Norwin’s season ends in overtime
ALTOONA – For four quarters, nothing could separate Norwin and undefeated Cedar Cliff, the two girls’ basketball teams matching each other playfor-play, point-for-point.
Finally, in overtime, the District 3 Class 6A champion got the sliver of daylight it needed — a loose ball that ended up in the hands of senior guard Taylor Ferraro for an open 3-pointer to open the scoring in the extra session – and the Colts rode the momentum to a 55-47 win against the Knights in PIAA Class 6A semifinal Monday night at the Altoona Area High School Field House.
“I just don’t have many words,” Knights junior point guard Bailey Snowberger said, fighting through tears. “Representing our community, our girls and just the WPIAL, I wish we could have pulled through.”
Cedar Cliff (30-0) held Norwin scoreless in the extra session after Lauren Palangio’s foul shot with 39.8 seconds left in regulation tied the game at 47. Palangio led all scorers with 20 points, and sophomore guard Kendall Berger added 11 before she injured her knee and was called for a travel trying to pivot at the elbow with 45.7 seconds left in overtime and the Knights trailing 5247.
“I’m proud of the effort. That was a heck of a job just continuing to battle and competing until the end,” Knights coach Brian Brozeski said. “Anytime you lose in overtime in this caliber of a game, it’s tough.”
Making it tougher for the Knights (24-5) was that they had a 35-29 lead at the 2:54 mark of the third quarter when Ava Christopher curled around a screen on the wing for a 3-pointer.
That was the Knights’ biggest lead, but it quickly evaporated as the Colts, after being outrebounded 16-12 in the first half, exerted their size and strength on the boards to get multiple opportunities and made a concerted effort to get the ball into the hands of their standout sophomore guard Olivia Jones, who scored 13 of her team-high 19 points in the second half.
Alexis Buie netted 12 and Ferraro finished with 10 points for Cedar Cliff, which responded to take a 38-36 lead into what became a back-and-forth fourth quarter after Sydney Weyant’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer.
Ironically, it was a play on which Jones was denied that the ball bounced into Ferraro’s hands right in front of her bench for the trey that put the Colts up for keeps.
Cedar Cliff had allowed only 76 points in its three PIAA playoff wins, never giving up more than 28. Norwin, however, had 30 midway through the third quarter.
“We share the ball really well. We move the ball and, whoever can get that open shot, we trust them to knock it down,” Palangio said.
The Knights were playing uphill for much of the first half but took a 22-20 lead into the locker room when Palangio went up and under to finish the fast break and cap a 10-2 Norwin run. Palangio scored 10 over the first two quarters.
Cedar Cliff had led by as many as nine.
It took almost three minutes and six field goal attempts for the Knights to get on the board, Palangio putting in her own miss to break the ice after Cedar Cliff scored the first five points.
“If it would have gone on any longer,” Palangio said, “it probably would have ended us.”
Norwin will graduate three seniors, including starting forward Kathryn Botti, but the Knights go into the offseason well-tooled for next year, and now, maybe a little more hungry, too.
“I think we accomplished more than anyone thought we could,” Palangio said. “We came together to prove we are as good as we are, and this only leaves us room for growth next year.”