Fueled by the power of a giant house crowd, Parkland held Downingtown East to only two factors within the fourth quarter in a PIAA Class 6A women first-round sport Friday evening at Parkland High School. They gained in a heated battle in opposition to 34.
“We had a giant crowd tonight and it was actually nice to have the neighborhood members right here,” Parkland coach Ed Olson mentioned. “I believe the ladies have been fairly excited.”
Parkland senior Maddie Siggins and Downingtown East sophomore Grace Hodges have been lively in a fast-paced first quarter, ending with 16.
Hodges made his first 4 3-pointers, all within the first quarter, erasing the Trojans’ early 8-3 lead.
Siggins was compelled to commerce these triples for layups and midrange jumpers, however he was aggressive offensively, particularly within the first quarter.
Seven of the Trojans’ first 10 factors got here on second possibilities, with Siggins on the middle of all of it. The East Stroudsburg University product was lively on the glass, scoring 10 of her 19 factors in her first eight minutes.
“Honestly, it comes all the way down to who desires it extra, however in terms of this time of the season, it is best to play final on your private home ground, chase the glass and get factors after errors.” It’s a bucket,’” Siggins mentioned.
The tempo could have slowed within the second quarter, however Charlotte Aldridge hit the primary of her three 3-pointers of the evening, adopted by a fantastic play from Hodges to place Downingtown East inside 10. As he led the workforce to the No. 1 workforce, the depth solely elevated. They obtained out of District 1 and led 21-16 halfway by the second quarter.
Anneli McGarrah and the remainder of the Trojans have been silenced for greater than 4 minutes, however the sophomore shortly hit again with a nook 3-pointer to tie the rating at 21 going into halftime.
A little bit of drama injected much more power into the constructing at the beginning of the third interval.
The Cougars determined to carry the ball on middle courtroom for greater than a minute to avoid wasting time and shorten the sport.
After a refrain of boos rained down from the house crowd, a slight adjustment in Parkland’s stress compelled a turnover that led to a nook 3-pointer from senior Addie Fritzinger. Another Trojan steal and Delaney Chilcoat’s floater within the lane pushed the result in 26-21 and the decibel meter went a couple of ticks louder.
But Aldridge confidently made two 3s and added some extra menace to place the Cougars again on prime, 27-26.
After Siggins grabbed one other offensive rebound and cleared contact to make it 28-27, Hodges made one other drive and Aldridge made three extra factors in old style vogue on the finish of the third quarter.
The Cougars would solely rating two extra factors the remainder of the evening.
Back-to-back buckets from Siggins tied the sport, and McGarra discovered room for one more outsized 3-pointer to place Parkland in entrance 35-32. Thanks to clutch free throws from Talia Zrinskas, who needed to battle relentless face guards and triple groups all evening, they maintained the lead and despatched the District 11 champions to the second spherical of the state match.
With seconds left, the house crowd rewarded the Trojans’ efforts with a standing ovation.
“It was very emotional. It was actually loopy to play in my final house sport and have one thing like that occur,” Siggins mentioned. “I’m blissful to be working with the ladies I’ve and may’t wait to see what we do subsequent in every state.”
“I believe it was actually particular,” Olson added. “It reveals that the neighborhood accepts them.”
Isabella Halal, who helped finish the sport with two steals and defensive stress, summed up the second and supplied the key behind a dominant and profitable season for the Trojans.
“It’s actually enjoyable to win a majority of these video games and particularly hold going as a result of all of us do not need to cease taking part in collectively and we adore it,” she mentioned. “It’s truthfully enjoyable to play with them.”
Hodges led the Cougars (20-8) with 16 factors, and Aldridge added 14 factors.
subsequent
Parkland (27-2) turned the one District 11 6A workforce to advance to the second spherical after Easton misplaced in time beyond regulation to Garnet Valley and North Penn defeated Emmaus.
The Trojans will play District 3 runner-up Dallastown on Tuesday evening at a location and time to be decided.
Derek Bast is a contract reporter and might be discovered on Twitter/X (@derek_bast) or emailed at derekbast11@gmail.com.