CLARION, Pa. (D9Sports) – Because of how easy its regular season was, one of the unknowns heading into the postseason about the North Clarion girls’ basketball team was how it would handle adversity.
(Photo by Jared Bakaysa of JB Graphics. See more of Bakaysa’s work here)
Ask no more.
The She-Wolves, making their fifth straight appearance in the KSAC Title game, overcame a 13-point deficit late in the second quarter to win their third KSAC championship in four years with a 53-36 win over Redbank Valley Saturday night at Clarion University’s Tippin Gym.
“What a second half,” North Clarion head coach Terry Dreihaup exclaimed as he came out of the locker room following the game.
Relisten to the game:
What a second half, indeed, for the She-Wolves who outscored Redbank Valley 35-10 after halftime and 40-10 over the game’s final 17 minutes.
According to senior Mackenzie Bauer, who was named the game’s MVP Presented by All American Awards & Engraving and chosen by D9Sports.com/ExploreClarion, Dreihaup’s message to his players at halftime was pretty simple.
“We had to come out (in the second half) firing,” Bauer said. “You can’t hold anything back. It is now or never.”
Mackenzie Bauer with D9Sports.com’s Chris Rossetti. Bauer was the game’s MVP Presented by All American Awards & Engraving and chosen by D9Sports.com/EYT Media. Photo by Jared Bakaysa
It was now for Bauer, who scored 12 of her game-high 17 points in the third quarter while hitting three 3-pointers to turn an eight-point halftime deficit, 26-18, into a 13-point lead, 44-31, by the end of the third quarter.
“I think the second half, we all stepped up,” Bauer said. “We all started working together, slowing things down a little bit, calming down. We were a little nervous at first, but I think we all came together in the second half.”
Watch Bauer’s full postgame interview.
The third quarter was more than just about Bauer, as Gabby Schmader and Abby Gatesman each added seven points in the frame as well.
“We just kind of stayed calm through (the adversity),” Gatesman said. “(Dreihaup) kept telling us, there are no eight-point plays, there are no 10-point plays. You just have to bring it back point by point and play defense.”
Defense is what really turned the game around for the She-Wolves.
While North Clarion finally got some shots to fall in the third quarter going 10 of 15 from the field in the quarter after shooting 5 of 26 in the first half, it was the effort on the defensive end that made the difference.
Redbank Valley was not only limited to 10 second-half points, the Lady Bulldogs rarely got a clean look after halftime and finished the half 3 of 31 from the field while shooting 12 of 60 (20 percent) for the game.
“We switched from our three-two matchup zone and went man-to-man,” Dreihaup said. “We just kind of shut down their penetration. I couldn’t be prouder of the girls they way they played the second half. They just played great defense.”
Things couldn’t have started any better for Redbank Valley.
The Lady Bulldogs scored the game’s first eight points with Smith and Tara Hinderliter each connecting on 3-pointer, and Redbank Valley led 16-5 at the end of the first quarter.
The lead grew into double digits in the second quarter, hitting 13 points twice – 20-7 and 26-13.
But North Clarion found its footing a little bit late in the half going on a 5-0 spurt to close out the half with Amya Green putting the capper on the mini-spurt when a basket off a Gatesman pass to make it 26-18 at the break in favor of Redbank Valley.
“When we were down 13, we couldn’t buy a bucket,” Dreihaup said. “They all just kind of picked it up, and they wouldn’t give up. And they don’t give up, ever.”
Gatesman had a monster game for North Clarion scoring 14 points, 11 in the second half, while hauling down a game-high 17 rebounds, eight on the offensive end. It helped her secure her third KSAC title in her four-year career.
“It means a lot,” Gatesman said. “Just the atmosphere. This is super incredible and it’s just a blessing to be able to play this with my teammates of coaches.”
Schmader added 12 points in the win for North Clarion, which was without starter Haley Sherman, who was injured earlier in the week – Sherman could be back in time for the District 9 playoffs.
Smith paced Redbank Valley with 13 points, eight before halftime, while Hinderliter added 11. Madison Foringer grabbed a team-best 13 rebounds while scoring four points.
Both teams advance to the District 9 playoffs. North Clarion (23-0) is the top seed in Class 1A and awaits the winner of the Elk County Catholic vs. Union game, while Redbank Valley is the No. 2 seed in the Class 2A bracket and plays Kane in the opening round Friday at Punxsutawney High School.
THE COACH AND THE SCRIBE
Jess Quinn (The Coach) and Chris Rossetti (The Scribe) broke down the games in the Feb. 15 edition of The Coach and The Scribe Powered by the Rehab Centre. The Rehab Centre has six locations serving you, including in Clarion, Brookville, and Kittanning. The Rehab Centre, Chiropractors Caring for Health.
NORTH CLARION 53, REDBANK VALLEY 36
Score by Quarters
Redbank Valley 16 10 5 5 – 36
North Clarion 5 13 26 9 – 53
REDBANK VALLEY – 36
Kennedy Hetter 0 0-0 0, Karlee Shoemaker 0 0-0 0, Ryleigh Smathers 0 0-0 0, Emma Huffman 0 0-0 0, Claire Clouse 0 0-0 0, Megan Gourley 0 0-0 0, Gabby Dinger 0 0-0 0, Madison Foringer 2 0-0 4, Tara Hinderliter 4 2-7 11, Lauren Smith 3 5-6 13, Alivia Huffman 2 0-0 4, Caylen Rearick 1 2-2 4, Brooklyn Edmonds 0 0-0 0, Alyssa Bowser 0 0-0 0. Totals 12 9-15 36.
NORTH CLARION – 53
Mackenzie Bauer 6 2-5 17, Amya Green 1 0-2 2, Gabby Schmader 5 0-0 12, Claire Kriebel 0 0-0 0, Gwen Siegel 0 2-6 2, Abby Gatesman 5 4-7 14, Trinity Thompson 2 2-4 6. Totals 19 10-24 53.
Three-pointers: Redbank Valley 3 (Smith 2, Hinderliter). North Clarion 5 (Bauer 3, Schmader 2)
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