CUMBERLAND — In the tug of war between Southern’s up-tempo style and Allegany’s methodical pace, the Rams ran away with it.
Allegany, which came in allowing an area-low 28.3 points per game, consistently used much of the shot clock and shortened the game. But Southern opened on a 9-1 run, and it got out on the fast break to the tune of a 13-2 burst in the second period to separate.
Jayden Weaver led all scorers with 20 points, powering top-ranked Southern to a 54-33 romp of No. 4 Allegany Thursday in a battle for first place in the Western Maryland Athletic Conference.
“That’s a fun game. That’s what we come down here for,” Southern head coach Landon Todd said. “They played their tails off and from tip to buzzer at the end. They don’t quit. They’re always well-prepared. It was a fun atmosphere, a little bit hostile, so that kind of added to it all.”
Southern upped its winning streak to seven games to improve to 11-3 overall and 5-0 in the WestMAC. The Rams haven’t lost an area game in nearly two years.
Allegany fell to 11-2 overall and 4-1 in conference play.
Emelee Parks joined Weaver in double figures with 10 points, Kelsey Ward added nine, Gabby Berry scored eight, all in the fourth quarter, and Joycelyn Ward chipped in seven.
Weaver tallied 12 of her 20 points in the first half. The junior guard buried two triples, but she did most of her damage around the rim, hurting Allegany with the dribble-drive along with Parks.
“I think getting to the rim is one of our (strengths),” Weaver said. “(Coach) Landon always tells us, ‘Get to the rim, get to the rim. Don’t settle for 3s.'”
Southern led 11-5 after the first quarter, and its edge stood at 24-7 following a 13-2 burst in the second. The Rams entered the half up 26-11 and took a 40-20 margin into the fourth.
Allegany’s Amanda Vizza nearly recorded a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds, and Braylin Bosley added six points.
The Campers played hard throughout, but they were never able to get comfortable offensively, committing 18 turnovers.
“I was really impressed how hard our kids played,” Allegany head coach Jim O’Neal said. “Things didn’t go well. I never saw a change in mentality. They just kept playing with that same tenacity.
“I thought we did some really good things defensively, and offensively at times. They were able to get us where we had trouble even getting into a rhythm. That’s something we’ll have to take a look at.”
Allegany has had success this season using its tight man-to-man defense to grind out games, often frustrating opponents with long scoring droughts.
The Rams’ fast start put Allegany behind from the jump, and the Campers were the team being stymied on the offensive end.
“We told them going into the game that at some point we were looking for a 10-, 12-, 14-point run to where it really creates that gap and gives us some breathing room,” Todd said. “But credit to them. … They drew out some long possessions.”
Things don’t get easier for Allegany, as the Campers host small-school Pennsylvania power Berlin Brothersvalley on Monday at 7 p.m., though the game will likely be impacted by the weekend’s snow storm.
Berlin (12-3) is led by star point guard Coral Prosser, who holds at least 25 Division 1 offers, including one from Texas A&M.
Southern is at Peters Township, Pennsylvania, on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.