PERRY—Perry used a 19-3 second-quarter run to down visiting Keystone, 50-38, in a Division IV district semifinal on Tuesday.
The Pirates trailed 10-8 entering the second period before knocking down three 3-pointers and held the Wildcats scoreless for the first six minutes, taking a 27-13 lead at the break.
“We had some different groupings in the game, and they all stepped up,” said Perry head coach Roy Infalvi. “We did a good job of breaking their press, we had a good transition and inside-out looks offensively. I don’t point the run at one thing. We played together as a team. That’s one of our keys and it’s what got us here.”
Keystone got out to an early 8-3 lead thanks to a pair of Madyson Sokolowski 3-pointers, plus a layup from Jayda Gaines, but Perry rallied with an Audrey Austin 3-pointer and a Rosalyn Tharp basket to trim the deficit down to 10-8 after one.
Austin, Sophie Sivon, and Jaidyn Newsome each knocked down 3-pointers, while Tharp added six second-quarter points, giving the Pirates a 14-point halftime lead.
Austin knocked down two more triples, and Andora Porcello connected on a corner 3-pointer for a 39-25 lead after three.
Perry closed the door with four Mia Lynch points, plus key baskets from Victoria Lynch and Tharp.
The Pirates’ defense did the rest, keeping the Wildcats’ potent offense—averaging 60 points per game—under control.
“Before the game, we talked about communication and being suffocating defensively,” Infalvi said of his team’s defensive effort. “We had to know personnel and take away each of their players’ strengths. We had to come out with fire and intensity, and we set the tone defensively for 32 minutes tonight.”
On top of the defense being air-tight, the offense had good looks on 3-pointers, knocking down eight throughout the contest.
The term ‘3 & D’ was well represented by Perry in the win.
“Our inside game has developed as the year has gone on, and if we can knock down some of those outside shots, we’re really tough to defend when we get the inside-out game going,” Infalvi said. “We hit a couple of shots early and we were able to get the ball inside a little bit, and once (Keystone) started collapsing, we kicked it out and got some inside-out shots. Those are the best types of 3-pointers, and when we’re shooting well, those are the looks we’re getting.”
Keystone is just one season removed from a Final Four appearance in last year’s Division III tournament, meaning the Pirates were up against a battle-tested and experienced team.
Much like the Wildcats, Perry is battle-tested, having faced some of the top teams in the area throughout the non-conference schedule to prepare for this year’s postseason.
“We knew coming in that they’re a really good team,” Infalvi said of Keystone. “They have three good guards and have some size inside. They do good things, so we knew it would be tough. The independent schedule that we’ve played between Canfield, Mentor, Normandy, Rootstown, and Gilmour Academy got us prepared for where we are today. We talked about how anything we’re going to face in the tournament will be nothing we haven’t already faced at a high level. I think all of that prepared us for today. When we step on the court, we worry about playing our game.”
Austin paced Perry with 12 points, all on 3-pointers, and Tharp added in 10 more while also pulling down seven rebounds.
Victoria Lynch pitched in with nine points, while sister Mia finished with five points and eight rebounds, and Mechenbier had five points and 10 boards as well.
Perry will take on eighth-seeded West Branch in a Division IV District championship game on Feb. 22 at Akron North High School.
