When Belle Vernon Area's Meaghan Murphy hit a layup at the halftime buzzer, it gave the Leopards a shaky, 23-20, lead over Ringgold going into the dressing room.
Murphy's basket snapped a furious 9-0 Ringgold run that had cut a 21-11 lead to a single point.
However, what seemed to be setting the stage for an exciting second half between the Section 4-AAA rivals was merely the beginning of a cold end for the Rams.
Ringgold managed just three points in the second half as BVA pulled away to a 43-23 win.
“We made some adjustments defensively in our zone and communication was a lot better,” said BVA coach Lisa Fairman. “We tried to contest every one of their shots and control the boards and even when they got a shot off, it was one-and-done for them.”
The Rams (1-3, 0-1) managed only a basket by Ashley Briscoe with 3:51 left in the third quarter and free throw by Natalie Adams with 6:51 left in the game.
“That's been our M.O. all season,” said a disappointed Ringgold coach Laura Grimm. “Every time we face adversity we just crumble like a cookie.
“We're a very young team and we just don't have the leadership right now.”
Meanwhile, BVA (3-1, 1-0) has all the leadership it needs with a lineup that includes five seniors.
“Our girls have been together for a while now,” said Fairman. “Experience and leadership are two things we definitely have in our favor.”
The Leps used a 12-0 run in the first quarter to open up a 12-2 lead.
In the second quarter, Kaitlyn Slagus hit a short jumper to give the hosts a 21-11 lead with 4:16 left in the half.
However, Ringgold went on its 9-0 run with Bailey Cooper scoring five points and the visitors pulled to within 21-20.
“We've done that before,” Grimm said. “We've cut into leads before. But when things don't go our way, we hang our heads.”
Slagus ended the game with 12 points and 13 rebounds as the 6–2 Bucknell recruit won her personal battle with Ringgold's 6–6 West Virginia recruit Marlena Schmidt, who was limited to four points and five blocked shots.
“Kaitlyn was nervous before the game,” said Fairman. “I just told her to relax and know that she has a really good team around her.”
Slagus was the lone BVA player in double figures while Cooper led Ringgold with 10 points, eight in the second quarter.”
E. Forward 49,T. Jefferson 41
EF (4-0, 1-0) opened Section 4-AAA play in impressive fashion as Jessica Palady scored a game-high 23 points, including five three-pointers.
Olivia Barkley had 12 points and Abigail Sporio 10 for the Warriors.
TJ (2-2, 0-1) got 15 points from Courtney Zoglman and 12 from Haley Zoglman.
EF trailed at halftime, 22-21, but outscored TJ 16-5 in the third quarter as Palady scored 10 points.
Jeff-Morgan 45, Monessen 29
The Greyhounds (1-2, 0-1) stumbled in their Section 3-A opener on the road as the hosts took a 9-0 lead after the first quarter and never trailed.
J-M (4-0, 1-0) got 14 points from Kayla Yorko and 12 from Ally Bogden.
Monessen was led by Teraee Bradford with 12 points.
California Area 38,Geibel 28
The Trojans (3-1, 1-0) won the Section 3-A game in Connellsville as Lyndsey Huhn scored a game-high 17 points.
Huhn was the only player from either team to crack double figures.
Trailing 5-4 after the first quarter, Cal outscored Geibel (1-1, 0-1), 11-6 in the second quarter for a 15-11 lead.
Frazier 54, Bentworth 35
The Commodores (1-1, 1-0) got off on the right foot in Section 4-AA by beating Bentworth (2-2, 0-1).
Hannah Kline scored 12 points and Jamie Muccioli scored 10 for Frazier, which never trailed after taking a 15-9 lead in the first quarter.
The Bearcats were led by 12 points from Heather Chester.
Indiana Area 58,Yough 20
Yough (0-3, 0-1) was hammered in its Section 3-AAA opener against the unbeaten Indians (4-0, 1-0).
The winners raced out to a 25-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back.
Abby Karcher led Indiana with 11 points.
