Guarding the Nest: Goff, Bryant Lead Lady Cards in Playoff Opening Rout

Just days after being honored at an Upper Dublin school board meeting for amassing 1,000 points in her basketball career, Lady Cardinals guard Taylor Bryant found herself with zero heading into halftime against Sun Valley in the District 1 playoff opener Saturday afternoon. 

However, a smile remained on her face, as her hustle and steals helped to build a 24-13 lead after two quarters, a margin from which the Lady Cardinals (19-4) would never look back.

The feisty play of Bryant, along with the hot hand of fellow guard Cutrena Goff, who led Upper Dublin with 15 points, sparked the Lady Cardinals to a 56-30 victory over the visiting Vanguards (14-9).

Head coach Vince Catanzaro said he was happy with Bryant's play and spoke with her at the half.

"I told her, 'great job, you didn't pressure yourself because you weren't scoring, now we can go out and pressure the ball.'" Catanzaro said. "This is going to happen with Taylor in these games, she is going to get locked down a little bit, but if everybody else picks up the scoring, [the opposing team] will need to back off." 

That's precisely what happened against the Vanguards, as 11 Lady Cardinals found their way into the scoring column. The contest started close, with Upper Dublin jumping to a 4-0 lead courtesy of baskets by forward-center Jennifer Myers and Goff. However, the teams would trade baskets for the rest of the first quarter, with the difference coming from a Lauren Rothfeld 3-pointer to give the Lady Cardinals an 10-8 lead heading into the second.

It was there that the feisty play of Bryant and her teammates would make the difference, as Bryant keyed on Sun Valley's guards to create loose balls, often diving to the floor for steals. At one point, Bryant was pulled from the game when she became bloodied, exchanging her #5 jersey for number #11, in accordance with the rules.

"I scraped my knee somehow, I [think] diving for a ball," Bryant said.

Catanzaro also implemented a press defense that resulted in many of the turnovers. It was a new look for the Lady Cards, who tend to employ zones and work the clock with efficient possessions, and Catanzaro said he didn't expect it to be as successful as it was. 

"No, [I didn't expect that] because we don't even run the press that often," said Catanzaro. "But we wanted to try it out in case we get out there and need to do it in a [closer] game." 

Reserve guard Kayla McAneney would provide an offensive spark for Upper Dublin, following a long 3-pointer with a layup to give Upper Dublin an 18-10 lead with 5:20 to play. Forward Brianna Spector would match McAneney with five points of her own in the second, this time scoring in the paint, to give Upper Dublin the 24-13 lead at half.

The third quarter would belong to Goff, who hit two quick shots from close range to give Upper Dublin a 28-15 lead a minute into the frame.

"I was pumped up for this game, I woke up really early to mentally prepare myself," said Goff. "I was very excited to come out and wanted to win."

Bryant would record another steal and score her first points of the game on the next possession as part of a 15-0 run that put the contest out of reach at 39-15 with 1:20 to play.

Upper Dublin would send many of its reserve players into the game in the final frame, before earning the 56-30 victory. 

They will now face Haverford High in the second round at home Wednesday night, and Bryant says she believes the intensity level will remain.

"I definitely want to end my senior year on a high note," Bryant said. "I don't want to go out early or in a game we should have won. I definitely want to push as far as we're capable of going."

Upper Dublin Scoring

Cutrena Goff: 15
Lauren Rothfeld: 9
Brianna Spector: 8
Taylor Bryant: 6
Kayla McAneney: 5
Jennifer Myers: 4
Larissa Leyes: 3
Gabriella Bucci: 2
Taylor Linus: 2
Eileene McKee: 1
Carly Strauss: 1 

Sun Valley Scoring

Gia DeAngelo: 10
Alie Alkins: 8
Katie Maloney: 4
Arissa Green: 3
Shayna Orr: 3
Brooke Duncan: 1
Chelsea Jones: 1