PIAA Girls' Basketball Roundup: Defensive Star Leads Bethel
Colin Dunlap
 Too often, success is measured by what a player does with the basketball.
Points, rebounds, assists are the easiest barometers to gauge contributions.
So how does a player with 4 points, 2 rebounds and 0 assists in a double-overtime game have a performance that stands taller than everyone else's?
By defensively shutting down one of the best players in the state. That's how.
Bethel Park junior Bridget Bielich guarded New Castle senior Jaleesa Sams everywhere the Red Hurricanes' standout went, limiting Sams to nine points. As a result, the Black Hawks (25-4) earned a 48-43 double overtime victory against WPIAL champion New Castle (28-2) last night in a PIAA Class AAAA girls' second-round playoff game at North Allegheny.
Sams was 2 for 9 from the field and 5 for 7 from the free-throw line as Bielich denied, grabbed and muscled the New Castle standout to the point where Sams had trouble freeing space to simply catch an entry pass. Through three quarters, Sams had just three points.
"She is very determined, feisty and looked at this as a challenge," Bethel Park coach Jonna Burke said of Bielich. "In my 12 years coaching, Jaleesa is the best player I've seen and the hardest to have to play and coach against. You can't talk enough about what [Bielich] did out there, really, you can't say it enough."
Bielich's incessant defensive pressure on Sams, a North Carolina A&T recruit, helped Bethel Park advance to Friday's quarterfinals against Upper St. Clair, at a time and place to be determined.
"I felt like I did the best I could," said Bielich, who played all 40 minutes without a rest. "I said to myself, 'Forget about your offense' because I knew my team needed me on defense."
New Castle went cold in the second quarter, going just 2 for 10 from the floor and being held without a field goal for a span of 4:51. That helped Bethel Park transform a two-point deficit after the first quarter into a 22-16 lead at halftime.
The contest entered overtime tied at 38-38. Bethel senior Samantha Loadman, who finished with 16 points, and freshman teammate Danielle McNabb, who had 13 points, were solid for the Black Hawks down the stretch. New Castle guard Ryenn Michaletti, who led all scorers with 22 points, missed a jumper from about 10 feet at the end of the first overtime.
Bethel Park outscored New Castle in the second overtime, 5-0.
The Hurricanes were done in not only by Bielich's defense, but a 13 for 59 shooting performance, a 3-for-29 effort from beyond the 3-point stripe and 20 turnovers.
"We didn't take advantage of any opportunities," a dejected Sams said, her head glaring at the floor. "They just outplayed us."
High School Athletes of the Week - Samantha Loadman, Bethel Park
Rick Shrum
SCHOOL: Bethel Park.
WHO IS SHE? The point guard for the girls' basketball team, which is No. 3 in the Post-Gazette's WPIAL Class AAAA rankings.
THE PAST WEEK: Loadman, a 5-foot-9 senior, scored 16 points Thursday in a 61-43 victory at Peters Township and nine Monday in a 54-42 win against Trinity.
SEASON: Loadman is averaging 15.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game for the Black Hawks (17-3, 8-1), who are in first place.
CAREER: This is Loadman's fourth year as a starter. She topped 1,000 points in late December and has 1,145 overall.
UNSELFISH: Though she called 1,000 points "an awesome accomplishment," Loadman does not consider herself to be a scorer. "I always look for the open player. But if I have an open shot, I'll take it. I like to drive and take the midrange jumper."
MORE ASSERTIVE: Coach Jonna Burke said her point guard is more than a talented athlete. "Probably her No. 1 strength is her mental attitude. Sam doesn't let things affect her. She could make four shots in a row or miss four in a row, and you couldn't tell by her face. But she hates to lose."
DAD A STAR ATHLETE: Longtime City League football fans should be familiar with the Loadman surname. Samantha's father, Tom, was the quarterback of Carrick's City championship team in 1972. He lettered at West Virginia for two seasons.
FUTURE: Loadman, who has a 4.0 grade point average, has accepted a scholarship to play at Mercyhurst College, an NCAA Division II program.
PG South: Basketball notebook - Hats off to you
Colin Dunlap
Congratulations to Bethel Park girls' coach Jonna Burke, who recently picked up her 200th career coaching victory. Burke claimed the milestone in a 63-59 win against Upper St. Clair on the road Monday.
Burke, a former player at Pitt, is in her 12th season of coaching, having served eight at Butler and after the win she has a 200-101 record.
The Black Hawks are 8-0 heading into tonight's matchup against Peters Township and have been paced by the play of Samantha Loadman.
A 5-foot-9 senior guard, Loadman has scored in double-digits in every game, including a 20 point outburst against Norwin, 20 more against Moon and 21 in a win against Woodland Hills.
High School Highlights: Bethel Park coach gets 200th win
From local dispatches
In a battle of unbeatens, Bethel Park (8-1, 1-0), ranked No. 3 in Class AAAA by the Post-Gazette, claimed a 63-59 win at No. 4 Upper St. Clair (6-1, 1-1) in Section 4 girls' basketball.
The victory was the 200th in the career of Bethel Park coach Jonna Burke, who has a 200-101 record in 12 seasons, including eight at Butler.
Samantha Loadman and Katie Kendall led the Black Hawks with 16 points each.
Bethel Park led, 33-19, at the half, but trailed, 55-54, in the fourth quarter.
Freshman Danielle McNabb helped Bethel Park rally by scoring 10 of her 15 points in the final period.
"The most important thing is that we were able to come back and beat USC," Burke said. "We made some plays down the stretch after USC got hot. This is the kind of win I'll remember."
Last Updated 3/14/2007 12:24:16 PM / 2badcats.com
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