Between June 27 and July 22 we will be counting down the Top 20 Sports Stories in District 9 from the 2015-16 School Year starting with No. 20 June 27 and finishing with No. 1 July 22.
No. 17 Keystone Girls’ Basketball Wins Improbable D9 Title
After Keystone won the District 9 Class A basketball title in 2012, it seemed the Lady Panthers were destined to win a few more over the coming seasons with the Johnson sisters – Morgan and Madison – leading the way.
But injuries and bad luck always seemed to get in Keystone’s way, and the window appeared to close after Clarion upset the Lady Panthers in the 2015 quarterfinals ending Madison’s high school career.
The 2016 season looked like it was going to be a rebuilding year for Keystone with only one senior – Amber Hess – in a lineup that was going to feature mostly sophomores and freshman.
But the Lady Panthers started out strong going 7-3 through early January. However, during that stretch, Alyssa Beichner, one of the few juniors on the squad, suffered a season-ending knee injury depriving Keystone of an inside rebounding presence that would surely hurt them as the season wore on in the tough KSAC South.
However, during that stretch, Alyssa Beichner, one of the few juniors on the squad, suffered a season-ending knee injury depriving Keystone of an inside rebounding presence that would surely hurt them as the season wore on in the tough KSAC South.
The young players, led by Taylor Geer and Josselin Geer, though, helped Keystone to a third-place finish in the South and a No. 4 seed in the D9 Class A Playoffs. A first-round win over DuBois Central Catholic, 56-47, set up a semifinal showdown with top-seeded Coudersport. But the Lady Falcons were no match for Keystone losing 52-37, as the Lady Panthers used a first-half closing 21-6 run to break the game open. Taylor Geer led the Lady Panthers with 15 points and 17 rebounds.
Next up was the D9 title game against Elk County Catholic, and Keystone’s pressure defense proved to be too much for the upstart Lady Crusaders who turned the ball over five times in the game’s first 2:08 helping the Lady Panthers grab a 12-0 lead before ECC even attempted a shot. That lead grew to 17-3 just over halfway through the firs quarter, and Keystone rolled to a 53-35 win. Josselin Geer had a team-best 14 points, while Hess added 12, including nine in the first quarter.
The Lady Panthers then won a first-round PIAA playoff game over Winchester-Thurston before losing to eventual state champion Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic in the second round.
Top 20 Sports Stories in District 9 for the 2015-16 School Year
No. 20 – Punxsutawney wins 13th straight District 9 Class AAA Baseball Title
No. 19 – Clarion’s Run to the PIAA Softball Playoffs
No. 18 – Elk County Catholic Boys’ Basketball Back on Top
No. 17 – Keystone Girls’ Basketball Wins Improbable District 9 Title
No. 16 – Released July 1
No. 15 – Released July 4
No. 14 – Released July 5
No. 13 – Released July 6
No. 12 – Released July 7
No. 11 – Released July 8
No. 10 – Released July 11
No. 9 – Released July 12
No. 8 – Released July 13
No. 7 – Released July 14
No. 6 – Released July 15
No. 5 – Released July 18
No. 4 – Released July 19
No. 3 – Released July 20
No. 2 – Released July 21
No. 1 – Released July 22
