Garnet Valley shuts down Henderson

Senior forward Haley Warden was talking about a metaphoric switch when referring to the intensity with which her Garnet Valley girls' basketball team played during the first half Friday afternoon.

But it might as well have been a real one, considering just how the Jaguars turned up their play late in the second quarter and into the final 16 minutes of the contest.

Warden had 10 points and 11 rebounds as the host Jaguars rolled over West Chester Henderson, 53-32, in the Garnet Valley Tournament.

The Jaguars took an 11-0 lead early, completely dominating the Warriors (1-5), but Henderson bounced back, getting within four in the second quarter.

It was then that the Jaguars (8-1) turned a switch on, Warden said. The switch was to a more aggressive press.

"It builds up our energy," Warden said. "It makes us hyped."

"It fuels us," she added.

And when the Jaguars weren't being relentless in their press, they took advantage of great help defense, something Jordan Ireland said was a focus during recent practices.

Garnet Valley struggled with its help defense early in the season, the junior guard said, as some Jaguars watched teammates score easily in practice.

Now, the team prides itself on its help defense.

"We try to get as much pressure up as we can," Ireland said. "We are all relatively fast, and we all have the aggression that we want the ball and we want to score."

Henderson couldn't handle the Jaguars' pressure, turning the ball over often and not taking many shots. Whereas the Warriors squandered opportunities, Garnet Valley flourished, moving the ball well, creating space in the lanes, and taking advantage of Henderson's mistakes.

Another 11-0 run, powered by a few Ireland steals, and an Ireland three-pointer - it "was a brick, but it still went in," she said - sealed the win for the Jaguars, as they led by 20 for almost the entire second half.

W.C. Henderson 10 8 3 11 – 32

Garnet Valley 18 15 15 5 – 53

WCH: Chynna Scott 13, Brynn Cullinan 6, Julie Gawrylowicz 5, Jenna Maratea 4, Emma Bertrando 4.

GV: Jordan Ireland 11, Macy Goldbach 10, Haley Warden 10, Madison Ireland 8, Sam Tomasetti 7, Katie Stec 4, Sabrina Fusco 2, Kerry O'Donoghue 1.