Bald Eagle girls’ press too much for young PO squad

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: January 21, 2021

By Kenny Varner

PHILIPSBURG – Two up and coming teams went head-to-head Thursday night as Philipsburg-Osceola girls basketball team hosted Bald Eagle Area.

Sporting a stifling defensive press the Lady Eagles opened up the game in the third quarter en route to the 50-26 victory.

Leading the way for the Eagles was Sara Holler who posted a double-doubles as she pulled down 15 rebounds and finished with 12 points.

Teammate Maddy Perry posted a game high 13 points.

Rounding out the double-digit scorers for Bald Eagle was Abby Hoover with 11.

The Mounties Alyssa Webster was strong on the boards as she finished with 15.

Offensively, Webster and Olivia Hutton both finished with six points.

Rounding out the top three scorers for the Mounties was Camben Potter who had five.

The Mounties and the Eagles went toe-to-toe in the first period with PO taking a slim 8-7 advantage as the buzzer sounded.

Philipsburg led off the game going on a 4-0 run.

In the run, Webster and Hutton notched the first points of the game.

But a 5-0 run by the Eagles, Bald Eagle took the advantage.

However, the Mounties rounded out the scoring on buckets by Khendyl Sharrer on a jumper and Camben Potter’s 2-for-3 performance at the foul line after getting fouled as the quarter ran down, making it an 8-7 advantage.

Going into the second, the Eagles started to put on a strong full court press that would work to their advantage early and often.

Hutton hit the first shot of the second, hitting a shot in traffic.

Back came to Eagles to pull the game within one when Kristen Onder hit a jumper, cutting it to just a one-point Mountie lead.

The basket would lead the Eagles to a 9-0 run, giving the visitors a 16-10 lead with 2:12 left in the half.

In the run, Bald Eagle got buckets from Hailey Bucha, Holler, Maddy Perry and Georgia Cingle.

Cassie Butterworth hit one-of-two from the charity stripe to snap the Bald Eagle run as the two went into the intermission with the Lady Eagles holding onto an 18-11 advantage.

Bald Eagle turned up the pressure in its press and its defense in the third outscoring the Lady Mounties 15-5 to increase its lead to 33-16.

Despite following behind by as many as 35, the Mounties refused to give up as they were able to battle through and go on a 10-0 run after Bald Eagle opened the fourth with an early 8-0 mark led by a triple by Perry and four points by Holler.

But it was too little too late as the Lady Eagles went on to the 50-26 win.