DUKE CENTER, Pa. – In a battle of District 9 Class 1A juggernauts, Katie Sheeler and Anna Merry combined for 50 points as Otto-Eldred earned a 63-50 win over North Clarion.
Also see: Harmon leads Redbank Girls to KSAC Large School Title • D9 Boys Recaps
Sheeler exploded for 30 points on the night – her second 30-point game of the season and fourth of her career, while Merry doubled her season average by scoring 20 points.
Rewatch the game:
The teams came in with identical 18-2 records and played within a tight window throughout the entire first half and into the second half, and as would be expected, Sheeler and Merry played key roles during key stretches of the game.
Sheeler scored 10 second-quarter points – Merry added five – to help Otto-Eldred take a 33-28 halftime lead.
Then Merry hit a pair of third-quarter 3-pointers and scored eight in the quarter to expand the lead to seven, 44-37, going to the fourth quarter.
In the fourth, it was Sheeler’s time again with the senior scoring 12 points to help push the lead to double digits.
Otto-Eldred led by as many as nine in the third quarter and took a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter, 56-45, on a Sheeler 3 with 3:21 to play, and the Lady Terrors were able to close it out from there.
“We wanted to come in and win because we knew it would look good for us going into the playoffs,” Merry said.
See Merry’s full interview:
“We’ve got three of the best guards in the district, without a doubt,” said Otto-Eldred coach Shawn Gray. “They’re not afraid to take big shots and they want the ball in their hands.”
Sheeler knocked down four 3s and Merry three, and the duo also combined to go 13-of-18 from the free-throw line.
Brooke Close and Bri Heller added five points each for Otto-Eldred.
Lily Homan led North Clarion with 16 points, while Lauren Lutz had 14 and Ainsley Hartle eight.
“That’s a quality team with a quality coach,” Gray said of North Clarion. “They had a long trip so I’m sure that had an impact on them. I can’t say enough good things about them.”
KEYSTONE 31, CLARION 30
CLARION, Pa. – Fresh off scoring her 1,000th point and grabbing her 1,000th rebound the night before, Natalie Bowser netted a game-high 20 points to help Keystone beat Clarion, 31-30, on Hoops for Hope Night at Clarion.
Clarion’s Gia Babington hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to set the final score.
Taylor Alston led the Lady Cats with 16 points.
KANE 51, JOHNSONBURG 29
JOHNSONBURG, Pa. – Mia Anderson and Maya Smith each had a double-double to help Kane roll to a 51-29 AML North win at Johnsonburgh.
Anderson finished with 10 points, 11 rebounds, and four blocks, while Smith had 15 points and 11 rebounds in the win.
Cora Jekielek added 12 points and Hailey Hillman had 10 points in the win.
Maria Caililio led the Rammettes with nine points.
RIDGWAY 39, BROCKWAY 21
ST. MARYS, Pa. – Ridgway outscored Brockway 19-6 in the first half on its way to a 39-21 AML South win.
Jenna Kasmierski led the Elkers with 10 points. Gabby Amacher had eight points and Kristen Ellenberger seven in the win.
Raegan Gelnette paced the Rovers with eight points and five rebounds while Madelyn Schmader had four points, seven rebounds, and five steals.
KARNS CITY 50, CLARION-LIMESTONE 38
STRATTANVILLE, Pa. – Karns City used a 19-7 third-quarter edge to down homestanding Clarion-Limestone, 50-38.
The Lady Gremlins and Lady Lions were tied at 15 at the end of the first quarter, and Karns City led 27-24 at halftime.
But in the third quarter, Chloe Fritch hit three 3-pointers to fule the 12-point advantage.
Hanna Dailey, who came into the game having scored 18 points all season, had a career-high 16 to lead Karns City. That included her hitting three second-quarter 3-pointers.
Brooklyn Taylor added 12 points for the Lady Gremlins and Fritch chipped in 10 points.
Jenna Dunn scored 17 for C-L with Alex Leadbetter adding 12 and Alyssa Wiant nine.
