Girls Basketball: Nagy and company fill in for Garnet Valley

HAVERFORD >> Somebody on Garnet Valley had to fill a vacant position in the starting lineup Monday afternoon. That somebody was … well, several players. With senior guard Nicole Barnes not in attendance for a Central League showdown at Haverford, many Jaguars were asked to take on added responsibility.

Junior guard Jillian Nagy started in place of Barnes, who was back at home preparing for her senior prom showcase at Garnet Valley. Barnes would have been present had the Central League last week not decided to move all games from Tuesday, their regularly scheduled day, to Monday.

“I was a little nervous, but I’m used to playing with the starters when I have to go in if Nicole gets in foul trouble or if someone gets hurt,” Nagy said. “I feel like I can pick it up pretty well.”

When Nagy wasn’t handling the point and running the offense, the job was given to junior forwards Emily McAteer and Brianne Borcky, or junior shooting guard Morgan Falcone. The all-hands-on-deck approach worked out just fine. After a wobbly start, Garnet Valley caught fire in the second half and rolled to a 44-31 victory to remain undefeated in the Central League one game left to play.

The loss knocks Haverford out of third place, one game behind Conestoga and Springfield, who have three league losses each. If Conestoga cannot defeat Garnet Valley Wednesday, only three teams will qualify for the Central League playoffs, which get underway Saturday. The win against a solid Haverford team proves that Garnet Valley (19-2, 15-0) can overcome adversity.

“We never really practice for it,” Borcky said, referring to Barnes’ absence. “We usually practice with the starting five against the next five off the bench. “During the games we try to get as much subs in as possible so that we’re all used to playing with one another.”

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PETE BANNAN-DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Garnet Valley’s (42) Brianne Borcky runs over Haverford’s (35) Erin Kelly on a rebound in the first quarter of the Jaguars 44-31 victory.