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Eagles remain on top
Photo
United’s Taylor Smith (45) shoots over South Range’s Kristin Robinson (24) while Kelsey Maynard watches during Monday’s game at South Range High.
By Jim Flick
BEAVER TOWNSHIP
Strong free-throw shooting helped the United High School girls basketball team remain undefeated in Inter-Tri County Tier One play.
The Eagles’ MacKenzie Gatchel sank five free throws in the waning moments of United’s 39-37 victory over South Range on Monday.
After trailing for most of the game, South Range (9-6, 8-3) battled back in the fourth quarter and took a three-point lead.
But the Eagles (13-3, 10-0) out-scored the Raiders 9-4 in the final five minutes.
Seven of those points came on free throws.
“We knew we’d be in a fight,” United coach Sam Mathias said. “We knew we’d have to take their best punch.
“The girls executed the game plan we’ve been working on.”
South Range coach Wayne Johnson said, “We had our chances — we just didn’t finish it off.”
Mathias said Gatchel is “the most hard-nosed player you’ll ever want to have on the floor. Even though she’s just a sophomore, I have the utmost confidence in her.”
United shot 13 of 20 from the charity stripe, compared to nine of 12 for South Range.
Mathias said he “emphasizes free throws in practice because in close situations it’s always going to come down to the free-throw line.”
Emily Zehentbauer, a junior, lofted two 3-pointers in the third quarter for the Eagles before sinking two foul shots in the final moments, giving her eight points.
Senior Taylor Smith sank two field goals for four points and grabbed six rebounds for United.
The Eagles’ leader in assists was junior Sam Spitler, who also scored four points.
Johnson credited the Eagles for taking advantage of opportunities.
“[They] got some key offensive rebounds and put-backs, and we put them at the foul line and they made their foul shots,” Johnson said.
Leading South Range offense was junior Lexi Naples, who scored 11 points.
Senior Kristin Robinson added nine points for the Raiders while senior Kelsey Maynard connected for seven points.
United took its first lead in the first quarter, going ahead 5-4 when Smith sank a field goal. The Eagles led 11-7 at the end of the first quarter.
Defense by both teams dominated the second quarter, a 6-6 draw that gave United a 17-13 halftime lead.
The third quarter was the most productive one for both teams, with South Range outscoring United 14-12 to draw within two, 29-27.
But South Range came back, surging ahead 31-30 with five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter when sophomore Starla Sharp sank a field goal.
The Raiders led 33-30 after sophomore Stevie Taylor added a field goal.
But Gatchel stole the ball and dribbled home for a lay-up, then started marching to the free-throw line for the points that decided the game.