WEST SUNBURY, Pa. – Caitlin Stephens hit a spinning jumper as time expired to lift West Middlesex to a 38-36 win at Moniteau in the opening round of the PIAA Class 2A playoffs.
With the score tied at 34 following two Catherine Kelly free throws for D9 runner-up Moniteau (18-7), Abbey Jewart came up with a steal with 28.2 seconds left.
But Stephens returned the favor when she intercepted a Cheyenne Curl pass with under 10 seconds to play, and the Big Red (20-5), the third-place team out of D10, called timeout with 5.6 seconds to play.
With fouls to give, Moniteau gave one near midcourt on the inbounds setting up a second inbounds play with 3.4 seconds left.
This time, West Middlesex went towards the basket to Stephens, who was one-on-one with Kelly.
The much taller Stephens then did the spin move and floating jumper from mid-key to win the game.
Rewatch the winning shot courtesy of Moniteau YouTube.
It had been a back-and-forth fourth quarter up to that point with the teams entering the quarter tied at 29.
West Middlesex had a 33-32 lead before Sophia Fleeger layup with five minutes left put Moniteau ahead, 34-33.
Stephens then hit one of two free throws to tie the game at 34 with 4:33 to go, and then Stephens put the Big Red ahead, 36-34, with a basket with four minutes left.
The score remained that way until Kelly was fouled with 39.7 to play and hit both charity shots.
After Jewart got the steal, and Moniteau head coach Dee Arblaster ran out onto the court to request timeout, which she was granted, the Lady Warriors tried to hold for the last shot.
But West Middlesex forced the ball from Kelly’s hands, and Allie Pry passed to Curl who tried to go inside with the next pass. But Stephens stepped in front of the ball to set up the Big Red’s winning sequence.
Moniteau led 22-18 at halftime before West Middlesex outscored the Lady Warriros 11-7 in the third quarter behind five points from Stepehens and a 3-pointer from Sloan Mild.
Stephens then did the bulk of the heavy lifting in the fourth quarter scoring seven on the nine Big Red points.to finish with a game-high 23 points.
Emma Mild added six tallies and Sloan Mild four for West Middlesex.
Kelly led Moniteau with 12 points while Pry added nine and Jewart eight.
West Middlesex will face WPIAL champion Greensburg Central Catholic in the second round on Tuesday, March 12, at a time and place to be announced.
KENNEDY CATHOLIC 68, FORT CHERRY 24
HERMITAGE, Pa. – Layke Fields scored 28 points and pulled down 12 rebounds as defending PIAA Class 2A champion Kennedy Catholic began its title defense with a 68-24 win over Fort Cherry.
Kennedy Catholic (21-4) led 16-9 after the first and went on a 22-2 run in the second quarter to take a commanding 38-11 halftime lead.
Fields was one of four Kennedy Catholic players in double figures, as Tori Harvey had 14 points, Monique Vincent 11 and Bella Magestro 10. All 12 of Vincent’s points came on 3-pointers, while Harvey knocked down a pair of shots from distance.
Raney Staub scored 16 points for Fort Cherry (19-8).
With the win, Kennedy Catholic advances to play Portage Area, a 53-41 winner over Aliquippa. That game will be on Tuesday, March 12 at a site and time to be announced.
SOUTH SIDE 34, MAPLEWOOD 33
GUYS MILLS, Pa. – Maggie Means’ potential game-winner and Madison O’Hara’s putback attempt as time expired were no good, as Maplewood fell to South Side, 34-33 in the PIAA Class 2A first round.
Baile Strinisa scored 18 points for South Side (16-11), as they led 30-27 going to the fourth quarter. Strinisa scored 12 of her 18 points in the first half.
Maplewood (21-5) outscored South Side 6-4 in the fourth quarter, but was unable to get the game-winner to fall.
Rhaelynn Koelle led Maplewood with 13 points, while O’Hara added eight.
With the win, South Side advances to play Everett, a 36-35 winner over Rochester, in the second round on Tuesday, March 12 at a site and time to be determined.
