Defense powers Central Bucks West to quarterfinal win

Peyton Traina is Mackenzie Carroll's shooting partner in practice.

The Central Bucks West senior guards push one other during that time, running drills together and taking turns releasing jumpers.

Traina said from that "first-hand" experience, she knows just how hard Carroll works on her shot.

Everyone in the gymnasium Friday at Colonial Elementary School in Plymouth Whitemarsh got a glimpse of just how hard they both have been working at practice.

The Bucks defeated Archbishop Carroll, 60-45, in the quarterfinals of the PIAA Class AAAA state tournament.

"She never misses a shot," Traina said, of her teammate. "She's unbelievable. She has great confidence in herself."

Carroll finished with a game-high of 19. She took it hard to the basket, finished several putbacks, and knocked down quite a few jumpers.

Traina was no slouch in the shooting department, either. She finished with 13 points, including two big three-pointers.

"We can't play without one person, and we all have to work together," Traina said. "We're not just a one-person, two-person team. We all contribute in a certain way, and I think that helped us pull out the win tonight."

What else helped them pull off the decisive win? A defense that coach Terry Rakowsky called, "extraordinary."

A defense highlighted by the fact that the Bucks (31-1) held the Patriots (18-8) to just 16 first-half points. Strong defense is nothing new for C.B. West, but the Bucks' aggressive, passionate, and no-holds barred play has really paid off in the state tournament. In three playoff games, they have won by margins of 36, 29, and 15 - for an average of more than 26 points per contest.

"If we win by one, then we win by one," Corrinne Godshall said. "If we win by 10, then we win by 10 - we are just playing our best."

On Tuesday, the Bucks will face off against Palmyra in the semifinals at a site and time to be determined. It will be the farthest the program has ever advanced.

"We are so happy," Godshall said. "We are just so glad that our hard work and all the dedication we have is showing and paying off."

But before their chance to get to Hershey and contend for a state championship, Traina and Carroll will go to their designated basket and shoot together at practice. They'll push one another, just as usual. And why not? It seems to be working.

Archbishop Carroll 6 10 8 21 - 45

Central Bucks West 14 16 10 20 - 60

AC: Bella Sorrentino 10, Julia Gantz 9, Lexi Stover 9, Jess Carney 9, Lexi Kucia 8.

CBW: Mackenzie Carroll 19, Peyton Traina 13, Corrinne Godshall 10, Makenzie Mason 6, Maggie Rakowsky 6, Nicole Munger 4, Meghan Tillger 2.