By James Santelli
In what may have been the tightest and most exciting contest of the Girl’s WPIAL playoffs, Our Lady of Sacred Heart toppled Ford City 51-48.
Sacred Heart was certainly playing the favorite role heading in. The Chargers had not lost a game to a Class AA team all season long, while Ford City came into the semifinals with three defeats in section play alone. However, as the 1,400-plus fans poured into Fox Chapel Area High School, the only thing these two teams were worried about were the four quarters of basketball that lay ahead.
Actually, make that six quarters.
With the word "TEAM" written in marker on each player's right artm, the Lady Sabers of Ford City struck first. They jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead on the baskets of Tara Powers and Marisa Wolfe. It was a lead that they wouldn’t soon give up, putting up a 13-7 lead by the end of the first quarter.
However, despite four-minute scoring drought by both teams in the 2nd quarter, Our Lady of Sacred Heart closed out the half on a 10-2 run, and closed the intermission gap to just 3 points.
A rough third quarter saw the Sabres and the Chargers exchanged buckets back-and-forth, and Ford City kept their never relinquished their lead, Sacred Heart stayed within one possession, down 30-28.
With her team’s 23-game winning streak on the line, Micki Cerchiaro of Sacred Heart lit up the scoreboard. Cercharo put up six of Sacred Heart’s eight points in the 4th quarter. That sixth point, which came on a free throw, tied the game up at 36. It would remain 36-36 at the end of regulation.
Following a two-point jumper by Ford City’s Marisa Wolfe, Sacred Heart’s Lauren Feeley connected on a free throw, followed by a bucket from teammate Sabrina Sciulli to give the Chargers a 39-38 lead, the team’s first of the night.
The game was tied at 40 apiece until Wolfe hit an inside jumper with twelve seconds to give the Sabers a two point lead. But with time winding down, Sacred Heart’s Cerchiaro sunk a short layup to send the game into double overtime.
Following two lead changes, O.L. Sacred Heart went on a five-point run to take a 50-46 lead with under a minute left. Lynzee Panchick of Ford City hit a layup with 22 seconds left, but the damage was already done. Sacred Heart’s Lauren Feely free throw in the closing seconds iced the game, 51-48.
Senior Micki Cerchiaro scored a game-high 25 points for the victorious Chargers. Sabrina Sciulli also put up 8 points for Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.
Ford City junior forward Marisa Wolfe lead the Sabers with 18 points, and senior guard Tara Powers racked up 13 points prior to fouling out early in the first overtime.
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart will play South Park for the Class AA WPIAL Championship this Saturday at the A.J. Palumbo Center.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment