CLARION, Pa. – Taylor Geer had 23 points and 15 rebounds to lead Keystone into the PIAA playoffs with a 51-39 win over Cranberry in the District 9 Class 2A girls’ basketball consolation game Thursday night at Clarion High School.
(Photo of Keystone’s Taylor Geer)
Geer scored 13 first-half points to help the Lady Panthers (13-12) grab a 21-18 halftime lead after they outscored Cranberry (15-10) 11-7 in the second quarter.
Fifth-seeded Keystone, which started the year 0-6, then gained some separation when it outscored third-seeded Cranberry 14-8 in the third quarter behind 3-pointers from Makenzie Byerley and Emily Lauer and four free throws from Geer.
Trinity Thompson provided a spark off the bench for the Lady Panthers. The 5-foot-11-inch freshman had seven points and five blocked shots.
Byerley also scored seven points for Keystone with Kenzie Hovis adding six.
Malliah Schreck, who missed a portion of the second half after getting bloodied and needing to change uniforms, paced Cranberry with 11 points. Ava Ferringer added 10 points for the Berries (15-10) and Hannah Duncan nine.
The game was a physical affair with Keystone getting whistled for 23 fouls, including 15 in the first half, and Cranberry getting caught with 15 fouls, eight in the opening 16 minutes.
Keystone advances to the PIAA playoffs for the second time in three years. The Lady Panthers qualified in the old Class 1A as the District 9 champion two years ago. Keystone will take on the WPIAL champion Vincentian Academy in the opening round Friday, March 9.
KEYSTONE 51, CRANBERRY 39
Score by Quarters
Keystone 10 11 14 16 – 51
Cranberry 11 7 8 13 – 39
KEYSTONE – 51
Makenzie Byerley 2 2-2 7, Emily Lauer 1 0-0 3, Taylor Geer 7 9-10 23, Danica Hurrelbrink 1 0-0 2, Madison Dunlap 00 -0 0, Kenzie Hovis 3 0-0 6, Danae Hurrelbrink 1 0-0 3, Ceayra Altman 0 0-0 0, Trinity Thompson 3 1-2 7. Totals 18 12-14 51.
CRANBERRY – 39
Ellie Kahle 0 0-0 0, Hannah Duncan 4 1-4 9, Ashley Finch 1 1-4 3, Malliah Schreck 2 7-9 11, Ava Ferringer 4 2-2 10, Maddie Cornelius 1 0-0 2, Kaylie Bruce 1 2-3 4. Totals 13 13-22 39.
Three-pointers: Keystone 3 (Byerley, Lauer, Danae Hurrelbrink)
