KINGSTON — Just a few seasons ago, a Wyoming Seminary girls basketball game against Holy Redeemer would have been decided by halftime. Maybe even sooner.
The Blue Knights showed Thursday night against Redeemer how much progress they have made in their third full season under coach CJ Kersey.
The result didn’t change, but Redeemer’s 54-39 victory over Seminary in a Wyoming Valley Conference Division 2 game was much closer than it appeared.
Kersey, who coached the boys program, took over midway through a four-win season in 2021-22.
Seminary 6-foot-2 sophomore Ella Stambaugh had just one field goal and five points in the first half, but led the Blue Knights’ second-half rally attempt and finished with 22 points.
“I’m proud of the girls and the progress they’ve made,” Kersey said. “We were down 10 at the half and to come back against a team like Redeemer and make it a one-point game in the fourth quarter is great progress.
“Our goal now is to make the next step and finish a game like this, but I definitely don’t want to lose sight on the steps this program continues to make.”
Seminary (2-3 Div. 2, 6-4 overall) looked done late in the third quarter as Redeemer (4-1 Div. 2, 10-3) built a 32-21 lead. The Blue Knights responded with the quarter’s final seven points to pull within 32-28.
Seminary’s Stella Ruiz then hit a 3-pointer to open the fourth quarter, slicing Redeemer’s advantage to one point.
After a basket by Redeemer’s Gillian Parsons, the Blue Knights had two cracks at tying the score. Both 3-pointers, though, were off the mark. Redeemer was then able to open up some space in the latter part of the final quarter.
Redeemer had four players in double figures. Bella Boylan had 14, Brooke Kroptavich had 13, Megan Albrecht score 12 and McKenzie Chimock added 10. Albrecht finished with 11 rebounds, helping correct some issues on the boards in the first quarter.
“We say it all the time we have four girls who can score,” Redeemer coach John Jezorwski said. “I was very happy with the effort in the fourth quarter. (Seminary) played hard. Ella is a great player and CJ is a great coach.
“People get up to play Holy Redeemer. They played hard every single minute of the game.”
Holy Redeemer 54, Wyoming Seminary 39
HOLY REDEEMER (54) — Megan Albrecht 4 4-4 12, Bella Boylan 6 2-4 14, Brooke Kroptavich 4 5-7 13, Kayla Pekarovsky 0 0-0 0, McKenzie Chimock 4 2-4 10, Tessa Cegelka 0 0-0 0, Kearney Quinn 1 0-0 3, Mary Lombardi 0 0-0 0, Gillian Parsons 2 0-0 4. Totals 20 13-19 54.
WYOMING SEMINARY (39) — Stella Ruiz 3 0-1 7, Avery Luksic 2 0-2 4, Ella Stambaugh 6 8-11 22, Ellie Kersey 1 1-2 4, Clare Griffin 1 0-0 2, Maya Gross 0 0-0 0. Totals 13 9-16 39.
Holy Redeemer`8`13`11`22 — 54
Wyoming Seminary`8`3`17`11 — 39
Three-point goals: HR 1 (Quinn). WS 4 (Ruiz, Stambaugh 2, Kersey).