CLARION, Pa. – Defense wins championships.
Rewatch the game
The top-seeded Lady Crusaders held second-seeded Otto-Eldred to less than eight points in three of the four quarters to help secure its first District 9 title since 2010 with a 39-28 victory in the District 9 Class 1A Championship Saturday afternoon at Clarion University’s Tippin Gym.
“We haven’t had a title since 2010,” ECC head coach Ken Pistner said. “We’ve been in the Final Four a lot of times in the past 10 years but never got over the hump.”
ECC allowed only two points in the first quarter and limited the Lady Terrors to 10 in the first half.
“That’s really big,” Lucy Klawuhn said of the defensive effort. “If we keep them down, we can keep making our shots, keep getting the lead and keep the score up.”
Despite the slow start, Otto-Eldred outscored ECC, 11-6 in the fourth and cut the 33-17 deficit to nine midway through the fourth thanks to 3-pointers from Brooke Close and Katie Sheeler.
“Absolutely,” Pistner said about if he was worried when the double-digit lead went to single digits. “They have a good team and who I think is the best player in the district (Sheeler) and nine points can disappear in a hurry.”
Photo by Jared Bakaysa
On the offensive side, it was the sophomore duo of Klawuhn and Sami Straub who led the Lady Crusaders’ offense.
Klawuhn had a team-high 12 points all coming from 3-pointers while Straub added 11 points.
“My team getting me the ball,” Klawuhn said of her offensive success. “Without them, I couldn’t get all those shots and get all those opportunities.”
Klawuhn hit two of her four 3-pointers in the first quarter and the Lady Crusaders jumped out to an 8-2 lead at the end of one.
ECC extended the lead to 16-10 at the half with Straub scoring six of her 11 points in the second quarter.
The third quarter saw some other Lady Crusaders score as Tori Newton and Emily Mouer got on the board netting four points apiece while Sydney Alexander knocked down a 3-pointer.
ECC allowed only two field goals in the third quarter and outscored the Lady Terrors, 11-7 to build the 33-17 lead heading into the fourth.
Sheeler paced the Lady Terrors with 12 points while Close finished with six, both 3-pointers.
“This was a pretty high-scoring basketball team we beat tonight,” Pistner said. “To hold them to 28 points was really sound. It wasn’t just one defensive player, the whole team did a great job.”
ECC will take on WPIAL sixth-place finisher Monessen in the opening round of the PIAA playoffs Wednesday, March 9. The game will most likely be at ECC.
“It means a lot,” Klawuhn said of winning the District title. “We’re a young team. We’ve practiced so hard for this.”
Watch Klawuhn’s full postgame interview
Otto-Eldred also moves into the PIAA playoffs and will play District 6 third-place finisher, Bishop Carroll, Wednesday. That game could also be at Otto-Eldred.
ELK COUNTY CATHOLIC 39, OTTO-ELDRED 28
Scores by Quarter
ECC 8 8 11 6 – 39
Otto-Eldred 2 8 7 11 – 28
ELK COUNTY CATHOLIC – 39
Gabby Weisner 0 0-0 0, Madi Maarzullo 0 0-0 0, Reagan Bauer 0 0-0 0, Lucy Klawhn 4 0-2 12, Abby Hasselman 0 0-0 0, Sami Straub 3 3-4 10, Sydney Alexander 2 2-2 7, Tori Newton 2 0-0 4, Emily Mouer 3 0-0 6. Totals 14 5-8 39.
OTTO-ELDRED – 28
Anna Merry 2 0-0 4, Brooke Close 2 0-0 6, Katie Sheeler 3 4-5 12, Carrie Drummond 1 0-2 2, Addie Bell 0 0-0 0, Mackenzie Miller 0 0-0 0, Suzie Rounsville 0 0-0 0, Katie Rhinehart 2 0-0 4, Hannah Gordon 0 0-0 0, Bri Heller 0 0-0 0. Totals 10 4-7 28.
Three-pointers: Otto-Eldred 4 (Close 2, Sheeler 2). ECC 6 (Klawuhn 4, Straub, Alexander).
THIRD-PLACE CONSOLATION GAME
NORTH CLARION 43, RIDGWAY 40
FRILLS CORNERS, Pa. – Building a 31-17 halftime lead, North Clarion held off a strong second-half comeback from Ridgway to claim third place in District 9 with a 43-40 win in the third-place consolation game at North Clarion High School.
Gwen Siegel scored 10 of her team-high 16 points in the first half for the She-Wolves (21-5) who also got eight points from Lauren Lutz and seven from Madison McFarland.
Payton Delhunty was hot from the outside for Ridgway knocking down six 3-pointers on her way to a game-high 18 points, including 12 in the second half.
Jenna Kasmierski added 10 points for the Lady Elkers (15-9).
Both teams move into the PIAA playoffs.
North Clarion will play District 10 champion Kennedy Catholic most likely at Kennedy Catholic Wednesday, March 9, while Ridgway will play District 6 runner-up Williamsburg also Wednesday most likely at Williamsburg.
FIFTH-PLACE CONSOLATION GAME
DUBOIS CENTRAL CATHOLIC 58, UNION 50
DUBOIS, Pa. – DuBois Central Catholic claimed the fifth and final Class 1A PIAA playoff berth awarded to District 9 with a 58-50 win over visiting Union.
Lexi Berta hit six 3-pointers on her way to 20 points to pace the Lady Cardinals (17-9) while Kayley Risser added 17 points and Marina Hanes 13.
Dominika Logue scored 18 of her game-high 24 points in the fourth quarter to lead Union. She was 11 of 12 from the free-throw line in the quarter and 15 of 18 for the game.
Keira Croyle also scored 20 points for the Golden Damsels (15-9), whose season came to a close.
With the 24 points, Logue finished her career with 1,391 unofficial career points, the fifth-most in Union Golden Damsels history.
DCC will face WPIAL champion Bishop Canevin in the opening round of the PIAA playoffs Wednesday, March 9, most likely at Bishop Canevin.
