Last-second free throw derails Conestoga

>> Anabel Kreydt fought off three Conestoga players for the rebound. She put the ball back up and was fouled with 0.5 seconds on the clock.

Springfield’s senior forward and co-captain needed to make one free throw — just one — to break the tie and give the Cougars the win. No big deal, right? “Luckily I made the first one,” Kreydt said. “Or else I would have been even more nervous.”

Kreydt made the first of two foul shots to lift No. 7 Springfield past 10th-seeded Conestoga, 32-31. It marked the first time in three meetings this season the Cougars

defeated the Pioneers. Springfield advances to the quarterfinal round Saturday to play No. 2 Haverford, another Central League rival.

The pressure was gone as Kreydt shot the second free throw. She missed, but it didn’t matter. Time quickly ran out on the Pioneers.

Kreydt, who finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds, was the star alongside Cora Fattori, who came off the bench and filled in at point guard after senior cocaptain Mia Valerio left the game in the second quarter with an ankle injury.

“This was definitely emotional. It’s a Central League team and they beat us twice, the last time was to go to the Central League finals,” Kreydt said. “It was definitely a game we knew we could win. We had the home court and it felt like the whole hometown was here cheering for us, everybody’s into this game.

“Once I went to the line, I thought I gotta make these.”

Kreydt hit a buzzer-beating jump shot in the second quarter to trim Conestoga’s lead to 17-16 at halftime. The Cougars were still finding their way in the third quarter without Valerio quarterbacking the offense, and turnovers led to a quick 5-0 run by the Pioneers. The Cougars trailed by as many as eight points in the second half.

“We told them at halftime that we have to control what we can control and someone has to step up,” coach Ky McNichol said. “And Cora Fattori stepped the heck up tonight. She made plays when we needed her to and she defended really well.”

Fattori’s layup in the fourth quarter pulled the Cougars within one at 2827. Kaitlyn Kearney tied the game at the foul line, but the Pioneers answered with their lone field goal of the fourth quarter, a layup by forward Jamie Preston.

The Pioneers held a 3028 advantage with 90 seconds left. Aaron recorded a steal and dished to a streaking Kreydt for a layup, evening the score at 30. Moments later Kreydt came away with a steal and was fouled in the act of shooting. She made one free throw to put the Cougars ahead 31-30. On ‘Stoga’s next possession Marisa Francione was fouled en route to the hoop and hit one foul shot to tie the game at 31 apiece.