By Tom Robinson, NEPASportsNation.com
WILKES-BARRE TWP. – The look and approach of the Montrose offense may change, but one thing remains constant.
The Lady Meteors’ success is built off of their commitment to intense defense.
Montrose held Old Forge scoreless for 13:36 and without a field goal for 15 minutes Friday afternoon on the way to tying record for least points allowed while winning the District 2 Class 2A girls basketball championship, 42-15.
The 15 points allowed matched a 2021 win by the Susquehanna girls in Class A against Forest City for the fewest allowed in eight years of championship games at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.
Montrose held Old Forge in single digits in scoring until the last 5:05 of the game.
There were strategic adjustments and halftime, but that might not have been the most important reason behind a scoreless third quarter and holding Old Forge to 12.2 percent shooting (5-for-41), including 8.7 percent (2-for-23) from beyond the arc.
“The bottom line is they work hard,” Lady Meteors coach Todd Smith said. “When your team works hard, it takes care of a lot of things.”
It was the fifth time this season that Montrose held an opponent to 15 points or less than the ninth time it limited a team to 20 or less.
The Lady Meteors ran off 23 straight points from late in the first half until midway through the fourth quarter to open a 36-9 lead.
Season scoring leader Mia Snyder scored all 9 of her points during that streak while Paley Adams had 6 of her game-high 13.
“We communicated great, settled down and played our game,” Adams said. “ … It’s a little nerve-wracking, but it’s very exciting.
“We knew our team could do something good. We just had to have faith in each other.”
The Lady Meteors have shown adaptability since losing all-star point guard Aspen Smith to season-ending knee surgery, slipping just once on their way to a third straight Lackawanna League Division 4 title and succeeding in their arena debut.
Coach Smith, Aspen’s father, instructed his team to concentrate on the inside game in its first arena trip and the Lady Meteors responded.
“I told them we probably weren’t going to win the game by chucking it from the outside,” coach Smith said. “Down here. I’ve played in these gyms before. You have to get the ball in the paint.
“You win and lose; it’s going to be in the paint. I think we controlled that pretty well.”
Adams, a 6-foot-2 junior center, led the way, also grabbing seven rebounds and blocking three shots.
Hayley Pompey, a 5-10 senior forward, also worked inside for 11 points and 6 rebounds.
Pompey went 3-for-3 in the first quarter to help Montrose to a 10-3 lead.
“Adams played great today,” coach Smith said. “We’ve been waiting all year. She’s had moments. I just don’t think she was confident in herself. The last couple weeks we could see it coming.”
The Lady Meteors outscored the Lady Devils, 31-5, in the paint.
Riley Keihl, a defensive specialist as the first player off the bench, became a starter when Aspen Smith went out with the injury.
While Mia Snyder has taken over the ball-handling responsibilities, it was Keihl who had a game-high six assists, primarily with her ability to make entry passes from the wing.
“She had to fill a role and that’s her role,” Pompey said. “She’s a defender; she’s a passer.
“She’s helped us so much the last few games since Aspen’s been down.”
Keihl has been working on finding new ways to open the passing lanes.
“Defense. I was told from Day One that I was a role player and my role was to bring energy and help everyone else,” she said. “What I’ve been building on, coach Smith has really been harping on, is driving to the basket and finding people.
“Our posts get points. He says, ‘if you drive, they find themselves open’.”
Montrose (20-4) advances to host Northwest (20-6) Friday at 7 in the first round of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association state tournament. The Lady Rangers, formerly District 2 members, finished third in District 4.
The district title is the first for the Lady Meteors since the 2012 team went 27-3 and reached the state semifinals.
Old Forge ends its season at 11-13.
MORE CLASS 2A GIRLS FINAL COVERAGE
Expanded boxscore: Class 2A girls expanded boxscore – NEPA Sports Nation.
Photo Gallery: Old Forge/ Montrose Photo Gallery – NEPA Sports Nation.
Broadcast archive: District 2 Class 2A Girls: Old Forge vs. Montrose | Basketball | NPFNetwork7 (meridix.com).
Video highlights: NEPA Sports Nation on Instagram: “Balanced scoring leads Montrose to the W sponsored by Burke Stone Supply & Maddock Insurance!”.
