STATE COLLEGE — The State College girls basketball team had a convincing solution to the Mifflin County defense designed to neutralize high-scoring forward Kyla Irwin.
The Lady Little Lions simply went to everybody else.
Playing in a Mid-Penn Conference matchup between the two teams on Jan. 25 at State College, Mifflin County double- and even triple-teamed the UConn-bound Irwin from the opening tip off.
So instead of forcing things to Irwin, all four other State High starters — Abby Allen, Jessie Orndorff, Casey Witter and Kayla Hawbaker — scored baskets in the first three minutes of the game. Allen led off with a 3-pointer that broke the ice, and before Mifflin had a chance to take a breath, SC was ahead by 12 points.
State College never lost that lead and held on through numerous Wildcat charges for its 12th win of the season, 64-45.
In the end, Irwin got hers with 28 points, but the Lions had four players altogether in double figures and it was that balance, especially early on, that carried the day.
“What I like to see is balanced scoring,” State College coach Bethany Irwin said. “A lot of times, Kyla (Irwin) gets the attention, but the girls were really stepping up.
“There were four of our five starters in double figures, and that’s good to see. If they (opponents) still put more defensive efforts on Kyla, then we need to hit those buckets. And we did.”
It was apparent from the start what Mifflin’s intentions were, but Adams made it 3-0 on State College’s first possession. In quick succession, Orndorff, Witter, and then Orndorff again made the score 9-0.
Mifflin’s Maggie Wilson subsequently drove and scored the Wildcat’s first basket, but Allen scored again, and point guard Hawbaker hit a jumper that gave SC a 14-2 lead. There was just under five minutes left in the first quarter.
“A lot of girls are stepping up and taking their roles on the team and doing good things for us,” Kyla Irwin said. “I couldn’t be more happy for them.
“You know, I am where my team needs me to be. If they need me to bring up the ball or take the wing position, that’s what I’m going to do. Whatever it takes to get the ‘W.’”
State College ended the first quarter up by 10, 23-13, and then the Lions extended that lead to 33-17 at halftime.
But Mifflin clamped on an effective half-court trap defense to begin the third quarter and began to creep back into the game. An 8-2 run on baskets by Katelyn Arnold, Wilson, Ali Herto and Jess Wright brought MC to within nine points at 35-26.
Irwin and Orndorff answered for State College, but another run by Mifflin again brought it within striking distance at 39-30, with just over three minutes to play in the third quarter.
State College was able to restore order after a time out, some adjustments and a 6-0 run to end the quarter ahead 45-30.
“I started just bringing the ball up slow,” Hawbaker said, “and we couldn’t get the passes going against them. Then I started pushing it more and that really helped us break that press.”
The teams traded baskets in the early stages of the fourth quarter, but scores by Irwin, Orndorff and Hawbaker gave SC a 20-point lead at 60-40 with three minutes to play. The Little Lions ran out the game from there.
“We’ve seen so many different looks defensively,” Brittany Irwin said, “so it all depends on what they are doing. Kyla draws a lot of attention, but she’s also very unselfish. She will take the hits as long as we’re scoring.”
Beside Irwin’s 28 points, Orndorff scored 12, Hawbaker 11 and Allen added 10. For Mifflin, Wilson scored 15 and Wright had 11.
State College is now 12-3 for the season and 8-3 in the Mid-Penn.
