to scorer, Rhyan Sledge, finally broke free after being stifled by Belle Vernon’s box-and-one defense in the first half.

Sledge converted back-to-back layups to give Allderdice a 24-18 lead, but the Leopards responded behind Brown, who tied the game at 24 with a layup late in the quarter. Allderdice regained a narrow edge, ending the third quarter up 26-24.

Brown and Lee continued to anchor Belle Vernon’s efforts down low in the fourth quarter, with Lee dominating the boards.

“She’s a tough-minded kid,” Nesbit said regarding Lee’s 19-rebound performance. “She’s going to play hard every second that she’s on the floor, and with her only being a sophomore, she has plenty of time and room to grow as a player.”

Nesbit also pointed to Brown, a freshman, who finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

“She’s another kid that’s going to give you everything she has every night,” he said. “Right now, it’s about our kids getting comfortable in uncomfortable situations, and we’re not doing that right now. When you’re young, like we are, you’re trying to figure this thing out and still learning as you go. It’s going to be a roller coaster of a season because of our youth, but we need to get comfortable in these situations.”

Belle Vernon’s turnover issues overshadowed its effort on the boards, where its held a commanding 38-22 advantage.

For Allderdice, White led all scorers with 18 points, including 10of-11 from the free-throw line. The Dragons’ defensive pressure and ability to convert from the charity stripe proved to be the difference in a game where neither team shot well from the field.