EBENSBURG — Prior to Friday’s varsity game against Penn Cambria, Bishop Carroll’s Maria McConnell had a game-high 13 points in the junior varsity game.

With sporadic varsity time this season, the freshman wasn’t sure if she would see the floor in a tightly contested game early in the third quarter.

But then McConnell checked in, as Adie Divido picked up her third foul. It could have been a blow for the Lady Huskies, as Divido had 13 points in the first half. Instead, it created a spark. McConnell nailed an open 3-pointer on the wing and played tenacious defense to help Bishop Carroll remain perfect in Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference play with a 67-42 win on senior night.

“She’s getting there,” Bishop Carroll coach Bob Gongloff said. “It’s a process, but she’s come a long way. (Her talent) is really going to help us down the road.”

Similar to the previous meeting between these two schools in January, Bishop Carroll held a single-digit lead at halftime, and used a strong second half the close out Penn Cambria. The Panthers used full-court pressure once again to keep Bishop Carroll within arm’s reach, but the unselfish play and transition baskets were able to help the Lady Huskies to outscore Penn Cambria 18-6 in the third quarter, as Penn Cambria was held to only one made field goal.

“We try to keep teams under 35 points,” said Alyssa Martinazzi, who finished with a game-high 19 points. “(Gongloff) tells us that defense wins championships; offense wins games. We have to continue to work on defense, and our offense will come.”

Bishop Carrol didn’t have to wait for the offense to come on Friday, as the Lady Huskies produced four players that finished in double digits. For Penn Cambria, Makalyn Clapper led the way for the Panthers with19 points.

“I think early on the emotions of senior night got to the emotions of our seniors,” said Gongloff. “In the second half they came out and responded well. They know what they have to do.”

While speed outweighs size when it comes to full-court pressure, it can be a blessing to have size that can handle the basketball. The length of Anna Haigh provided a ball handler in the middle against Penn Cambria’s full-court press, while Emily Kutskel camped out on the baseline to get easy lay-ins for Bishop Carroll on the offensive end, thanks to fast-break opportunities where the Lady Huskies had numbers. Kutskel’s length also served as a rim protector, as the senior racked up several blocks on the evening as well, rarely having to leave her feet.

“They run the floor well and we’re really unselfish with the ball,” Gongloff said. “We don’t care who scores. They execute real well.”

As the regular season winds down and depth becomes ever more important, McConnell can be that catalyst coming off the bench, along with the Yahner sisters, Mara and Kate. Even though she’s a freshman, McConnell’s adjustment has been as smooth as it can be, finally getting into varsity action.

“Everything’s just different,” said McConnell. Everything is faster, everyone is stronger. You have to put in a lot of work to where you should be.”

As a senior, Martinazzi hopes that she can help mold McConnell into a standout player on the varsity squad, while having some help from some outside sources as well.

“(McConnell’s) mom was a great basketball player too,” Martinazzi said. “For the younger girls we try to be mentors so whenever (the seniors) leave they can come up and know what to do.”

PENN CAMBRIA (42): Harvey 1 5-11 7, Hockenos 4 0-0 8, Strasser 1 0-0 2, Guzic 2 3-4 7, Clapper 4 5-5 13, McCarthy 0 0-0 0, Grove 1 0-0 3, Saleme 1 0-0 2. Totals: 13 12-19 42.

BISHOP CARROLL (67): Borlie 1 0-0 2, Martinazzi 9 0-0 19, Divido 5 0-1 13, Haigh 5 0-0 10, Kutskel 7 0-0 14, M. Yahner 1 0-0 2, K. Yahner 1 2-4 4, Rosenburger 0 0-0 0, McConnell 1 0-0 3. Totals: 30 3-7 67.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Penn Cambria 10 19 7 6 –42

Bishop Carroll 16 23 18 10–67

3-point goals: Penn Cambria 2 (Grove, Guzic); Bishop Carroll 5 (Divido 3, Martinnazi, McConnell).

Records: Penn Cambria (11-10, 7-8 LHAC 1); Bishop Carroll (20-1, 15-0 LHAC 1).

Officials: Wayne Warfel, Chad Walsh, Colin McGinnis.

JV: Bishop Carroll 38-13. High scorers–Maria McConnell, BC, 13; Madison Grove and Cara Davis, PC, 5 each.