Central Mountain girls power past Bellefonte, 60-36; onto D6 final
BALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP, PA – Visiting Bellefonte scored the game’s first two points, but Central Mountain went on one of its patented runs, forcing turnovers and putting up 11 unanswered points in period number one and never trailed again, ending with on top 60-36 in a District 6 Class 5A semifinal contest on their home court Wednesday night. With the win, the Lady Wildcats move to the district final against Hollidaysburg, the game scheduled for Saturday, March 13 at 4 p.m. at Bald Eagle Area High School in Wingate.
Senior Quinnlyn McCann had the hot hand at the outset for CM; she scored 10 of the team’s 15 period one points, the score 15-7 after one. McCann stayed hot all night, putting up 21 points through three periods to lead all scorers. The Lady ‘Cats did struggle for much of period two and the Lady Raiders closed to within three at 19-16; then CM was off and running again, scoring the period’s final six points for a 25-16 lead.
Central Mountain continued the scoring pace in the third period as Coach Scott Baker’s team hit for four 3s, two from McCann and one each from Avery Baker and Alyssa Fisher. The 20 to 11 third period split put CM up by 45-27 and coach Baker was able to get his reserves some playoff experience, pulling his starters with a 55-32 lead in the game’s final moments.
Baker finished with 12 points, Ava Renninger with 12. McCann had 5 steals, Renninger 4 and Baker 3 as Bellefonte committed 18 turnovers. Kiahna Jones had 8 rebounds and Fisher 7. Jones scored 5 points, Fisher 3, Mia Kopyscianski 3 and Tara Mader 3; Danica Kelly with 2. Mia Johnson led Bellefonte with 11.
Coach Baker said, “We got what we wanted, all you ask for, to play for a district title.” He said as a team the Lady ‘Cats did not shoot all that well (24-for-59 from the field) but noted that McCann did. He liked the ‘Cat surge at the end of the half and pointed out his team has done well the second half all season.
Central Mountain is now 17-3 with the win. They will be re-matched with Hollidaysburg, a team Central Mountain defeated 72-45 at Hollidaysburg on Feb. 23 but the Lady Golden Tigers were without several players that night; a point noted by coach Baker. “We’ll have to play very, very well” on Saturday, he said. Hollidaysburg (8-5) defeated DuBois (13-7) in the other semifinal Wednesday by a score of 66-43,
CM 15 10 20 15 = 60
B 7 9 11 9 = 36
