By RON PONIEWASZ JR.
rponiewasz@ncnewsonline.com

The Wilmington High girls basketball team couldn’t get going Saturday.

Villa Maria, though, had no trouble in that regard.

Wilmington was blanked in the opening period and never recovered in dropping a 73-14 District 10, Class AA quarterfinal-round contest to the Lady Victors at General McLane High School.

The Lady Greyhounds finished (12-11). They lost to Villa Maria in the quarterfinals last year as well, 84-23.

“Villa Maria started in a press and they kept it going through the first quarter and into the second quarter,” Lady Greyhounds coach Brandy Sanford said. “We haven’t figured out how to play against the better teams yet; it still seems to be a big mental hurdle.”

The defending state champion Lady Victors (21-2) advance to the District 10 semifinals against Sharpsville, a 44-36 win over Seneca, at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Gannon University’s Hammermill Center.

Wilmington trailed 20-0 before Mackenzie Hiers drained a pair of foul shots 17 seconds into the second quarter. The Lady Greyhounds didn’t hit their first field goal until Grace Gealy connected with 2:48 to go in the opening half.

Villa Maria led 18-0 after the first quarter and 42-4 at the break. The Lady Victors forced 25 Wilmington turnovers.

“My girls battled all the way to the end, even if the score doesn’t show it,” Sanford said. “We didn’t play well at all in the first half, but we played much better in the second half.

“I thought we were more aggressive in the second half.”

Haley Marett and Grace Gealy netted four points each for the Lady Greyhounds.

Lisa Mifsud paced Villa Maria with 17 points.

“She’s a real nice inside player,” Sanford said. “She was actually well guarded, one of the few that was by us.

“Villa Maria will definitely win the district championship unless something major happens. They’re just very good.”

Wilmington loses Marett and Julie Burns to graduation.

“We’re going to lose a lot of enthusiasm and leadership in that group,” Sanford said of the duo. “Julie is a quiet leader and Haley is more vocal.

“They each bring their own part to it. We really have to find someone to step in.”