WILLIAMSPORT — Holy Redeemer’s swarming defense in the second half Friday night created a lead.
Hughesville’s foul shooting in the final minute took it away.
Hughesville connected on six free throws in the final 57.9 seconds to overcome a spirited comeback by Redeemer, resulting in a 56-53 victory in a PIAA Class 3A girls basketball first-round game at Williamsport High School.
District 4 runner-up Hughesville (23-4) advanced to the second round on Tuesday and will play District 12 champion Imhotep Charter (21-6).
District 2 runner-up Redeemer ended its season at 20-7.
“I’m just so proud of the girls,” Redeemer coach John Jezorwski said. “They fought the whole way through. People thought it was over at halftime, but we knew we had it in us.”
Redeemer trailed 30-20 at halftime as the Royals’ shooting (7-of-26) allowed the Spartans to build a double-digit lead.
The situation began to reverse in the third quarter. Redeemer applied a press defensive, forcing 10 turnovers.
“We changed up and put pressure on the ball in that 1-2-1-1 press,” Jezorwski said. “We haven’t run that all year long.”
The Royals caught Hughesville, 38-38, on a rebound basket by Brooke Kroptavich at 2:21 of the third. Consecutive baskets by Kroptavich, who finished with a team-high 18 points, gave Redeemer a 42-39 lead entering the fourth quarter.
Hughesville wrestled the lead back, 50-49, with 1:13 to play on a three-point play by Alli Anstadt. Megan Albrecht hit two free throws two seconds later to put Redeemer ahead 51-50.
That was the final time Redeemer led. Anstadt hit another free throw and Maddie Smith hit two technical free throws — all with 57.9 seconds left — as Hughesville went up 53-51. The technical foul was on Jezorwski.
After two free throws by Smith for the game’s final points, Redeemer missed a 3-point attempt in an effort to force overtime.
McKenzie Chimock finished with 14 for Redeemer, which had two players foul out late in the game.
Smith had 24 for Hughesville.
“What an exciting game,” Hughesville coach Dustin King said. “We knew it was going to come down to the wire. (Redeemer) is a great team.
“At halftime, we talked about the game of basketball being hills and valleys, especially when you play a good team. So we knew they were going to make a run and the girls did a great job keeping their composure.”
PIAA Class 3A First Round
Hughesville 56, Holy Redeemer 53
HOLY REDEEMER (53) — Tessa Cegelka 3 0-0 7, Megan Albrecht 1 5-6 7, Bella Boylan 2 1-3 5, Brooke Kroptavich 8 1-3 18, McKenzie Chimock 4 4-4 14, Gillian Parsons 1 0-0 2, Kearney Quinn 0 0-0 0, Kayla Pekarovsky 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 11-16 53.
HUGHESVILLE (56) — Ava Snyder 3 2-4 9, Maddie Smith 6 9-12 24, Alli Anstadt 5 4-7 14, Vivian Draper 1 0-0 2, Kendall Hamm 1 0-2 3, Kylie Temple 1 0-0 3, Alyssa King 0 1-2 1, Anna Easton 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 16-27 56.
Holy Redeemer`10`10`22`11 — 53
Hughesville`12`18`9`17 — 56
Three-point goals: HR 4 (Cegelka, Kroptavich, Chimock 2). HUGH 6 (Snyder, Smith 3, Hamm, Temple).
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