CLARION, Pa. – Using a 24-7 second-half run, Union (New Castle) rallied to beat Elk County Catholic, 39-35, in the PIAA Class 1A girls’ basketball second round Wednesday at PennWest Clarion’s Tippin Gym.
ECC, which led by as many as 11 in the second half, held a 24-14 lead following a Lucy Klawuhn 3-pointer with 3:45 left in the third quarter.
But the Lady Crusaders managed just three field goals the rest of the game, as Union (X-X) was able to turn up the pressure defense while also starting to hit some shots.
After hitting just eight shots from the field through the first three quarters, the Scotties (X-X) were able to hit seven in the fourth quarter while scoring more points in the quarter (20) than in the game up to that point (19).
“We played some really good basketball for three quarters, at least three quarters,” ECC head coach Ken Pistner said. “They came out and made a few shots. They didn’t really change a whole lot.”
Kylie Fruehstoffer got hot from the outside to lead Union with three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter.
Fruehstoffer’s third tripe of the quarter came with 3:49 left in the game and gave Union its first lead since the mid-second quarter (9-7) at 30-29.
It was a lead the Scotties didn’t relinquish, as they got the advantage up to as many as seven, 38-31, on two free throws by Kelly Cleaver with 51.2 seconds left.
Those free throws ended a 14-4 spurt during the large run for Union, which still trailed 27-24 following an Emily Mourer hoop with 5:29 to go.
Union wasn’t able to quite salt the game away going just 3 of 8 from the free-throw line in the final 1:16, but ECC missed a pair of free throws of its own and a couple of shots.
“Eventually, you have to make a few shots in clutch situations,” Pistner said. “We did a long the way, but that’s a very good basketball we played tonight.”
After a slow first quarter that saw the teams tied at five at the end of eight minutes, ECC used a first-half ending 10-0 run to take a 17-9 halftime lead. Klawuhn hit a pair of 3-pointers during the run.
Union shoot just 5 of 23 in the first half, but ECC turned the ball over nine times in the half and 20 times in the game.
“They pressured us the whole game with their full-court press,” Pistner said. “In the fourth quarter, they started to make a few shots and they were able to get into their pressure a little bit more than they were early. We turned the ball over and missed a few shots.”
Kelly Cleaver led Union with 14 points with Fruehstorfer adding 13, including 10 in the fourth quarter.
Klawuhn hit four 3-pointers and paced ECC with 13 points with Mourer adding 12.
Union will face D6 champion Williamsburg in the quarterfinals Saturday, March 18, at a time and place to be determined.
WILLIAMSBURG FORCES OT LATE, WINS IN EXTRA SESSION OVER DCC
WINGATE, Pa. – Jade Carper’s offensive rebound and 6-foot jumper with a second to go in regulation forced overtime, and her Williamsburg team avoided being upset by DuBois Central Catholic with a 48-43 win in the second round of the PIAA Class 1A girls’ basketball playoffs at Bald Eagle Area High School.
Carpers’shot was the third shot the Blue Pirates got in the final seven seconds.
The first shot was a 2-foot jumper in the lane by Jayla Woodruff that was too strong. Carper got the initial rebound and put up an inside shot that hit the side of the rim. The rebound came into a sea of players with players from both teams getting their hands on the ball. The ball eventually reached Carper, whose jumper tied the game at 43.
Watch Matt Michelone’s video via Twitter of the sequence.
CARPER AT THE BUZZER and we are going to OT tied at 43. pic.twitter.com/0OssGnYtIW
— Matt Michelone (@MattMichelone) March 16, 2023
In overtime, Kendel Norris hit a shot, and Ayla Hileman (2) and Woodruff (1) each made free throws to lift Williamsburg (27-1) to its 27th straight victory.
The Blue Pirates led 35-29 going to the fourth quarter before DCC rallied to take the 43-41 lead thanks to 3-pointers from Lexi Berta and Marina Hanes and six points from Faith Jacob.
Hileman led Williamsburg with 17 points with Woodruff adding 15 and Norris eight.
Berta paced DCC with 13 points with Jacob adding 12 and Kayley Risser eight.
Williamsburg will face WPIAL champion Union (New Castle) in the quarterfinals Saturday, March 18, at site and time to be announced.