NORTHWESTERN 67, KEYSTONE OAKS 47
ALBION, Pa. – Makayla Presser-Palmer had a huge game with 36 points as D10 runner-up Northwestern beat Keystone Oaks, 67-47 in the PIAA Class 3A first round.
Presser-Palmer scored 11 of her points in the first quarter as Northwestern (22-4) raced out to a 21-10 lead.
The lead swelled to 20, 39-19 at halftime, as Chloe Yazembiak scored 10 of her 21 points in the second, including a pair of 3-pointers.
Taylor Stagl added eight points in the win for the Wildcats.
Kailey Rieg had a team-high 20 points for Keystone Oaks (18-8).
With the win, Northwestern advanced to play Shady Side Academy, a 55-50 winner over River Valley, in the second round on Tuesday at a site and time to be determined.
MERCYHURST PREP 40, OLSH 37
ERIE, Pa. – Olivia Kulyk scored 20 points as Mercyhurst Prep rallied for a 40-37 win over Our Lady of Sacred Heart in the PIAA Class 3A first round.
A Kulyk jumper gave Mercyhurst Prep a 35-34 lead with four minutes to play, a lead the Lakers never relinquished.
Up by one, Kulyk knocked down a pair of free throws late, and a last-ditch attempt to tie the game for OLSH was no good.
OLSH led 23-21 at halftime.
With the win, Mercyhurst Prep advances to play Neshannock a 72-62 winner over Chestnut Ridge, on Tuesday, March 12 at a site and time to be determined.
AVONWORTH 54, WILMINGTON 40
PITTSBURGH – Avonworth raced out to a 16-5 lead in the first quarter and led throughout in a 54-40 win over Wilmington in the PIAA Class 3A first round.
Greta O’Brien knocked down a 3-pointer in the first quarter for Avonworth, starting what was a 25-points night.
Rebeeca Goetz was also in double figures for Avonworth (23-2) with 13 points.
Lia Krarup had 21 points for Wilmington (20-6).
With the win, Avonworth advances to play Forest Hills, a 69-45 winner over Pequea Valley, in the second round on Tuesday, March 12 at a site and time to be determined.
SETON-LASALLE 66, KARNS CITY 46
KARNS CITY, Pa. – WPIAL sixth-place finisher Seton LaSalle used a 23-12 third-quarter advantage to knock off District 9 champion Karns City, 66-46, in the opening round of the PIAA Class 3A playoffs at Karns City.
The Lady Gremlins (18-9) trailed by just two, 24-22, at halftime before Mallory Daly, and Tiara Curry took over in the third quarter.
Daly scored 11 third-quarter points and Curry added seven to help the Rebels (16-10) push their advantage to 13, 47-34, going to the fourth quarter.
Daly then added six more fourth-quarter points and Curry went 6 of 6 from the line in the final eight minutes to secure the win.
Daly finished with a game-high 25 points with Curry adding 21 while going 10 of 10 from the free-throw line.
Seton LaSalle also go 16 points from Addie Lonergan, who hit four 3-pointers in the contest.
Brooklynn Taylor and Savanna Prescott each scored 12 points for Karns City while Naomi Venesky added nine and Hannah Buchanan eight.
Seton LaSalle will face District 6 runner-up Westmont Hilltop in the second round on Tuesday.
NORTH ALLEGHENY 57, ERIE 23
WEXFORD, Pa. – Caroline Henderson scored 19 points as WPIAL runner-up North Allegheny powered past D10 champ Erie, 57-23 in the PIAA Class 6A first round.
North Allegheny (23-3) led 16-7 at the end of the first quarter and went on an 18-2 run in the second quarter to take a 34-9 halftime lead.
Grace Heliger and Kellie McConnell added 11 points each for North Allegheny in the win.
Draya Neavins had 10 points for Erie (17-8).
With the win, North Allegheny advances to play North Penn, a 48-34 winner over Emmaus, in the second round on Tuesday, March 12 at a site and time to be determined.
