The Panthers got off to a great start Tuesday night against Moravian Academy.
After a humbling loss to the Lehighton Indians on Monday night, the Saucon Valley High School girls’ basketball team was back at it on Tuesday in a showdown with the Moravian Academy Lady Lions. It was a great start for the hometown Panthers and their foul-shooting woes from the previous night seemed to be fixed. However, it became evident that the Lady Lions came to town intent on battling for all thirty-two minutes.
The Panthers started red-hot with eight unanswered points including a couple of three-pointers from juniors Kat Naiburg and Olivia Williams, and a layup from senior, Shannon Williams. It was not until the 3:59 mark in the 1st quarter that Moravian Academy registered on the scoreboard when Caroline Spugnardi made good on a jump-shot from the perimeter. The Panthers added a couple of layups from Helen Kreschollek and Brooke Riefenstahl to build a 12-2 lead with 2:37 left to play in the opening period. Moravian’s Maya Ettle did hit a short jumper at 2:20, but the Panthers finished out the period with a 6-0 run to open up the game with an 18-4 score.
Kat Naiburg and her Panther teammates held Moravian Academy to only four 1st quarter points.
The Lady Lions fought back like Lions do. They started the 2nd quarter with a 13-0 run to claw their way back into the game. Katie Kramer and Brooke Riefenstahl each chipped in four points during the period, but when the halftime buzzer sounded the Panther lead had evaporated to a slight 26-23 advantage.
The Panthers Olivia Williams trying to slow down Moravian Academy’s Quinn O’Connor.
Moravian Academy continued riding the momentum created with their strong 2nd period and outscored the Panthers 14-8 during the 3rd quarter. Two three-pointers by Olivia Williams and Katherine Naiburg along with a couple of free-throws by Shannon Williams and Helen Kreschollek were not enough to keep pace with the Lady Lions. Moravian’s Quinn O’Connor scored eight of her game high 21 points during the 3rd period. O’Connor’s efforts led the Lions to a 37-34 3rd period lead.
Coach Calabrese uses one of his timeouts to try and get back the momentum for his team.
For the first half of the final period the Panthers and Lions exchanged scores. However, with 3:40 remaining in the game Moravian started stringing together seven unanswered points courtesy of Caroline Spugnardi and Maya Ettle. Naiburg and Olivia Williams responded with a pair of three-pointers, but the Lions closed out the game with a 6-0 run. After 32 minutes of play, the resilient Lions overcame the strong Panther start and left Hellertown with an impressive 53-46 victory.
Panther senior Helen Kreschollek battling for position against Maya Ettle.
Moravian Academy was led by Quinn O’Connor and her 21 points. Caroline Spugnardi added 17 for the Lady Lions.
Junior Olivia Williams led the Panthers with 11 points. Junior Brooke Riefenstahl added 10.
JV Score: Saucon Valley 31, Moravian Academy 5 (Ally Frace 13 pts., Grace Albano 8 pts.)
Up Next: The Lady Panthers will host the Palisades Pirates Thursday night at the high school. JV tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. with the Varsity to follow about 6:45 p.m.
Good luck Ladies, the Source is with you!