×

Lady Bisons suffer heartbreaker again

Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski Bedford’s Allison Shuke tries to go up against Forest Hills’ Courtney Cecere during the D6 4A title game Saturday.

CRESSON — The way Bedford and Forest Hills were trading blows in the District 6 4A girls basketball title game Saturday, Allison Shuke didn’t even have time to process what was happening.

As she sat on the bench and the Lady Rangers were handed the trophy after a 35-33 double overtime victory at the Mount Aloysius College Athletic Convocation and Wellness Center, it hit her immediately.

Shuke, who played the entire game, was overcome with emotion, and her head collapsed into her hands.

“It’s disappointing to lose the game like that,” Shuke said. “We went into the game thinking we could win it, and we tried really hard. We never gave in.”

Bedford certainly had its opportunities.

The game appeared headed for a third overtime when the Lady Bisons kept Forest Hills captain Courtney Cecere from taking the final shot with the game tied at 33. Cecere kicked the ball out to Cassi Smith, who wasn’t planning on touching the ball.

“I caught the ball with about five seconds left,” Smith said. “I wanted (Cecere) to take the shot. I didn’t want it. I wasn’t going to shoot it, because I got blocked like three times earlier shooting 3-pointers. I saw an opening, so I just took it, and it went in. When it went in, I was in shock.”

Smith’s layup with two seconds left sealed Bedford’s second straight heart-wrenching loss to Forest Hills in a district final.

“Our girls were so concentrated on watching their own girls that when (Smith) went to the basket, no one went to help,” Bedford coach Mark Dillow said. “She went straight to the basket, and it was the worst shot we could have given up.”

The Lady Bisons were keying on Cecere, who had nailed a long 3-pointer in the first overtime to answer Shuke’s 3-pointer that had given Bedford a three-point lead.

“We knew their team revolved around Cecere,” Shuke said. “We really concentrated on shutting her down, and of course that would happen and someone else on their team beat us.”

Courtney Cecere and her mother, Forest Hills coach Carol Cecere, shared a long embrace during the championship celebration and deferred attention to Smith.

“They took Courtney out of the play,” Carol Cecere said. “She had to kick it out. Cassi Smith did a great job today overcoming a few plays earlier where she had the shot and passed it up. I’m just happy for her to make that shot, and we’re blessed to get out of this with the championship.”

Early in the game, it didn’t seem like Smith’s heroics would be needed.

Forest Hills jumped out to a 9-0 lead, and Bedford went nine minutes without a field goal.

“We knew they were going to come out in a triangle and two, because that’s what they did to us in the first game,” Dillow said. “We had it all set up, but the whistle blew and we weren’t ready. We tried to force stuff, and we weren’t patient. Once we got ourselves collected, we were down 9-0.”

Bedford used its stifling defense to get back into the game and trailed by just one after Amber Thomas’ 3-pointer to end the third quarter. The Lady Bisons took their first lead of the game a few seconds later on back-to-back layups by Jaden Fuller.

The teams traded the lead until Shuke, whose 12 points led all scorers, was fouled with 19.9 seconds left and Bedford down by one. She’d been a perfect 6-for-6 from the line prior to her attempts, not even touching the rim on a single free throw. But Cecere called a timeout, and Shuke missed the front end.

The star senior recovered to drain the second shot, and Cecere missed a long 3-pointer to force the first overtime.

“Our team always plays hard and never gives up,” Shuke said. “We have fallen behind before, but we are always able to get ourselves back in the game. We worked so hard all year, and I’m really proud of my team for fighting back.”

Shuke opened the scoring in overtime with a 3-pointer, but Cecere answered with 1:54 left. Kourtney Walls missed a 3-pointer at the end of the first overtime that could have won it for Forest Hills.

“We were doing a good job against their 3-point shooters,” Dillow said. “In the end, we backed off Cecere a little bit, and she hit a long one. She deserves credit for that one.”

The Lady Rangers will play the third-seeded team from District 7 on March 10.

Bedford’s season came to an end with an 18-6 mark.

“Bedford is a great team, and the Laurel Highlands is a tough conference,” Carol Cecere said. “In reality, did I want to play them again in this game? No, I didn’t. I thought they gave us everything they had. I wish both teams could go on, because both teams deserve it with the season they’ve had.”

Dillow, who will lose Shuke and Katie Querry from his starting lineup, was also upset Bedford will not have the chance to play in the PIAA playoffs.

“It is very frustrating,” Dillow said. “I think if you check the Laurel Highlands, we allow the fewest amount of points. We pride ourselves on our defense, and I think it could have helped us win some games at the next level.”

BEDFORD (33): A. Shuke 2 7-8 12, L. Shuke 2 0-0 6, Thomas 2 0-0 5, Querry 0 0-0 0, Fuller 3 0-0 6, Brown 2 0-0 4, Bollman 0 0-0 0. Totals – 11 7-8 33.

FOREST HILLS (35): Stigers 2 0-0 5, Walls 3 1-2 8, Smith 2 0-0 5, Cecere 2 3-3 8, Koeck 3 0-0 6, Swanson 1 1-2 3, Valko 0 0-0 0. Totals – 13 5-7 35.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Bedford 2 11 10 7 3 0 — 33

Forest Hills 9 9 6 6 3 2 — 35

3-pointers: Bedford 4 (A. Shuke, L. Shuke 2, Thomas). Forest Hills 4 (Stigers, Walls, Smith, Cecere)

Records: Bedford (18-6); Forest Hills (23-1)

Officials: Chuck Glasser, Frank Garritano, Doug Steve.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

Starting at $4.39/week.

Subscribe Today