Keystone Heading Back to PIAA Playoffs After Topping Cranberry in 2A Girls’ Consy Game

| March 2, 2018


CLARION, Pa. (D9Sports) – Keystone used a 10-1 run late in the second quarter to take a 21-16 lead and never looked back as the Lady Panthers punched their ticket into the state tournament after starting the season 0-6 with a 51-39 win over Cranberry in the District 9 Class 2A consolation game Thursday night at Clarion High School.

(Photo of Cranberry’s Ava Ferringer. Photo by Mary Rearcik)

“This is the second time we’ve advanced to the state playoffs since I’ve been at Keystone,” said head coach Barry Foust. “It feels great, and I’m just so happy for the girls and just so proud of them.”

Taylor Geer led the way scoring a game-high 23 points, including 13 in the first half while hauling down 15 rebounds for Keystone, which went to the 1A PIAA second round two years ago after winning the D9 title.

“She’s done that all year,” said Foust. “She has that experience, and we don’t expect anything different from her. That’s her game, and that’s how she’s going to play.”

The Lady Panthers used a tremendous defensive effort to seize the lead in the second quarter as they forced six turnovers and limited Cranberry to just one field goal.

“I think it’s because we have a deep bench,” said Foust. “We were able to pressure them and force turnovers. You could see they were getting tired and had their hands on their hips.”

Freshman Ava Ferringer, who was one of two Berries who scored in double figures with 10 points, and had Cranberry’s lone second-quarter field goal. Malliah Schreck led the way with 11 points for Cranberry.

But things went south for the Berries in the third quarter as Schreck, their leading scorer went out with an injury and Keystone exploited that by outscoring Cranberry 14-8 in the quarter.

“She’s not just our leading scorer, but our leader in general,” said Cranberry head coach Carrie Melat.

Schreck did return in the fourth quarter with a new uniform (No. 34) after getting blood on her normal No. 21 jersey.

“To have her out for that long was tough and we just couldn’t recover,” said Melat. “We were a little lost without her. It is what it is, things like that happen.”

After Geer scored 13 of the 21 first-half points, five different Lady Panthers scored in the third quarter including a pair of 3-pointers – one each by Makenzie Byerley and Emily Lauer.

“Once we got the other girls going, it was huge because that takes the pressure off Taylor to be the only scorer, plus it gives the other girls that confidence,” said Foust.

Cranberry was able to cut the lead to six with 3:41 remaining with three points from Hannah Ducan who hit 1-of-2 free throws then following an offensive board hit a 10-footer bringing the Berries to within 41-35.

That was all the closer they got as Geer and Byerley answered with back-to-back layups that gave the Lady Panthers their biggest lead of the night at double digits 45-35.

“I just told the girls that need to hold their head up and be proud, we were that close to beating Coudersport,” Melat said. “I’m super proud of the girls and the way they fought. “Keystone hustled and played their butts off. I give them credit on a great game.”

Keystone will now meet WPIAL champion Vincentian Academy who beat Chartiers-Houston, 62-47.

“Nobody expected us to be in the state playoffs at 0-6, so we’re excited, and we’re going to try and make a run,” said Foust.

Keystone is now 13-12 on the year, while Cranberry finishes the season 15-10.

KEYSTONE 51, CRANBERRY 39

Score by Quarters

Keystone 10 11 14 16 – 51
Cranberry 11 7 8 13 – 39

KEYSTONE – 51

Makenzie Byerley 2 2-2 7, Emily Lauer 1 0-0 3, Taylor Geer 7 9-10 23, Danica Hurrelbrink 1 0-0 2, Madison Dunlap 00 -0 0, Kenzie Hovis 3 0-0 6, Danae Hurrelbrink 1 0-0 3, Ceayra Altman 0 0-0 0, Trinity Thompson 3 1-2 7. Totals 18 12-14 51.

CRANBERRY – 39

Ellie Kahle 0 0-0 0, Hannah Duncan 4 1-4 9, Ashley Finch 1 1-4 3, Malliah Schreck 2 7-9 11, Ava Ferringer 4 2-2 10, Maddie Cornelius 1 0-0 2, Kaylie Bruce 1 2-3 4. Totals 13 13-22 39.

Three-pointers: Keystone 3 (Byerley, Lauer, Danae Hurrelbrink)


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