Lady Rams fend off Lady Raiders numerous time to secure win

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: February 11, 2021

By Kenny Varner

BELLEFONTE – Two teams heading in the up position met Thursday when the Penns Valley girls and Bellefonte Lady Raiders met in a Mountain League showdown.

The Red Raiders, just coming off a 68-22 victory over Jersey Shore and winners of two-of-three, took on a Lady Rams team that were at 5-5 on the year after a slow start to the season.

In a post season type atmosphere, the Lady Rams outlasted a tough effort by the Red Raiders, 44-33.

With the win, Penns Valley ups its record to 6-5 overall, leaping over the .500 mark.

Bellefonte kept the game close until the final minutes of the contest.

Leading the way for the Lady Rams

was Avery Dinges as high scorer with 15 points.

Kailen Winkelblech second high scorer with 10 points.

Rounding out the leading scorers was Ann-Marie McMurtrie third high scorer with nine points.

“We are at the point at the season where we have to adjust. We have a very tough district. Very tough. Our class is very tough and they are going to make runs like that,” said Penns Valley coach Terrance Green. “Again, we haven’t had many games like this where we can work on things like this, so it’s all learning moments it’s been good for us.”

Bellefonte was led by the strong transition game of Maddie Tice, who finished with 15 points as well.

Rounding out the top scorers for the Lady Raiders was Mia Johnson with nine.

“They had a very strong effort today. We knew Penns Valley was a real good team,” said Bellefonte coach Marcus Toomer. “I thought they played great but Penns Valley just made more shots than we did.”

Penns Valley opened the game with a strong 14-9 offensive showing in the opening quarter.

Leading the way was a 5-point effort by Winkleblech and Avery Dinges.

Bellefonte got five from Tice.

Penns Valley built up a 19-11 advantage before the Lady Red Raiders mounted its first comeback attempt.

Bellefonte marched down the court and took the momentum thanks to a 7-0 run, closing the deficit to one.

In the run, Johnson had three while Bella Corman and Tice scored in the lane, making it 19-18 with 2:00 left in the half.

But Penns Valley returned the favor as they finished the half going on a 9-1 scoring blitz, ending the first half scoring with the Lady Rams leading 28-19.

Coming out of the half, Bellefonte chiseled down the Penns Valley lead to a 4-point contest.

Leading the charge again were Tice, Corman and Johnson, forcing Penns Valley to call a time out at the 3:23 mark.

The Rams came out firing, posting a 7-3 mini run to extend its lead to 36-28 going into the final stanza.

Bellefonte made one last attempt to comeback but the Red Raiders would come up short, falling late 44-33.

Penns Valley’s Overall Record is 6-5 and a Mountain League Record of 6-1.

Next game for Penns Valley is Saturday, February 13th, Home vs Philipsburg-Osceola. JV at 1 and Varsity at 2:30.

Bellefonte is also back in action Saturday when it travels to Clearfield.

Penns Valley 44 , Bellefonte 33

PV 14 14 8 8 – 44

BE 9 10 9 8 – 33

Scoring: Penns Valley – Ann-Marie McMurtrie 3 2-2 9, Avery Dinges 4 5-10 15, Kaitlyn Romig 0 2-2 2, Leah Beben 4 0-0 8, Kailen Winkleblech 4 0-0 10. Totals 20 7-14 44.

Bellefonte – Lily Gardner 0 1-2 1, Mia Johnson 4 1-2 9. Maddie Tice 4 6-8 15, Bella Corman 3 0-4 6, Hana Rados 1 0-0 2. Totals 13 8-16 33.

Played but didn’t score: Penns Valley – Rylie Arney 0 0-0 0, Catheryn Goodwin 0 0-0 0.

Bellefonte – Emalee Neff 0 0-0 0.

3-point shots: Penns Valley -A. Dinges 2, Winkleblech 2, McMurtrie.

Bellefonte – Tice.