CENTRE COUNTY — The State College girls basketball team won the championship in the Happy Valley Holiday Hardwood Tournament played in the North Gym on Dec. 27, and Dec. 28, 2024.
Matching up in the final against previously undefeated Downingtown West High School out of District 1, the Little Lady Lions toughed out a 40-35 win to take home the first-place trophy.
The game was close all the way with SC taking a slim, 20-17 halftime lead.
Turning to its defense as the second half started, State College held DWHS to just seven points in the third quarter as it took a 31-24 lead heading into the final eight minutes.
Downingtown was not done, however, and it outscored the Lions in the quarter, but a big 3-pointer by Jess Hawbaker and 4-for-5 from the line by Si Wilson and L. Tate kept SC above water.
Wilson and Tate led State College with 10 points each, while Hawbaker scored nine.
The win was the ninth of the season for SC against one loss, and it was the first loss for West after 10 wins to begin the year.
After the break, the Little Lions got back into Mid Penn play and had an easier time against Chambersburg at home on Friday, Jan. 3.
SC held Chambersburg to single digits in every quarter on the way to a 51-10 victory.
D. Mobley was the high scorer for the Lions with 18 points, and Hawbaker came in with 12.
The win put the Lions at 10-1 for the year overall and 5-0 in Mid Penn play.
Next up for the team will be conference games against Central Dauphin at home on Friday, Jan. 10, and Altoona at home on Wednesday, Jan. 14.
ST. JOSEPH’S CATHOLIC ACADEMY (7-1)
Scores:
Dec. 27, 2024, Bishop Carroll 57, SJCA 52
Friday, Jan. 3, SJCA 67, Moshannon Valley 23
- The Lady WolfPack rebounded from their loss at Carroll by shooting out to a 14-3 lead and coasting home from there. The team put four players in double figures with Jacee Cunningham leading with 17, Lauren Himes with 14, Alexa Luckovich with 12 and Naomi Crispin with 11.
Upcoming Schedule:
Thursday, Jan. 16, Susquenita H
Friday, Jan. 17, Williamsburg A
Monday, Jan. 20, Greenwood A
PENNS VALLEY (5-4)
Scores:
Friday, Jan. 3, Penns Valley 43, Bedford 39
- Penns Valley hung on against Bedford for its fifth win. Paige Johnson scored 11 points, Elle Dinges scored 10 and Ellie Romig had 9.
Monday, Jan. 6, Hollidaysburg 77, Penns Valley 38
- Sydnie Dalton had 9 points for PV with Dinges and Romig each getting 6.
Upcoming Schedule:
Thursday, Jan. 9, P-O A
Monday, Jan. 13, Clearfield A
Friday, Jan. 17, Richland A
PHILIPSBURG-OSCEOLA (1-9)
Scores:
Dec. 28, 2024, P-O 49, West Branch 29
- P-O gets its first win of the season as the Mounties took a big halftime lead and then closed it out from there. Maddie Malinick led P-O with 21 points and Lily Warlow scored 13.
Friday, Jan. 3, Somerset 47, P-O 26
- Warlow scored 11 and Malinick added 6.
Upcoming Schedule:
Thursday, Jan. 9, Penns Valley H
Monday, Jan. 13, Central Martinsburg A
BELLEFONTE (1-6)
Scores:
Friday, Jan. 3, Greater Johnstown 51, Bellefonte 20
- Talia Cotter led the Raiders with 6 points.
Saturday, Jan. 4, Bishop McCort 68, Bellefonte 26
- McCort shot out to a big early lead and kept going from there. Jaylee Lose led the Lady Raiders with 6 points.
Upcoming Schedule:
Monday, Jan. 13, BEA H
Wednesday, Jan. 15, Southern Huntingdon A
BALD EAGLE AREA (4-5)
Scores:
Dec. 27, 2024, BEA 44, P-O 43
Dec. 28, 2024, BEA 38, Bucktail 26
- BEA won its second consecutive West Branch Holiday Tournament with the 12-point victory. Sybil Thompson led the Eagles with 17 points while Kinsey Clark added eight and Gabbie Perry and Taylor Habovick both scored five.
- Friday, Jan. 3, and Monday, Jan. 6, both Richland and Bellwood games were rescheduled.
Upcoming Schedule:
Monday, Jan. 13, Bellefonte A
Friday, Jan. 17, Somerset A
