Girls Basketball - Latrobe vs Greensburg Salem

February 10, 2022

Latrobe Girls Clinch Section Championship with 56-39 Win over Greensburg Salem on Senior Night

Put in a call to the maintenance crew. Greater Latrobe needs a new basketball net installed in their gym.

For the second year in a row, the Lady Wildcats finished at the top of Class 5A Section 4, clinching the title with a 56-39 win over Greensburg Salem on Thursday, February 10, in the Greater Latrobe High School gymnasium. The Cats cut down the net at the conclusion of the game on a night when they also honored seniors Anna Rafferty and Bailey Watson.

The victory wasn't a cakewalk for Latrobe. Greensburg Salem, who have already clinched a playoff spot too, came ready to battle. Both teams put up matching scores of 16 and 12 in the opening two quarters, and the game was tied at 28 at halftime. Carissa Caldwell and Abby Mankins combined for 24 of the Lady Lions' points, with Caldwell draining four 3s and Mankins hitting two. Latrobe spread their first half scoring among five players with Elle Snyder leading the way with 11 points, including three 3-pointers.

But the second half was another story, as Latrobe took control of the contest with a 19-6 advantage in third quarter scoring. Latrobe continued to spread the scoring among four players, while Caldwell's two 3-pointers were the only points for Greensburg Salem in the third.

The pace slowed in the final quarter as Latrobe outscored the Lions 9-6 enroute to the win. Then the Wildcats got out the stepladder to do a bit of tailoring on the nets in front of a crowd of students and fans who cheered in support.

Elle Snyder led all scorers with 22 points, with four buckets from behind the 3-point arc. Teammates Emma Blair and Anna Rafferty added 10 each for the Wildcats while Camille Dominick chipped in for 9. Carissa Caldwell had honors for Greensburg Salem with 20 points, including six 3-point shots. Senior Abby Mankins had 15, including two shots from long range.

Latrobe (15-3, 11-1) has finished their conference schedule but will play a pair of non-conference matchups against local teams Hempfield and Penn-Trafford on Saturday and Monday, before the WPIAL playoffs begin. Greensburg Salem (15-6, 6-5) will finish their conference schedule Friday as they host McKeesport.