By John Hartsock

jhartsock@altoonamirror.com

EBENSBURG — After losing two straight games the past two seasons to neighboring rival Bishop Carroll, the Central Cambria High School girls basketball team came out on a mission for Friday night’s Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference game between the two squads on Sideline Cancer Night at the Central Cambria High School gymnasium.

On an evening when the Carroll and Central Cambria communities combined to raise a total of $5,600 for the Sideline Cancer organization, Central Cambria took control of the game with a big second quarter and rolled to a 51-31 victory.

Senior guard Abigail Sheehan, who led all scorers with 15 points for Central Cambria, was happy about her team’s win, and even happier about all the money that was raised through donations for the Sideline Cancer cause.

“We lost this game the last two years, so we wanted to come in here and do our best tonight,” Sheehan said. “We knew that we could do it, but there are things that are even more important, like the Sideline Cancer cause. We’re so lucky to have this night at our school.”

Central Cambria (7-4 overall and 4-3 in the LHAC), ballooned what had been an 11-6 lead after one quarter to 21 points, 31-10, at halftime by dominating the second quarter, 20-4.

Leading 15-9 early in the second quarter, Central Cambria ran off 14 straight points to take command. Sheehan’s sister, Alaina, started the run with a 3-pointer from the right corner, junior Alaina Long followed with two straight layups, senior Keira Link converted a Long feed into a layup and three-point play when she was fouled on the shot and hit the free throw, Abigail Sheehan chipped in another three-point play with a layup and free throw, and Alaina Sheehan added a free throw to cap off the surge.

“I thought that we did a great job for all four quarters tonight,” Central Cambria coach Brittany Bracken said. “Bishop Carroll beat us the last two years, but we were ready to go tonight, and our players played a complete game.

“Our players really went after it, and when you go after it, good things happen,” Bracken added.

Central Cambria fashioned a 31-22 advantage on the boards with senior Aubrey Ruddek grabbing a game-high seven rebounds. The Lady Devils also made 17 of their 43 floor shots for a nearly 40 percent clip, while Carroll (7-4, 4-3) converted just 10 of 42 shots for 23.8 percent.

Sophomore Ava Pablic led Carroll in both points (10) and rebounds (six).

“We just didn’t get into any kind of flow tonight, and that happens occasionally, especially with a young group of kids like we have,” Carroll coach John Strittmattter said. “I’m really proud of my kids. They played hard and they’re getting better, but we couldn’t buy a basket tonight, and (Central Cambria) shot very well.”

Bracken is also happy with her team’s progress.

“I think that we’re definitely growing as a team, and we can enjoy what we did tonight, but we can’t get too comfortable because we play in a tough conference,” Bracken said.

BISHOP CARROLL (31): Pablic 2 5-6 10, Miller 1 0-0 2, Delauter 0 2-2 2, Lieb 1 0-0 3, Lucko 4 0-0 9, Adelyn Myers 1 0-0 2, Dziabo 0 0-0 0, Av. Myers 1 0-0 2, R. Myers 0 1-2 1. Totals – 10 8-10 31.

CENTRAL CAMBRIA (51): Ab. Sheehan 5 3-3 15, Al. Sheehan 3 1-2 9, Link 2 1-2 5, Long 2 0-2 4, A. Ruddek 4 1-2 9, George 0 1-2 1, R. Ruddek 1 2-2 5, Barra 0 3-4 3, Hite 0 0-0 0, Grimaldi 0 0-0 0, Matlin 0 0-0 0, Alexander 0 0-0 0. Totals – 17 12-19 51.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Bishop Carroll 6 4 6 15 — 31

Central Cambria 11 20 17 3 — 51

3-point goals: Bishop Carroll 3 (Pablic, Lieb, Lucko); Central Cambria 5 (Ab. Sheehan, Al. Sheehan, R. Ruddek).

Records: Bishop Carroll (7-4 overall, 4-3 in the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference); Central Cambria (7-4, 4-3).

Officials: Cory Widmar, Pat Kirby, Jamie Boyles.

JV: Central Cambria, 42-15. High scorers–Avery Myers and Adison Myers, BC, 4 apiece; Hite, CC, 14.