COUDERSPORT, Pa. – Port Allegany took a large step towards claiming its first NTL regular-season title since 2015 with a 41-32 win at Coudersport.
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With the victory, the Lady Gators (11-4 overall, 10-1 NTL) broke a tie in the loss column with Coudersport (7-4, 6-2) for first place in the NTL with five games left for Port Allegany in conference play. It also completed a season sweep of the Lady Falcons giving the Lady Gators in essence a two-game lead for the regular-season title. Port Allegany won NTL tiles in 2014 and 2015 for the first time since taking three conference crowns in a row between 1997 and 1999.
Coudersport is still very much alive for the regular-season crown but also the overall title, as this year, for the first time, the NTL is holding a planned four-team playoff pitting the top four regular-season teams in a postseason conference tournament.
Port Allegany trailed by one, 17-16, at halftime but outscored Coudersport, 13-6, in the third quarter to take a 29-23 lead.
Ella Moses led the third-quarter charge scoring seven of her 11 points in the frame. Moses also added eight rebounds, four assists, and three steals.
Kayleigh Dowell then helped the Lady Gators put the game away in the fourth quarter scoring seven of her game-high 16 points in the final eight minutes while going 4 of 4 from the free-throw line in the quarter. Dowell also had four rebounds and four steals.
Macie Popchak led Coudersport with nine points with Savannah Myers adding seven points, four rebounds, and two assists. Emilee Ruter also had seven points, Hallie Rigas chipped in five rebounds and three steals, and Oliva Fink contributed five rebounds and four points
OTTO-ELDRED 32, OSWAYO VALLEY 19
DUKE CENTER, Pa. – With five conference games left, Otto-Eldred moved into the top four in the NTL with a 32-19 home win over Oswayo Valley.
The Lady Terrors (9-6 overall, 7-4) in the NTL are now tied for third place with Austin (10-6, 7-4), a 35-19 winner over Cameron County. Both teams are a game up on fifth-place Northern Potter (8-6, 5-4), although they are tied in the loss column, and Oswayo Valley (10-6, 6-5) with the top four teams making the inaugural NTL postseason tournament.
Rayel Hakes and Ayla Van Scoter each had 10 points for Otto-Eldred with Van Scoter adding eight rebounds and two steals and Hakes four rebounds.
Carrie Drummond chipped in six points on 6 of 8 from the line to go with six rebounds and two steals in the win, and Addie Bell had three points, five rebounds, three steals, and two assists.
Makenna Manning had seven points for Oswayo Valley with Charlotte Austin-Keech adding six.
AUSTIN 35, CAMERON COUNTY 19
AUSTIN, Pa. – Austin kept pace with Otto-Eldred (see above) for third place in the NTL with a 35-19 win over visiting Cameron County.
Lily Clinger had 15 points, six steals, five rebounds, and two assists to lead the Lady Panthers (10-6, 7-4) with Kadence McKeirnan adding eight points and three blocks.
Ella Brewer had a team-high 10 rebounds to go with six steals, three assists, two blocks, and four points for Austin with Isabella Rees adding eight rebounds, two assists, two steals, and four points.
Elsie Breslin led Cameron County (3-11, 3-7) with seven points.
KANE 41, BROCKWAY 30
BROCKWAY, Pa. – In a non-conference clash in Brockway, visiting Kane beat the host Lady Rovers, 41-30, in come-from-behind fashion behind 19 points from Maya Smith.
Smith scored 13 of her points in the second half to help the Lady Wolves (7-5) outscore Brockway (5-10) 24-7 in the half including 13-4 in the third quarter when Smith scored nine points. The Lady Rovers led 23-17 at halftime.
Hailey Hillman added eight points for Kane with Isabella Saf chipping in seven tallies.
Sophia Schmader had a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double for Brockway.
ST. MARYS 61, BROOKVILLE 31
ST. MARYS, Pa. – Four players reached double digits for St. Marys in a 61-31 Mercy Rule win over visiting Brookville in D9 League action.
Molly Hanslovan led the Lady Dutch (9-3 overall, 3-1 D9 League) with 13 points, Jayssa Snelick added 12 points, Alexa Schneider had 11 points, and Taylor Gornati scored 10 points.
Eden Wonderling had 10 points for Brookville (6-6, 1-3).
NORTH CLARION 69, FOREST AREA 11
TIONESTA, Pa. – Lily Homan scored 26 points, including 15 in the first quarter, as visiting North Clarion ran past Forest Area, 69-11, in a non-league game.
North Clarion (12-2) led 26-2 at the end of eight minutes.
Ainsley Hartle chipped in 14 points in the victory.
Amber Guzzi netted six points for Forest Area (7-8).
