'Jackets stung
WEXFORD — After Harley Holloway hit a 3-pointer in the waning seconds of the third quarter to give the Freeport girls basketball team a 30-27 lead, it looked as if the Yellowjackets had shaken off the rust and doldrums that had dogged them for the first 24 minutes.
But the struggles were just temporarily abated.
Instead, 13-seed Quaker Valley — a team with no seniors and sophomore-heavy — fought back and held Freeport scoreless in a frantic final 95 seconds to earn a 41-38 upset over the fifth-seeded Yellowjackets in the first round of the WPIAL 4A playoffs Monday night at North Allegheny.
“We started out a little rusty. We were down,” said Freeport coach Fred Soilis. “But I thought when we got the lead in the third quarter we were starting to come back. I give (Quaker Valley) credit.”
Freeport (18-5) never led by more than a possession in the game and Quaker Valley (13-9) didn't exactly blow the doors off its opponent, either. The Quakers' biggest lead was 20-14 late in the first half.
Each time it looked as if the Yellowjackets were about to seize control, Quaker Valley found a way to stem the momentum.
“We talked about how important this game was, first of all, just to even get here,” said Quaker Valley coach Tom Demko. “But how big a win here would be, not just for the girls, but the whole program.”
The lead changed hands five times in the fourth quarter until Quaker Valley went ahead for good with a little more than four minutes remaining.
Down by three with 1:35 left in the game, Freeport had several chances to cut into the Quakers' advantage or tie, but was unable to convert.
The Yellowjackets possessed the ball for the final 59 seconds, but were turned away three times, including a key blocked shot by Bailey Garbee with less than three seconds remaining.
Freeport had possession with a scant 0.8 seconds on the clock, but an inbound pass was swatted away, sending Quaker Valley into celebration.
“They're young. They don't have any experience in a game like this,” Demko said. “But once they realized they could play with this team, which is a very good team and a very well-coached team, they started gaining confidence.”
Corinne Washington led Quaker Valley with 15 points. Garbee added 11, including seven big fourth-quarter points.
The Quakers' defense was also stout, forcing Freeport into one of its poorest shooting nights of the season at 29 percent.
The Yellowjackets came in averaging nearly 60 points per game.
“We talked about how they stay out on the perimeter and like to drive and kick,” Demko said. “We talked about closely guarding those girls out there. It was just a matter of closing out with high hands.
“It's just a credit to our defensive effort,” Demko said. “Staying disciplined and guarding their man.”
Maddie Clark led Freeport with 14 points.
Sidney Shemanski added 11 points and Holloway 10 for the Yellowjackets, who also struggled uncharacteristically from the line, going only 11 of 18.
“Our shots weren't falling from the outside,” Soilis said. “We took them to the hole — we probably drove to the hole more than we did all year — but we didn't make our foul shots. Even if we make four more, we win.”The loss is going to make for a long offseason for Freeport, which had designs on making a long run in the 4A playoffs this season.“Hey, there's nothing to hang their heads about. It was a great season,” Soilis said. “It wasn't the outcome we wanted, nevertheless I'm proud of this team for what they accomplished.“I thought we could have gone farther,” Soilis added. “That's an up-and-coming team and they're not going to be good next year, too. But we're not going to be bad, either. We'll battle back. Unfortunately we have to wait until November.”QUAKER VALLEY 41Corinne Washington 5-13 4-5 15, Bailey Garbee 4-7 3-6 11, Julianna Helkowski 0-1 0-0 0, Maura Conlin 3-6 0-0 9, Clair Kuzma 2-4 1-2 5, Amy Wilson 0-1 0-0 0, Sophia Besterman 0-0 0-0 0, Lily Johns 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 14-32 8-13 41.FREEPORT 38Harley Holloway 2-5 4-6 10, Samantha Clark 1-6 1-2 3, Maddie Clark 5-13 3-4 14, Sidney Shemanski 4-13 3-5 11, Haley Graham 0-5 0-0 0, Ally DeJidas 0-0 0-0 0, Grace Soilis 0-0 0-1 0. Totals: 12-42 11-18 38.Quaker Valley 6 14 7 14 — 41Freeport8 8 14 8 — 383-point goals: Quaker Valley 5 (Washington, Garbee, Conlin 3); Freeport 3 (Holloway 2, M. Clark)
