ROSTRAVER TOWNSHIP - It was deja vu in more ways than one Thursday when the Belle Vernon Area girls' basketball team hosted Southmoreland.
The Lady Leps came within 50 seconds of pulling the upset on the Lady Scotties, but fell short bowing, 46-43, in a key Class AAA Section 3 matchup.
That was the final score of the first meeting between the two teams back on Jan. 3, and it was also the final score when Southmoreland defeated Yough Wednesday evening.
Senior Ava Nickens led the Lady Leps (8-11, 4-8) as she netted 15 points and ripped down 15 rebounds, while senior point guard Brooke Panepinto added 10.
Coming off their last second win over Yough Wednesday, Southmoreland coach Brian Pritts was worried about his team's stamina leading to a letdown against the Lady Leps.
"It's late in the season now," Pritts said. "You cut down your practice times because you want to save your legs. Playing three games in one week, you fear coming out flat and having that letdown."
Thanks to sophomore sensation Vanessa Abel, the Lady Scots (15-5, 8-4) were able to overcome deficits of 11 and 10 points to earn the comeback win.
Abel, who picked up her fourth foul early in the third quarter, was able to hit clutch shots throughout the second half while avoiding fouling out of the game. She finished with a game-high 18 points, 11 coming in the second half.
"Earlier in the game we were saying to go away from her," BVA coach Jim Monahan said. "After that we wanted to go more to her side, either she was not going to play too tight or she was going to commit her fifth. Obviously we didn't get her to commit her fifth."
Even Pritts was a little tense when Abel picked up that fourth foul.
"I really thought they would attack her more," Pritts said. "She's a smart ball player. When she gets in those situations, which hasn't been a lot, she plays with her head and doesn't do foolish things.
With the game tied 42-42 with a minute remaining, the Lady Scotties spread the floor to run the clock out with Abel poised to take the last shot, she dished to Anna Coffman, who quickly wrapped a pass around the defense to a wide-open Jamie Henry for the game-winning layup.
"I was real impressed," Pritts said of the play, laughing. "Honestly, I really was just hoping (Henry) made that layup."
With the win, Southmoreland clinched a playoff birth, while the loss drops BVA three games out of the final playoff spot in the section with only two section games remaining.
NOTES: Senior Lindsey Brletich had a strong game inside for the Lady Leps, scoring eight points with nine rebounds and six blocks...The Lady Leps finished 5 of 14 from the free throw line (36 percent) while the Lady Scots finished 8 of 12 (67 percent)...BVA hosts Peters Township today at 7:30 p.m.
