CLARION - When conjuring up nightmare scenarios, what happened to the Moniteau girls basketball team Friday night was at the top of a short list for coach Mark Yeager.

It was above even the boogieman.

The Warriors shot just 22.7 percent from the floor and were just 6-of-29 from 3-point range in a 44-39 loss in the District 9 Class AA quarterfinals at Clarion University.

"We just didn't shoot well all night," Yeager said. "This was my worst fear. My worst fear was playing a big team playing a zone and not being able to hit shots."

Still, Moniteau led 19-14 at the half, in large part because of its defense.

The Warriors (16-8) trailed by a point midway through the second quarter, but they went on an 8-2 run sparked by the defense to take the lead.

"At halftime the girls were saying, 'We can't shoot any worse,'" Yeager said. "I said you might not get any better, so continue to play defense and hold them into the 30s."

Instead, Curwensville (17-9) scored 30 points in the second half.

The Golden Tide did it by pounding the ball inside to 5-foot-11 forward Betsy Rebar, who didn't take a shot in the first half but took 12 in the second half and finished with a team-high 12 points.

"At the half we said we're bigger than them, let's go after it and make them defend us underneath," said Curwensville coach Alan Fairman.

Moniteau had no answer for the inside game. Kristen Baronetski, the only Warriors starter taller than 5-foot-6, was stifled at every turn, going 0-for-7 from the field before fouling out late in the fourth quarter.

Baronetski's struggles on offense were mirrored by her team's struggles on defense in the second half.

"A couple of times they almost took us (in the basket) with the ball," Yeager said.

Moniteau did lead 29-24 late in the third quarter, but the Golden Tide went on a 14-0 run to take a nine-point lead with five minutes remaining the game.

That forced the Warriors to take even more risks on offense. In the period, they hit just 2-of-12 from 3-point range.

"They were all short," Yeager said. "I know this is a bigger floor, but the 3-point line is the same distance away from the hoop."

Making matters worse for Moniteau was the fact senior point guard Natalie DeMatteis was nowhere near full speed after spraining an ankle badly in practice Wednesday.

It showed as DeMatteis didn't have the explosiveness she usually exhibits.

"As late as this morning I didn't think she would be able to play," Yeager said. "She really gutted it out.

"Our game the last couple of weeks has been her driving to the hoop and dishing. She didn't have that quick first step."

Alyssa Deal scored 21 points to lead the Warriors, but she wasn't immune to the shooting woes, either, going 8-of-24 from the field.

The loss ends Moniteau's season after the team started slowly but won 12 of 13 heading into the playoffs.

It also marked the final game for Jenna Beatty, Jill Davis, Laken Burk and DeMatteis.

"The seniors I feel bad for," Yeager said. "Natalie has been with me since the second grade. She's like one of my kids.

"They played hard. I'm proud of them. Realistically, we weren't going to win a state championship, so a night like this was going to come. I just hoped it wouldn't come so soon."

CURWENSVILLE 44

Stephanie Wagner 2-6 3-4 7, Lacey Francisco 0-1 0-0 0, Brittany Barrett 3-5 2-2 8, Kelly Penvose 4-8 1-2 10, Heidi Cleaner 1-3 0-0 2, Jackie White 0-2 3-4 3, Michelle Kavelak 1-6 0-0 2, Betsy Rebar 4-12 4-6 12. Totals: 15-43 13-18 44

MONITEAU 39

Kristen Baronetski 0-7 3-4 3, Alyssa Deal 8-24 0-0 21, Natalie DeMatteis 3-20 0-0 7, Amy Gladd 3-7 0-0 6, Jenna Beatty 0-6 0-0 0, Laken Burk 1-2 0-2 2. Totals: 15-66 3-6 39

3-point goals:

Penvose, Deal 5, DeMatteis

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