RIDGWAY, Pa. – Ridgway’s offense went silent in the second half in a 44-31 loss to Northern Bedford in the PIAA Class 1A girls’ first round.
The Lady Elkers scored 18 points and led by six after the first quarter against Northern Bedford but scored just 13 points the rest of the game.
“They are really good,” said Ridgway coach Jason Schreiber of Northern Bedford. “I will say watching film that 44 (Mariah Hall), she is a heck of a player. She was a lot faster than what I saw on video watching her. She has a nice touch, nice shot, and she can drive. She’s just a really solid player. Their team was well-prepared, and we didn’t answer. We started off really well and fell off a little bit and couldn’t get things going again.”
Jenna Kasmierski drilled three 3-pointers in the first quarter to help Ridgway (20-7) take an 18-12 lead.
Northern Bedford (17-9) rallied to tie the game at 18, but a Gabby Amacher 3-pointer gave Ridgway a 21-18 lead.
The Lady Panthers tied the game at 23 going into halftime on a Hall 3-pointer. That started a 24-8 run to close the game for Northern Bedford.
“For whatever reason today wasn’t our day and they played really well,” Schreiber said. “I want to wish those guys luck.”
Northern Bedford went on a 12-2 run in the third quarter that was snapped by an Amacher 3-pointer at the buzzer to get Ridgway back within nine 37-28.
The Lady Elkers managed just a bucket and a free-throw from Sophia Fullem in the fourth quarter, however.
Hall connected for a game-high 22 points for Northern Bedford, while Lacy McIlnay had nine points, all in the second half.
Kasmierski led Ridgway with 11 points, while Fullem tallied seven.
Northern Bedford will move on to play Union-New Castle, a 59-18 winner over Port Allegany, in the second round on Wednesday at a site and time to be determined.
“I feel really bad for our seniors,” Schreiber said. “They put together one of the best years in 30-some years up here and I thank them for everything they’ve done for the program.”
