KNOX — Cami McNany scored seven of her 15 points in overtime as the A-C Valley girls basketball team made history with a 54-48 win over Sewickley Academy in the first round of the PIAA Class A playoffs Saturday at Keystone High School.

It is the first state playoff win in program history for A-C Valley.

It looked like the Falcons would only need four quarters to head into the second round, as they led by six points, 43-37, with 1:16 left in regulation. But the Panthers' Sam Smith, who ended the game with 21 points, wasn't ready for her season to end.

Smith made all three foul shots after being fouled on a 3-point attempt, to cut the lead in half. Then, after an A-C Valley turnover, Smith drained a 25-footer from the left wing to tie the game and energize the Sewickley Academy faithful.

“Sam played awesome,” Sewickley Academy coach Mariam Sy said, “especially since she's been sick lately. She's just a great player.”

Kylee Eaton had a chance to win it for the Falcons in regulation, but missed a layup with 2.7 seconds left. The ball went out of bounds, giving the Panthers one more shot, but Smith's desperation half-court shot was off the mark, sending the game into overtime at 43-all.

Each team only made one field goal in the extra period, but A-C Valley was 9-for-14 from the line to pull away from the Panthers.

The Falcons shot just 28.6 percent from the floor in the first half, and 30 percent for the game, but held a 23-6 advantage from the foul line.

“We didn't play perfect,” A-C Valley coach Dave Sherman said, “but we kept on scrapping.”

Ellie Thompson, who led A-C Valley with 25 points, including 13-of-18 from the foul line, eclipsed the 1,500-point plateau for her career early in the third quarter. She is already the leading scorer in school history.

“When Ellie gets the ball at the foul line, she will take the shot if she has it, but she likes to drive and create,” Sherman said.

Sewickley Academy (14-7) only led once, at 2-0, but there were seven ties in the game, with A-C Valley holding its biggest lead at six points.

“The other team just outplayed us,” said Sy. “We just weren't attacking the basket.”

A-C Valley, which lost by 41 points in the first round last year, is now heading to the second round of this year's playoffs, less than one week after appearing in its first-ever District 9 championship game.

“We've done something that no one has ever done at this school,” Sherman said. “That is a huge accomplishment.”

The Falcons (21-6) will meet Kennedy Catholic in Wednesday's second round.

SEWICKLEY ACADEMY 48

Theresa Wilson 2 0-0 4, Sam Smith 6 5-7 21, Alyssa Winters 2 0-0 4, Olivia Ryder 3 0-0 6, Bre Warner 4 0-0 8, J.J. Jardini 1 0-0 2, Kamryn Lightcap 1 1-2 3. Totals: 19 6-9 48.

A-C VALLEY 54

Ellie Thompson 6 13-18 25, Cami McNany 4 6-9 15, Allie Sherman 1 2-2 4, Annie Viertel 1 1-2 3, Brooke Irwin 1 0-0 2, Kylee Eaton 1 1-2 3, Emma Fox 1 0-0 2. Totals: 15 23-33 54.

Sewickley Acad. 10 11 11 11 5 — 48

A-C Valley14 10 11 8 11 — 54

3-point goals: Sewickley Academy 4 (Smith 4); A-C Valley 1 (McNany).

Wednesday: PIAA Class A second-round playoff, A-C Valley vs. Kennedy Catholic, TBD