Long drought wrecks Blackhawk
Scoring slump in second quarter opens door for Lansdale Catholic
HERSHEY, Pa. — One untimely scoring drought.
Yet while Blackhawk’s bucket may have seemed impenetrable for nearly a full quarter of play, Steve Lodovico’s resilient Cougars weren’t about to let those frustrating minutes deter them from chasing state championship gold. And while the young ladies from Beaver Falls fought back to make things extremely interesting, they were unable to fulfill those hopes.
Despite getting 20 points from Alena Fusetti — 10 in the final quarter — and 11 more from Aubree Hupp, Blackhawk’s bid for a fifth PIAA crown was denied by
Lansdale Catholic 53-45 in the girls’ Class 4A final Saturday at Hershey’s Giant Center.
“They’re hurting in there right now, because they know they had an opportunity to win,” Lodovico said. “I told them I’m proud of them.”
Gabby Casey cranked out a double-double for Lansdale Catholic (29-2), pocketing 28 points and snaring 16 rebounds as Eric Gidney’s program claimed its first state basketball championship. And while Crusaders were was denied gold 12 months ago, a Blackhawk side that will return everyone except lead guard Kassie
Potts, injured Quinn Borroni and two reserves is determined to succeed going forward.
Yet as the first half unfolded Saturday, Blackhawk (25-5) seemed poised to make some memorable things happen. And with Fusetti (11) and Hupp (8) productive throughout the opening 16 minutes, Lodovico’s Cougars carried a 25-22 lead into the break.
Blackhawk was still up three (30-27) with just over six minutes to go in the third following Potts’ drive, but the Cougars spent nearly eight agonizing minutes looking for something to fall. In the meantime, Casey and Saniyah Littlejohn split eight points as Lansdale Catholic rattled off 13 in a row and opened a 40-30 advantage with 6:40 remaining.
“We went on a cold streak,” said Lodovico, whose Cougars were just 2 -for-16 from the floor in the third. “We know again, the really good teams are going to capitalize — and they did.”
Trying to slow down Casey was a game-long ordeal for the Cougars, who sent everyone but the bus driver after the 5-9 senior. Conversely, Fusetti encountered her share of difficulties trying to elude the persistent Littlejohn and find room to attack.
Once Fusetti cashed a conventional three-point play, Piper Romigh slashed to the hoop and Fusetti tacked on the back end of a two-shot look, Blackhawk sliced its deficit to six (4236). Yet there was still work to do.
Blackhawk unloaded a 90 salvo that had it within one (46-45) with 2:28 to go, the hills was never completely climbed. and four free throws by Olivia Boccella closed things out.