Lady Cats Down Keystone In District Nine Class-A Basketball Quarterfinal (02/21/15)

The Clarion Area Girls Basketball Team advanced to the District Nine Class-A Basketball Semi-Finals with a 58-47 Quarter-Final win over Keystone, at Brookville High School, last Friday night (February 20th).

The Lady Cats were led by seniors Maci Thornton, Nicki Glenn and Lauren Wiser who combined for 48 points.

(All photos by Jack Kenneson) Nicki going up over Keystone defender

(All photos by Jack Kenneson) Nicki going up over Keystone defender

Glenn, in perhaps the best all-around game of her career, scored 12 0f her 16 points, in the first half, including two three-pointers, as Clarion came back from after trailing by as much as seven points, in the first quarter, to draw to within one, 25-24 at halftime. Glenn scored inside and outside and was also a factor on the boards gathering six rebounds.

Just as Glenn’s  point surge, kept Clarion in the game, in the first half, Thornton’s  15 second half points, were the Lady Cats catalyst  to sealing the victory. Thornton, who tied Lady Panther Madison Johnson, with 24 game high points apiece, was fantastic at the free-throw line, going 14-for-15.

Twelve of those free throws were in the second half; three of them came at the end of the third, when she was fouled on a three-point shot at the buzzer. The three successful shots broke a 38-all tie to give Clarion a 3 point cushion, 41-38, heading into the fourth.

Maci knocked down free throw after free throw.

Maci knocked down free throw after free throw.

The term about “having ice water in their veins” was a perfect description of Thornton’s play against the Panthers.

The Lady Cats never gave up the lead, as they led by as much as fourteen points, late in the final stanza, at 56-42.

Wiser had eight points, including two from three-point range, including one early in the second half and another to increase the Clarion lead to 46-40, early in the fourth and she was also strong, battling for the ball inside.

Wiser’s and Glenn’s tough, hard nosed play took a lot of the pressure off of Thornton.

And it wasn’t just these three; the whole team played tough all game long. There were girls who didn’t show up big in the scoring totals, but were fighting for rebounds, challenging for loose balls, just great all-around play; those intangibles that contribute greatly to a team’s success.

Lauren, looking for an open teammate, had a great game.

Lauren, looking for an open teammate, had a great game.

Other Lady Cats to score in the game: Anna Reed had 4 points. Gloria Kroh, Maddi Weaver and Kelly Beveridge each scored two.

In addition to Johnson, Amber Hess also scored in double figures for the Panthers, with eleven.

CAT QUOTES:

From Coach Ed Baumcratz, after the game:

“To be honest, I think they were shocked by our intensity, our effort tonight. They expected us to go away (I think), and we didn’t. As that happened I think they got frustrated and took some bad shots and turned the ball over and fouled. That all favored us.

“We did a great job of not turning the ball over tonight. We played great team defense.

Anna Reed fighting Keystone player for the ball

Anna Reed fighting Keystone player for the ball

“I can’t say enough about those girls in the locker room. We started off terrible. We started off with injuries and all this other stuff. We’ve been up and down the whole season. But we’re up now and that’s all that matters.

“Nicki Glenn and Lauren Wiser really stepped it up tonight. We needed them in order to get that victory. They needed to step up and they really did. That’s senior leadership and it’s coming out.”

The two-time defending District 9 Class-A champion Lady Cats are now (14-10) on the season, and will face Cameron County in the District Semi-Finals at 6:00PM, on Tuesday (February 24th). The other Semi-Final between Venango Catholic and Elk County Catholic will follow.

“On Maci Thornton’s play under pressure: “She’s made for that kind of stuff. She lives and breathes it. She wants it. She’s got my vote for the Most Valuable Player of the League, thats for sure.”

And she’s got my vote too!

The two-time defending District 9 Class-A champion Lady Cats are now (14-10) on the season, and will face Cameron County in the District Semi-Finals at 6:00PM, on Tuesday (February 24th). The other Semi-Final between Venango Catholic and Elk County Catholic will follow.

(Thanks to Jack Kenneson for the great photos. KEEP IT GOING, LADY CATS!!!!)