Down by 14, Lady Eagles March back and steals win over Penns Valley

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: January 27, 2022

By Kenny Varner

WINGATE – The Bald Eagle Area girls basketball team showed Thursday that it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.

Down 15-1 starting the second quarter, the Lady Eagles clawed their way back and took their contest against a very tough effort by Penns Valley, winning 51-46at home on senior night.

Abby Hoover and Maddie Perry led the charge back for the Eagles with a 22-point and 21-point performance, respectively. Both finished with double-doubles both taking 10 rebounds each.

Penns Valley got a strong 18-point effort by Kailen Winkleblech.

Teammate Scotty Dinges followed up with nine.

Going into the third quarter, the Rams had built up a 21-15 advantage.

But it didn’t take long for the Eagles to cut into it.

Hoover got the ball, squared up and sank a triple, making it a 21-18 contest.

Winkleblech added to the lead on their next possession, as she took a tough runner in the key.

Putting on a full court press, the Rams forced a turnover and got the ball down into the the baseline.

Anna Marie McMurtrie got the ball kicked out to her as she was standing just outside the 3-point line. She took the ball and tickled the twine for a triple.

Dinges made a direct run at the hoop only to be fouled in the act of shooting and was fouled.

She was a perfect 2-of-2, making it a 28-18 lead with over fine minutes left.

Like it did the entire game, Bald Eagle came roaring back as Perry roped a three of her own and then Katie Snyder hit a jumper, cutting the lead to a 7-point deficit.

The run caused a time out.

But Bald Eagle was relentless and focused.

Coming out of the time out, the Eagles forced another turnover as the got the ball back into the Rams end of the court.

Again, Perry set up a launched a successful triple with 1:47 left in the period.

Perry helped her team once again as she was a recipient of another turnover. She took the ball and took it right to the hoop where she was fouled. She hit another two from the charity stripe, making it a 30-28 contest.

But Penns Valley would have an answer for Perry’s scoring binge when Julia Emel ended the Penns Valley scoring with a triple.

Going into the the final two minutes Penns Valley’s once double-digit lead was wielded down to a 33-28 contest.

But Bald Eagle would cut the lead to 33-31 going into the fourth period.

As the stanza got underway, the Wagles tied things at 33. Olivia Boone hit 2-for-2 from the line.

Again, the Rams had an answer for the Eagles run at the lead.

Winkleblech added a free throw and McMurtrie added four points, taking back to momentum momentarily, 38-33 with only 5:41 left.

Bald Eagle called a time out to take time to regroup and set their plans for getting back into the contest.

It would be a wise move when the Eagles came out and went on a 4-0 run, cutting things to a one-point contest.

But the Lady Rams battled back on a bucket by Paige Dobson.

Trailing 44-42, the Eagles Kierra Serb was fouled on a shot off an offense rebound. She hit 2-for-2 tying things for the second time in the contest, this time it would be knotted at 40.

From there the Eagles took over the contest, outscoring Penns Valley 11-6 in the last 2:11.

The win gave the Eagles a season sweep of Penns Valley.