Late rally lifts Clearfield over Lady Mustangs
CLEARFIELD – Laurel Highlands was on the edge of completing a come-from-behind upset of District 9 champion Clearfield as the clock ticked under three minutes in the fourth quarter Saturday afternoon.
Then Eve Helsel stepped up for the host Lady Bison.
With the Lady Mustangs holding a 51-44 lead, Helsel hit consecutive 3-pointers to slice the gap to one and sparked an 18-4 closing run that propelled Clearfield to a 63-55 victory in a PIAA Class 4A first-round playoff game.
Sonny Diehl scored a game-high 24 points, Helsel followed with 18 and Mia Helsel made four 3-pointers in adding 12 points for the Lady Bison (19-5) who advanced to Wednesday’s second round where they will play WPIAL runner-up Blackhawk at Clarion University.
“Basketball is a game of runs and they just had the last one,” LH coach Stewart Davis said. “We were down 10, we came back and were up seven, then No. 3 (Eve Helsel) hit a couple big threes, something she hadn’t done the entire game up until then. But she knocked them down, credit to her, those were big shots.”
Eve Helsel realized someone needed to provide a spark for her team.
“We were down and we needed to make some shots so I had a chance and took it,” Helsel said. “When I let it go I was very confident that it was going in. The second one didn’t feel quite as good but I was glad to see it go in, too.
“I could tell it really lifted our team up and our confidence and got us back in the game.”
Laurel Highlands (19-7) answered when Ayrianna Sumpter scored off an assist by Miya Harris to make it 53-50 but back-to-back baskets by Dielh and, once more, Eve Helsel put the Lady Bison in front to stay.
Both buckets were followed by LH turnovers with the second leading to a pair of free throws by Hannah Glunt. After two missed free throws by the Lady Mustangs, Eve Helsel made two with 48 seconds left for a 58-53 advantage.
Harris drove in and scored to get Laurel Highlands within three, but Glunt made four free throws down the stretch to seal it for Clearfield, which converted nine foul shots in a row in the final 1:01.
“We went to a man-to-man (offensive) set and we just turned the ball over a couple times,” Davis said. “We took a few ill-advised shots and made a few crucial mistakes at the end, by players and by me, too.”
Taylor Irwin tallied 15 points, including three 3-pointers, to lead LH and also grabbed seven rebounds.
“If she didn’t hit those shots it would’ve been a long game for us,” Davis said of Irwin.
Aierra Jenkins totaled 12 points, 13 rebounds, three blocked shots and two steals for the Lady Mustangs. Sumpter also had 12 points with six rebounds, three assists and two blocks and Harris contributed eight points and four assists. Righteous Richardson hit a 3-pointer in scoring five points and Taylor Schwertfeger chipped in with five rebounds, two assists and also made a 3-pointer.
Mia Helsel made three 3-pointers in the first quarter to spark Clearfield to a 20-15 lead and the Lady Bison increased the margin to 31-21 by halftime.
“We knew coming in this team will shoot from the volleyball line,” Davis said. “It showed in the first quarter when 15 (Mia Helsel) hit a few and then again at the end when 3 (Eve Helsel) made them.
“No. 1 (Diehl) killed us in the middle in the first half. She had like five offensive rebounds. The second half we focused on keeping her off the glass and locked up the shooting and that was one of the reasons we were able to come back.”
Laurel Highlands opened the third quarter with a 16-4 run, capped by two Sumpter free throws and a basket by Jenkins, to go up 37-35, but the Lady Bison scored the final five points of the frame to lead 40-37.
The Lady Mustangs surged to their seven-point advantage when they opened the fourth quarter with a 14-2 run that included a three-point play by Sumpter and a 3-pointer by Schwertfeger thtat put the visitors in front.
“It’s tough to lose when you have a lead late like that but it happens,” Davis said. “I told them. There’s no need to get your heads down. Keep your heads up.
“I commend this team for the past three years underneath me. The first year we made the playoffs, last year we made the WPIAL final four and won a state game, this year we made the quarterfinals and fought our way into the states again. They have much to be proud of.”
It was the final game for LH seniors Sumpter, Harris and Richardson.
“I’m going to miss them,” Davis said. “They’re all going to the next level, Miya and Ayrianna at D-2 level and Righteous at a junior college. I see all three of them doing well at the next level.”
Harris is set to play at Potomac State College in West Virginia, Sumpter at Chestnut Hill near Philadelphia and Richardson at Garrett College in Maryland.
“The younger ones who didn’t get to play much learned a lot going up against them and the starters in practice,” Davis said. “They’re going to be ready next year. The offseason is going to be important for them, playing AAU and getting into the gym as much as possible.
“I see this team as still growing.”