Rothert's Career-High 34 Points Propel Seneca to Victory

Seneca Valley head girls basketball coach Todd Bumgardner stood outside the Screamin' Eagles' locker room and shared concern about his team's offensive dependence on junior Bridget Rothert.

"She's given us what we've needed, but we definitely need other girls to step up," Bumgardner said. "We're not going to continue having the success we're having unless the other girls do step up. We're going to work on that and hopefully we can get that to happen."

Only time will tell if Bumgardner's concern becomes reality. On Wednesday night, Rothert shouldering the scoring load was enough to get the job done.

The 5-foot-7 Rothert tallied a career-high 34 points and the Screamin' Eagles defeated Quince Orchard 49-43 at Seneca Valley High School. The defending 3A state champion Eagles are off to a 5-2 start, including a 50-49 win over Springbrook on Monday, during which Rothert scored 32 points.

"As my coaches tell me, I'm a player, not a shooter," Rothert said after Wednesday's victory. "When it's not falling, then I've got to play otherwise. I play defense, I play offense, I've got to play everything to win."

Kelsey Wolfe, a freshman on the University of Virginia women's basketball team and last season's Gatorade Maryland Girls Basketball Player of the Year, holds the Seneca Valley single-game scoring record of 41 points.

As a sophomore, Rothert was a role player for Seneca's state title team. This year, she's the Eagles' go-to offensive threat, and on Wednesday she showed off her scoring repertoire. She knocked down four 3-pointers, connected on 4 of 6 free-throw attempts, scored when attacking the rim and on off-balance runners through the lane.

"She's been great," Bumgardner said. "She's top 15 in scoring in the whole region. She's done a great job, but she has also been looking to distribute when it's there. We need other people to step up, but she's been just fantastic."

Seneca led 32-31 midway through the third quarter when the Eagles created separation with a 14-2 run. Rothert scored nine points during the surge, knocking down a pair of 3-pointers and converting a three-point play. Sophomore Charlotte Cunningham buried a 3-pointer from the left corner to give Seneca a 46-33 advantage with 6 minutes, 30 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. The Eagles scored only three points the remainder of the period, but the Cougars (3-4) got no closer than six.

No Seneca player other than Rothert reached double figures in scoring, but junior forward Audrey Rankin was a presence on the boards, grabbing 17 rebounds.

"Defensively, she was just a beast," Bumgardner said. "Seventeen boards: I don't think I've ever coached a player who's had 17 boards in a game before, so it was just incredible to watch. Her energy down there was just incredible. We really needed it tonight to come out ahead."

The 5-foot-10 Rankin credits her ability to jump, aided by leg workouts in the weight room, and desire for her ability to rebound effectively.

"It's just what I do on the team," she said. "I play my part. I know I'm not a shooter, but I get boards. I do what I can. … I just got bounce."

Sasha Orr scored seven points for Seneca, but fouled out in the third quarter. Marissa Rakow and Cunningham each scored three points for the Eagles and Rankin added two.

Leah Dagen led Quince Orchard with 20 points.

Seneca will compete in the Second Annual Bobby Miller Bulldog Classic at Churchill High School in Potomac on Dec. 29-30.