WINGATE — The postseason hopes of Centre County girls basketball now rest solely in the hands of the St. Joseph’s WolfPack.
The District 6 Class 1A second-seed Wolves entered the week as the only county team still alive for a PIAA playoff berth. After falling to 2023 state quarterfinalist Williamsburg for the second time this season, 56-42, in the D6 semifinals on Saturday, Feb. 24, at Bald Eagle Area High School, the WolfPack needed to get by Bishop Carroll to make it back to interdistrict for the first time since they finished as district runner-up in 2020.
The consolation game was to be played Wednesday, Feb. 28 after the Gazette’s publication deadline.
WolfPack coach Bethany Irwin thought her team was trending in the right direction despite the semifinal loss, which dropped St. Joseph’s to 24-2 this season.
“We grew from the first game when we played them,” Irwin said. “We made some really big adjustments on defense and took 10 points off the last time we played.”
The WolfPack had dropped a 67-41 decision to the Lady Pirates on Thursday, Feb. 8.
This time, St. Joseph’s left the court after one quarter with a 12-11 lead behind a pair of Lauren Himes 3-pointers. Williamsburg came back, though, to lead by 6 at the half and 9 heading into the fourth quarter.
“We were fouling at the end, and they made their free throws,” Irwin said.
Naomi Crispin fronted the Wolves with 20 points. Himes wound up with 9, Aubrey Yartz 7 and Jacee Cunningham 6.
Williamsburg’s LeeAnna Royer topped all scorers with 26 points, going 9-for-12 at the foul line in the fourth quarter. Lady Pirate all-state guard Ayla Hileman netted 12 and Levada Gorsuch tossed in 9.
Lady Little Lions fall in finals
CRESSON — The third time wasn’t the charm for the State College Lady Little Lions.
The team, who were handed two of their previous six losses by Altoona during a 16-win season, could not solve the riddle, falling 61-42 in the District 6 Class 6A championship game on Saturday, Feb. 24, at Mount Aloysius College’s Athletic Convocation and Wellness Center.
State College fell behind right at the start, trailed 14-5 at the end of the first quarter and wasn’t able to dig its way out. Altoona upped the margin to 17 points by halftime.
Sophomore McKenna Whitehurst was the only Lady Little Lion to reach double figures, scoring 10 points. Soph Lydia Tate scored 8, freshman Sheree Wilson 7 and freshman Sienna Wilson 6.
Melana Eyer and Lanie Wilt combined for 35 points and seven 3-pointers for Altoona (19-4).
Three seniors suited up for the Lady Little Lions for the last time: starters Carley Donnell and Diana Tsarnakova and reserve Alexa Russell.
Lady Rams sidelined
JOHNSTOWN — Penns Valley closed the season with a 10-13 record after being ousted from the District 6 Class 3A tournament in the quarterfinals on Thursday, Feb. 22, 47-14, at second-seeded Westmont Hilltop.
Westmont Hilltop was led by all-state swing player Christiana Gordon. The Lady Hilltoppers are 18-3 this winter.
Penns Valley managed just 5 points in the first half and then was held scoreless in the third quarter.
Elle Dinges paced the Lady Rams with 6 points. Kayla Hopkins, one of just two seniors on the Penns Valley roster along with Scotty Dinges, chipped in with 4 points.
Gordon and Zoey Lynch each scored 12 points to lead Westmont offensively.
