BELLEFONTE — Philipsburg-Osceola’s Halle Herrington scored 35 points against Bellefonte on Jan. 25 and became the Mounties’ all-time leading scorer with a total of 1,443 points in her career so far.
In and of itself, the fact that the 5-foot-6 guard broke the record is not entirely surprising. After all, she holds both the single-season scoring record, the single-game scoring record and is averaging more than 30 points per game this season.
But for Herrington to do it just over the halfway point in her junior season is mind-boggling. She sailed past Missy Witters Helsel’s mark of 1,439 points, which Helsel set in 1996, and shows no sign of slowing down.
Clearly, 2,000 or more points are in play for Herrington, not to mention the fact that she has at least seven more games to play this season.
Unfortunately, the Lady Mountie team has not had much to celebrate along with its star guard.
Bellefonte built a 10-point halftime lead, and despite a barrage of second-half baskets by Herrington, the Lady Raiders held on for a 57-51 win.
Then, on Jan. 26, P-O took on 12-3 Penns Valley in Spring Mills and suffered another loss, 75-50, to the powerful Lady Rams.
Herrington was herself and tallied 30 in the game, but PV’s Jordan Andrus (23) and Hannah Montminy (22) countered with a combined 45 points as the Rams pulled away in the fourth quarter.
The loss left P-O with a 6-10 record for the season with four home games — against Juniata, Bellefonte, Central and SJCA — coming up in the next week.
PENNS VALLEY
After the win over Philipsburg, Penns Valley took on Bellwood-Antis the next day in a non-league contest and, frankly, would probably like to do the whole trip over again.
Bellwood (15-2) outscored the Lady Rams 41-17 in the second and third quarters and went on to a much-too-easy, 76-44 non-conference win.
Four Lady Devils scored in double digits, with Alli Campbell’s 28 points leading the way. Campbell also took 10 rebounds and had five assists, four steals and four blocked shots.
Part of Bellwood’s success came because it held Montminy and Andrus to a combined six points, although Isabella Culver had a good game and scored 16.
Penns Valley has a game at Central on Thursday, Feb. 1, before returning home to take on Huntingdon the next day at home.
STATE COLLEGE
The State College girls’ basketball team’s record has been hovering at the .500 mark all season, and the Lady Lions have not been able to rise more than one game clear of it.
They had another chance on Jan. 29 at Bishop Carroll in Ebensburg, but SC came up short and fell back to 9-9 for the year with a 53-43 loss.
Maya Bokunewicz scored 20 points and Isabelle Leazier chipped in 13 in the game, but Carroll was able to hold on down the stretch for the non-conference win.
On Jan. 26, however, things were different for the Lions. Taking on Mid-Penn Conference nemesis Cumberland Valley, SC went on an 18-7 fourth-quarter run and outlasted CV in a 42-34 win.
Down 27-24 after three quarters, Bokunewicz (12 points) led the charge down the stretch for the win that evened SC’s conference record at 6-6. Kelsey Love added nine points and Jesse Ligenfelter had eight on the night.
State College will be back in Mid-Penn action with games at home against Central Dauphin on Friday, Feb. 2.
BELLEFONTE
In Bellefonte, the Lady Raiders carried over some of the momentum from the win over P-O into their next game at Clearfield.
Unfortunately, it was not quite enough to pull out a win. Bellefonte fell behind big early in the game — 32-17 — but their comeback fell a basket short and Clearfield held on for a 62-60 Mountain League win.
Mallorie Smith scored 21 for the Raiders and Maddie Steiner added 15, but the loss still dropped Bellefonte to 3-14 for the season.
A rematch with P-O and games against Tyrone, Juniata and Central are on the schedule in the next week for the Raiders.
ST. JOSEPH’S CATHOLIC ACADEMY
The St. Joseph’s Academy girls’ had a rare off-night against Linden Hall in a 59-41 loss Jan. 27. The Lady Wolves fell behind 36-22 at halftime and were unable to make any headway in the third and fourth quarters.
Denaya Poston-Cooper led the Wolves with 13 points and freshman Kathleen Simander had 12.
Two days later, on Jan. 29 at East Juniata, SJCA bounced back nicely.
The Wolves jumped out by 10 at halftime and then went on a 19-2 run in the third quarter and ran away for a 41-23 victory.
Selena Mann led the scoring for SJCA with 15 with Poston-Cooper adding 10.
Now at 12-3, games with Grace Prep, West Branch, and P-O are coming up for the team in the next week.
BALD EAGLE AREA
After a 44-16 loss to league contender Central on Jan. 26, Bald Eagle Area put up an inspired effort against Jersey Shore on Jan. 29. The Lady Eagles led after three quarters but couldn’t hold on in a 45-39 loss that dropped their record to 2-14.
Ahead 27-26, BEA saw Jersey Shore go on a 19-12 run down the stretch to take the win. Morgan Chambers scored 22 points and Lacee Barnhart had 12 for the Eagles in a solid effort against a good team.
The team will finish out its season with three home games against Bloomsburg, Tyrone and Bellefonte.
