St. Mary’s Ryken gets OT win over Paul VI in WCAC girls’ basketball

The jumping ability that propelled St. Mary’s Ryken junior guard Brittani Burgess around defenders to the basket and to several loose balls in overtime of Tuesday’s Washington Catholic Athletic Conference game against Paul VI is mostly natural, she insists, aided some by working out.

“Britt’s got hops for days,” said St. Mary’s Ryken senior guard Katie McCormick, with an embarrassed Burgess within earshot. “She’ll be dunking in a sec.”

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Burgess, a wiry 5-foot-10 guard, used an attacking style and relentless rebounding to net six points and five rebounds in overtime to power St. Mary’s Ryken over visiting Paul VI, 59-53, in Leonardtown.

Burgess said she was “a little nervous. I didn’t want to rush too much but I did a little. But at the end we won, and a win is a win, so I’m not complaining.”

The evenly-matched teams traded blows for much of the game. No team led by more than six points. St. Mary’s Ryken (15-9, 9-8) led, 21-19, at the half before Paul VI grabbed a 33-31 lead after three quarters.

Playing without standout sophomore forward Ariana Freeman (18.2 points per game), who injured her ankle in the Panthers’ game on Friday, Paul VI relied on sharpshooting guards Marlena Tremba (20 points) and Lindsey Oblitey (15 points).

The Panthers (18-8, 11-6) closely guarded McCormick, the Knights’ standout shooter, forcing Burgess and junior post Cydney Smith (15 points) to carry the scoring. Smith proved difficult for Paul VI defenders to contain around the basket, collecting 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Trailing 48-44, Knights senior Tyler Smith drove through the lane and made a layup with 32 seconds left in regulation. After junior Marissa Somerville and Burgess forced Paul VI to turn the ball over on the next play, Burgess tied the game at 48 on a jumper with 20 seconds left.

In overtime, Burgess netted the Knights’ first points by making a tough layup and drawing a foul. She drew a foul after later pulling down a defensive rebound. Then, she followed up her own miss on the offensive end by jumping around defenders for the ball and laying it in and drawing a foul. She hit the free throw for a 54-53 lead with 1 minute 31 seconds left.

McCormick added a three-pointer with 43 seconds left for added cushion.

“I know Brittani because she’s one of the other guards that carries this team,” said McCormick, a Georgetown recruit who finished with 11 points. “I mean, next year this is going to be her team. I knew she was going to pick it up. She did a great job and got and-ones.”