COLONIAL LEAGUE GIRLS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP ESSENTIALS
No. 2 Notre Dame vs. No. 1 Southern Lehigh
Time: 6:05 p.m.
Site: Easton Area Middle School.
Tickets: $6 adults, $3 students, $3 senior citizens.
Records: Notre Dame 19-4; Southern Lehigh 22-1.
Lehighvalleylive rankings: No. 7 Notre Dame; No. 2 Southern Lehigh.
Previous meetings: 48-38 Southern Lehigh on Jan. 3.
Possible Notre Dame starters: Sr. G Kelsey Gorman, Jr. G Natalie Galle, Sr. G Cassie Kelly, Jr. F Olivia Brandt, Sr. F Cailee Murphy (9.3 points per game).
Possible Southern Lehigh starters: Jr. G Amanda Mobley (12.9 ppg), So. G Olivia Snyder (16 ppg), Sr. G Jenna Cyr, Jr. F Avery Bennett, So. F Ellie Cassel.
The scoop: No one in the Colonial League has played Southern Lehigh closer this season than Notre Dame. So, it’s appropriate that the Crusaders are the Spartans’ last obstacle to ending a spotless league season with their second straight Colonial crown.
The Crusaders are sound defensively and will be hard to break down, assuming they can get back in transition and get set before Mobley and the Spartans drive the ball up the court. Notre Dame also plays with a larger rotation, so it has the bodies to stay fresh against Southern Lehigh’s attack.
The question, however, is if the Crusaders have enough firepower to match the defending champs, even assuming they have a solid defensive performance. Southern Lehigh is averaging 58 points a game. Notre Dame averages 46.7.
Southern Lehigh has been overwhelming all year and has a lineup with championship experience.
Prediction: Solehi stretched its Colonial League regular-season winning streak to 48 prior to the playoffs. But! But nothing. Southern Lehigh, 54-45.
Kyle Craig may be reached at kcraig@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KyleCraigSports. Find Lehigh Valley high school sports on Facebook.
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