WEST SUNBURY, Pa. – There is Mylee Harmon’s world and then there is the world for the immortals.
Also see: D9 Girls Recaps • D9 Boys Recaps
Harmon continued to grow her legacy as just a sophomore with another superstar performance in helping Redbank Valley clinch its fourth consecutive KSAC Large School title with a 46-31 win at Moniteau.
“It (the division title) is super important,” Harmon said. “Our goal since the beginning of the season is to make a run, KSACs, Districts, States, so to get this one gives us a confidence boast and a reason to keep us pushing.”
Rewatch the game
Harmon was all over the court on both ends finishing with a game-high 19 points, but probably more impressive were her 12 steals that had her looking like she was playing checker when everyone else was playing chess.
“They telegraph their passes,” Harmon said. “So, you try to read their eyes.”
Read the eyes indeed.
Redbank Valley had 20 steals on the night while forcing 28 Moniteau turnovers (19 before halftime).
That was a big reason the Lady Bulldogs led from the time Harmon scored with nine seconds left in the first quarter (5-3) through the end of the game.
Moniteau, which did itself no favors with the 28 giveaways plus going 2 of 15 from the free-throw line (not a misprint), still found a way to hang around most of the night and cut a 13-point deficit, 29-16, to just seven, 31-24, heading to the fourth quarter.
But an 11-3 run to start the fourth quarter by Redbank Valley erased any doubt as to who the divisional champion was going to be.
Alivia Huffman, who was in foul trouble most of the night, fueled the fourth-quarter spark with Huffman scoring six points during the stretch.
Harmon said the Lady Bulldogs had to dig down deep to turn the close game into a blowout.
“We couldn’t let up,” Harmon said. “We were all tired. Our lets were tired. But, we just had to keep up with it and play tough defense. We were shutting them down on defense pretty well. They weren’t getting many shots up. That is what they like to do, shoot.”
Watch Harmon’s full postgame interview
The win most likely secured the top seed in the District 9 Class 2A playoffs for Redbank Valley as well, as the Lady Bulldogs are now 20-1 overall (9-0 in league play) compared to Moniteau, which fell to 17-4 overall and 7-2 in league play while having its 11-game win streak ended.
Huffman added eight points and nine rebounds in the win while Caylen Rearick had seven points.
Catherine Kelly, who gave Moniteau its only lead of the game at 3-0 on a 3-pointer 1:20 into the contest, led the Lady Warriors with 12 points while adding six rebounds.
Abbey Jewart chipped in seven points and six boards with Allie Pry contributing seven points and four rebounds.
Davina Pry hauled down a game-high 12 rebounds for Moniteau with Kendall Sankey adding 10 boards.
After Kelly’s opening bucket, Redbank Valley held Moniteau without a basket until Jewart scored with 5:41 left in the first half.
That was the first of three long stretches between baskets for the Lady Warriors, who also went from 7:20 of the third quarter until 2:10 of the third without a bucket and between 6:12 of the fourth and 1:47 without a basket.
Redbank Valley, which has won 13 in a row, will conclude the regular season against Keystone Tuesday at home, while Monietau has a big rivalry game at Karns City Wednesday.
Both teams are in the KSAC playoffs and will play semifinal games Thursday.
Moniteau will take on North Clarion and Redbank Valley will face Clarion.
NOTES – Redbank Valley has now won 24 straight regular-season games against KSAC Large School opponents since losing the regular-season finale to Moniteau in 2020.
