LH girls defeat Lady Falcons to keep playoff hopes alive
LH's Haley Moreland (13) takes a shot during basketball season. Moreland has a 4.10 GPA, plays three sports and works on weekends.
Connellsville's Brittany Craig (31) drives to the hoop for two during the Lady Falcons' game against Laurel Highlands Tuesday at Laurel Highlands High School.
Connellsville's Marissa Keefer (13) struggles with Laurel Highlands' Kaitlyn Thurby (32) for control of a rebound during Tuesday's game at Laurel Highlands High School.
Laurel Highlands' Kaitlyn Thurby (32) tries to block the shot of Connellsville's Marissa Keffer (13) during their game at Laurel Highlands High School Tuesday.
The halftime break had opposite effects for Laurel Highlands and Connellsville Tuesday night with the home team coming out firing and leaving the visiting Lady Falcons cold as the Fillies kept their playoff hopes alive with a come-from-behind 53-48 Section 1-AAAA victory.
Laurel Highlands (10-7) improves to 5-8 in the section, and must win its final two games for a section playoff spot. Connellsville, knocked out of the hunt last week, slips to 4-9 in the section and 7-13 overall.
The Lady Falcons pulled away in the second quarter, taking a 5-4 lead to a 26-15 halftime advantage.
Laurel Highlands opened the second half on Haley Moreland run. The senior point guard scored the first eight points of the second half as the Fillies went on an 8-2 run to make the score 28-23.
Then, senior guard Olivia Crutchman stepped up to hit a pair of 3-pointers to tie the game at 29. The Lady Falcons regained the lead on Madison Wiltrout’s field goal, but another senior guard, Kaitlyn Thurby knotted the score.
Moreland capped her 11-point quarter with free throw with 2:07 remaining to give Laurel Highlands its first lead, 34-33.
“We got cold and it was tough to get going again. We’re predominantly a second half team,” said Connellsville coach Kenny Johnson. “We need to get shots up.”
“All the seniors contributed. This was a longtime coming,” praised Laurel Highlands coach Kenny Riddell. “I could see this (outcome) coming a mile away.
“We’re not the biggest team or the fastest team, but we fight to the end.”
Laurel Highlands kept fighting and managed to steadily pull away midway through the quarter.
Moreland again was the spark, taking the ball to the basket to finish with nine points in the quarter, five coming on free throws.
Connellsville managed to keep it close early in the fourth quarter, but Rachel DiLeo made her only shot of the game, a 3-pointer, to give the Fillies a 41-36 lead.
The Lady Falcons cut it to four (41-37) on Wiltrout’s putback, but Laurel Highlands matched whatever the visitors did for the key section victory.
“We fixed a few mistakes at halftime,” explained Riddell. “We packed in our 2-3 (zone) and wanted them to shoot from outside, and then worked on our backside boards (rebounding).
“Every game is a playoff game now. We’re taking it one game at a time. It’s win or go home.”