PIAA Corry bounces Hickory

The Hornets finish with a 22-3 record.
By BILL ALBRIGHT
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW WILMINGTON -- A loss is never easy to take, but when it comes in a season-ending situation in the playoffs, it makes the pill harder to swallow.
After winning 22 of 24 games during the regular season, the Hickory High girls basketball team lost to Corry, 43-38, Saturday in the opening round of the District 10 Class AAA playoffs.
"I thought sometimes we played better defense on ourselves than they did on Corry," Hickory (22-3) coach Jeanette Whitehead said. "Give Corry credit because they played an outstanding game.
"I just thought there was something missing out there today," Whitehead said. "It wasn't for a lack of wanting it or heart, but we just couldn't get things to click."
The Hornets started strong by scoring 10 of the game's first 13 points, but then a drought set in. During the final three minutes of the first period and the entire second quarter, the Hornets mustered only four points.
Corry rebounds
Although the Beavers (18-7) weren't scoring a lot of points, they managed a 13-4 run to take a 16-14 lead to the dressing room.
"We were trying to establish patience in the offense and get some good looks without turning the ball over," Whitehead said. "We just didn't get the looks we needed."
Hickory scored the first six points of the third period to go on top 20-16, but Corry answered with seven straight.
"We made some adjustments to let them know that we were right there, but we just couldn't hold on," Whitehead said.
The Hornets tied the game for the final time at 36-all on a bucket by Deandrea Evans with 1:20 left in the game, but Corry scored the next seven points.
"This has just been a great bunch of kids to work with and the seniors will be greatly missed," Whitehead said. "We had a great, great season, but unfortunately, it had a quick and short ending."
Evans tied Corry's Bridget Minnick for game scoring honors with 16 points, while Chere' Marshall, strapped with foul problems during the second half, finished with 11.