Allderdice girls top Obama Academy to claim City League championship
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Sunday, February 18, 2024 | 2:40 PM
Allderdice’s Bailey White (2), Peyton Lynch (21), Jahnayah Lash (12) and Seena Teshome (5) celebrate following Allderdice’s victory over Obama Academy in the City League championship game Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at Duquesne’s UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Allderdice’s Bailey White (2) receives her City League championship game MVP trophy Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at Duquesne’s UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Allderdice’s Bailey White (left) and Peyton Lynch (right) react following Allderdice’s victory over Obama Academy in the City League championship game Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at Duquesne’s UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
The Allderdice girls basketball team poses for a team photo after winning the City League championship Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at Duquesne’s UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Allderdice’s Bailey White (right) and Peyton Lynch (left) celebrate following Allderdice’s victory over Obama Academy in the City League championship game Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at Duquesne’s UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
The Allderdice girls basketball team celebrates with the trophy after winning the City League championship Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at Duquesne’s UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Allderdice’s Bailey White (left) and Obama Academy’s Taylor Phillips fight for a loose ball during the City League championship Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Obama Academy coach Monique McCoy reacts as her team falls to Allderdice during the City League championship Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Allderdice’s Peyton Lynch looks for room to pass against Obama Academy during the City League championship Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Allderdice’s Peyton Lynch (21) reacts after a three-point basket from teammate Bailey White during the City League championship against Obama Academy on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Allderdice’s Peyton Lynch (right) defends a shot attempt from Obama Academy’s Ahmaya Rogers during the City League championship Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Allderdice’s Noriaya Warren attempts a layup in traffic against Obama Academy during the City League championship Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Allderdice’s Noriaya Warren attempts a shot over Obama Academy’s Ahmaya Rogers during the City League championship Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Allderdice’s Noriaya Warren (left) and Obama Academy’s Ra’Leja Woods go for the ball during the City League championship Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Obama Academy’s Ra’Leja Payne attempts a shot through pressure from Allderdice’s Peyton Lynch during the City League championship Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Allderdice’s Bailey White has her shot blocked by Obama Academy’s Taylor Phillips during the City League championship Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Allderdice’s Jahnayah Teshome attempts a layup past Obama Academy’s Keliyah Payne during the City League championship Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Allderdice’s Seena Teshome (left) fights for a loose ball against Obama Academy’s Taylor Phillips during the City League championship Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Allderdice’s Bailey White (2) and Obama Academy’s Ahmaya Rogers (22) fight for a loose ball during the City League championship Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Allderdice’s Noriaya Warren (right) battles Obama Academy’s Taylor Phillips during the City League championship Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Allderdice’s Bailey White looks for room to drive past Obama Academy’s Taylor Phillips during the City League championship Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Allderdice guard Bailey White was worried things may be going south Sunday afternoon. The Dragons’ were ice cold in the first quarter of the City League girls basketball championship game against Obama Academy at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
White missed her first four shots, while Allderdice missed 14 of its first 16. There was a brief feeling of deja vu for White dating back to last season’s 46-point loss to the Eagles in the title game.
“I was hoping we wouldn’t have as many turnovers as we did at the beginning of the game,” White said. “I was hoping our offense would get better.”
Once Allderdice’s offense got hot, there was little Obama could to do stop them. White’s shooting sparked a 10-0 second-quarter run that helped carry Allderdice to a 62-39 win.
Once White’s shots started going in, it was the start of a vicious barrage. White finished with 34 points, including making 7 of 10 3-point attempts.
“It was a rough start, Bailey had a couple of early fouls and had to sit on the bench for a little bit,” Allderdice coach Ellen Guillard said. “Our offensive flow wasn’t really flowing. We were missing a lot of layups. It was nice she could regroup and give it her best effort going down the stretch.”
Thanks to the Dragons’ struggles on offense, Obama Academy (12-9) opened the game with a 9-2 run. Ahmaya Rogers capped the opening surge with a jumper late in the first quarter. Obama Academy still held a 17-8 lead midway through the second quarter when the game changed.
White made a 3-pointer with 2 minutes, 54 seconds left before halftime that kicked off a 10-0 run. White, who was named MVP, capped off the charge with another 3-pointer that gave Allderdice its first lead, 18-17. Allderdice is built to push the pace.
“We do a lot of conditioning and running at practice,” White said. “That also helps with running up and down the court.”
The Dragons (14-9) also employed a box-and-one defense to slow down Obama Academy’s top scorer, Taylor Phillips. Obama Academy shot 28.6% from the field and finished with 33 turnovers.
Phillips was limited to 11 points. Gi’Onna Simmons led the Eagles with 17 points.
Eagles coach Monique McCoy said that Obama Academy struggled to handle the box-and-one. This wasn’t a defensive look the Eagles saw much all season.
“Actually, Wednesday night was the first time we saw a box-and-one on Taylor,” McCoy said. “Taylor never saw the box-and-one last year or the season before that. It was just the past two games. We didn’t execute the play we had to free her up or free other persons up.”
Peyton Lynch also scored in double figures for Allderdice, making two 3-pointers and finishing with 14 points. Following a 75-29 loss in the championship game last season, everyone in the Dragons program was able to enjoy climbing back on top of the City League.
“We were able to get our look back,” Guillard said. “They had a chip on their shoulder and were ready to get after it and play as we could as a team.”
Tags: Allderdice, Obama Academy
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