ERIE, Pa. – When push came to shove, Cathedral Prep’s Addie Biel came through.
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Biel scored a game-high 19 points at Prep (14-1) handed Punxsutawney (16-1) its first loss of the season, 52-31, in a D9/10 crossover showdown at the Hagerty Family Events Center.
“I give it all to my teammates for passing it to me and giving me good chances,” Biel said. “Early on I got a feel for who I’m going against and who I’m posting up on.”
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Biel certainly did that, scoring 10 of her points in the first quarter as the Ramblers built a 14-8 lead in a battle of teams with lofty postseason expectations.
Punxsutawney hung around throughout, however, and was still within eight (35-27) after a pair of Chloe Presloid free throws early in the fourth quarter before Jayden McBride sparked a 15-4 run to close the game.
“I thought we came out and were a little rusty,” said Cathedral Prep coach Doug Chuzie, who was honored before the game for winning his program record 267th game as head coach in the Ramblers’ last game against Fairview. “But we played hard against a team that brought a lot of intensity. We didn’t get a lot of second chance opportunities, and that’s a credit to their (Punxsy’s) ability to box out.”
Punxsutawney’s Samantha Griebel fires from deep.
The 3-point shot was able to keep Punxsutawney within striking distance in the first half, as Presloid knocked down a shot from distance in the first quarter, and back-to-back 3’s from Samantha Griebel tied the game at 16-16 at the 5:05 mark of the second quarter.
That’s when Chuzie rolled the dice, putting McBride back in with three fouls, and the junior standout responded, going on a personal 5-0 run, part of a 7-0 spurt to close the half that put the Ramblers up 23-16.
“You might be able to slow J down for a little bit, but she’s going to have her runs,” Chuzie said.
The Lady Chucks responded with a 6-2 run of their own to start the second half, led by a layup and a jumper from Riley Doverspike to get back within three at 25-22.
Prep answered right back with a 10-0 run, capped by a Lena Walz three to push the lead to 13, 35-22.
“There’s a reason they were 16-0,” Chuzie said of the Chucks. “They played extremely hard and got a lot of the 50-50 balls tonight.”
Cathedral Prep’s Doug Chuzie was honored before the game for picking up his program record 267th win against Fairview.
Griebel hit a 3 to get the lead back down to 10 at the end of the third before Presloid’s free throws to begin the fourth.
McBride scored eight of her 16 points during the game-closing run for the Ramblers, teaming with McKenna Valone to hit back-to-back 3’s that pushed the lead to 47-31 with 3:30 to play.
“They really crashed the boards and were physical,” Biel said. “We just had to use our advantage of being taller. Just playing well as a team and sharing the ball.”
In addition to Biel and McBride, Walz was also in double figures for the Ramblers with 11 points.
Griebel led Punxsy with nine points, while Presloid had eight and Avary Powell and Riley Doverspike six each.
“Believe it or not, we’re still trying to figure out who we are,” Chuzie said. “Each game I think it changes and as we get a little closer (to the postseason), hopefully, we’ll find our identity as we get to the playoffs.”
