The Shadow
PENN LAIRD – The first year Alleghany Cougars girls’ basketball season came to an end Friday night following a 42-28 loss to Spotswood in the Region 3C quarterfinal in Penn Laird.
After a close first half, only separated by two points, the third quarter would be the deciding factor as the Trailblazers outscored the Cougars 20-6 and built a double-digit lead that they would not surrender.
Early in the first quarter, Alleghany had Spotswood rattled as the Cougars jumped out to a 6-0 advantage, while holding the Trailblazers scoreless more than halfway into the first period.
Late into the first, Cash scored her second basket of the quarter coming on a layup which put Alleghany ahead 8-2. However, momentum quickly swung Spotswood’s way to close out the quarter as freshman Paige Green made a jump shot and freshman Piper Lohr knocked down a pair of free throws to cut the lead down to two points.
The region’s 6-seeded Cougars held an 8-6 lead heading into the second quarter where Bryce Leitch put AHS back up four points with a layup.
With a 10-6 lead in the second quarter, it would be the last lead Alleghany would have the rest of the game. The two teams would trade points for the majority of the second period, but after Leitch’s layup, Spotswood would go on to score seven straight points to build their first lead of the game at 13-10
By halftime the Trailblazers had a marginal 16-14 lead.
Spotswood opened the second half with a Riley Joyner 3-pointer which gave the Trailblazers a 19-14 lead.
Leitch would connect on a pair of free throws to cut the lead down to three points at 19-16. The Cougars, however, would go cold from the field. Following Leitch’s free throws, Spotswood would go on a 12-0 scoring run to take a 31-16 lead.
The Trailblazers scoring run would end with just over two minutes remaining in the quarter as Leitch knocked down her second bucket of the quarter. Taylor Stayton would follow with a short distance basket of her own as AHS brought the lead down to 11 points at 31-20.
Just as Alleghany was working their way back into the game, Spotswood would close out the third by scoring the quarters final five points to take a 16-point lead into the fourth.
After being held scoreless through the first three quarters, Abbie Fridley scored five quick points for Alleghany, including a 3-pointer which cut the deficit back down to 11 points. With Cash at the free throw line, the Cougars were about to cut the deficit down to single digits. Cash connected on the first attempt; however, AHS would commit a lane violation on Cash’s second attempt which wiped out the made free throw.
AHS would never get back within single digits despite holding Spotswood to only six points in the game’s final quarter.
Alleghany in their first year as a merged team, finished their season 17-7. Leitch led all scorers with 13 points and also brought down seven rebounds. Cash and Fridley each scored five points for the Cougars. Cash was held to one point in the second half. Meanwhile, Kelsey Nicely had six rebounds for AHS.
It was a big game from Spotswood’s underclassmen as they scored 30 of the teams 42 points. Lohr led the way in scoring for the Trailblazers as she had a team-high 10 points, while Alana Fisher and Riley Joyner each had eight.
3-point shooting was a big factor in the game for Alleghany as they finished 2-for-16 from 3-point range. While Spotswood also struggled from long distance, the Trailblazers did make three key 3-pointers in their 20-point third quarter.
At the free throw line Alleghany was 4-for-6, while Spotswood went 10-for-15.
Spotswood (18-7) will play at 2-seeded Turner Ashby (22-3) on Tuesday night in the regional semifinals in Bridgewater. The winner of that game will not only reach the regional final but will also clinch a spot in the state tournament.
Alleghany 8 6 6 8 – 28
Spotswood 6 10 20 6 – 42
ALLEGHANY (28) – M. Cash 5, K. Dressler 0, A. Fridley 5, J. Heighter 0, M. Holloway 0, K. Jack 0, B Leitch 13, K. Nicely 2, E. Skidmore 0, T. Smith 0, T. Stayton 3.
SPOTSWOOD (42) – O. Jackson-Sweezy 0, P. Green 4, A. Weldon 2, R. Joyner 8, M. Myers 0, L. Long 0, S. Mayhew 2, P. Lohr 10, A. Fisher 8, A Taylor 6, M. Grefe 2.
3-Pointers – Alleghany 2 (B. Leitch, A. Fridley). Spotswood 4 (R. Joyner 2, A. Taylor 2).
