Lady Wildcat dream season ends with District 6 title game loss

WINGATE, PA – You can chart the trajectory to get the picture of how Central Mountain basketball has progressed over the past three seasons under Coach Scott Baker: 0-22 in 2018-19; 6-16 in 2019-20; and 17-4 in 2020-21.

The team will go down in the books as one of the best in Central Mountain girls’ hoops history, a Heartland Conference championship and runner-up in District 6 Class 5A. The Hollidaysburg Lady Golden Tigers spoiled CM’s quest for that district title Saturday afternoon, going home with a 56-40 victory achieved at Bald Eagle Area High School.

Central Mountain started well, opening with an 11-5 lead. But then the shots stopped falling and Hollidaysburg, leading by one at 12-11 after one, opened a 35-26 halftime lead and a Tiger 14-5 split in period three all but sealed the victory.

The Lady Wildcats got in early foul trouble and afterwards coach Baker said the fouling “caused an issue.” He said his team was unable to adjust “as to the way the game was being called…that hurt us.”

For Hollidaysburg, it was revenge. The Lady Tigers fell at home by a 72-45 score to Central Mountain on Feb. 23. But Hollidaysburg had three players sit for that game and all three were back for the district title contest. Marin Miller, who missed the February game, led all scorers with 21 points. Freshman Ava Renninger led Central Mountain with 15, followed by senior Avery Baker with 9 and Quinnlyn McCann with 7. Kiahna Jones contributed 5 points.

Coach Baker made a point during a timeout late in the game to huddle with his three frontline seniors, his daughter Avery, Alyssa Fisher and McCann, for their role in elevating the Lady ‘Cat program over the past three seasons.