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By Brad Rosemas
For the Mirror
EBENSBURG -- Portage veteran coach Lance Hudak made it one of his team's top goals to finish off December with an unblemished record, and his squad did so in dominating fashion.
Leading by three after the first quarter, the Mustangs utilized a 21-2 scoring advantage in the second frame to pull away from Central Cambria. Portage defeated the Red Devils, 56-37, in the championship game of the Stevens Carpet One Holiday Hardwood Classic on Thursday night.
"We knew Central Cambria was going to come out inspired," said Hudak, whose team has claimed the tournament crown in back-to-back seasons. "This was their tournament and they've been playing some great basketball. We got through the first quarter, but we talked afterwards and said that now we have to make the separation. We did a great job of defending and it showed on the scoreboard."
Portage finished its first month of play at 12-0 while claiming gold medals in three different tournaments. The Mustangs won the Art Burkett Memorial Tournament championship on Dec. 2 and the JT Kuhn Memorial Tournament title at Big Spring High School on Dec. 9.
Mustangs forward Jenna Burkett was named the Holiday Hardwood Classic's Most Valuable Player after posting a combined 36 points over the two games.
Burkett scored a game-high 15 points in the title tilt and pulled down nine rebounds.
"Here's a girl that's one of the best in the area, without a doubt," Hudak said of Burkett. "She's been working so hard to get back to full strength and she's finally healthy. She's playing like Jenna Burkett can play, and we definitely feed off of her skillset."
The 2023-24 season has so far proved to be a stellar comeback year for Burkett, who missed the majority of her sophomore and junior seasons due to knee injuries.
Burkett has averaged more than 16 points and eight rebounds per game through the Mustangs' first 12 games and has been named MVP of all three tournaments Portage has competed in.
"You're always out there thinking that you're walking on eggshells and you don't want to get hurt, but you know all those girls are there for you," Burkett said. "I just know all of them are doing what's best for me, and I really appreciate it.
"It feels so nice to have such supportive teammates. They support me, we all support each other, and we all have one common goal, which is playing our best and winning as many games as we can."
Burkett and her four fellow seniors that comprise the Mustangs lineup flustered Central Cambria with pressure defense throughout the contest, much like the Red Devils saw just a few weeks ago.
Central Cambria was able to work around Portage's press in the first quarter, holding leads of 8-4, 12-10 and 15-14 before the Mustangs tallied the final four points of the frame, capped off by a Brooke Bednarski shot at the buzzer.
The Mustangs then scored 21 of the next 23 points to stretch the lead to 39-17 at the half. Central Cambria mustered just two points in the second quarter on 1 of 16 shooting.
"We just had a bad second quarter and couldn't recover," Central Cambria coach Brittany Bracken said. "I felt like when we got down, we couldn't find the hoop. We had some decent looks, but couldn't finish.
"Portage had the momentum from the second quarter on and we lacked some confidence in that stretch. We just have to work on not getting down when things don't go our way."
Central Cambria was 6-for-13 from the floor in the first quarter before missing its next 11 shots. Abby Sheehan's layup with 2:24 left in the half closed a 15-0 Portage run.
After the first, the Red Devils shot a combined 5 of 39 from the floor over the final three quarters, getting a majority of their production from the free throw line, going 12-for-14.
"That's one aspect where our experience really pays off," Hudak said. "Our girls have been in a lot of big time games. They've been in situations where they've been down. We just got back to basics and executed our gameplan well. I'm very proud of them."
Portage outscored Central Cambria, 9-6, in the third quarter before the Red Devils recorded a 14-8 scoring edge in the fourth.
All-Tournament team selection Alex Chobany scored 14 points for Portage, while Bednarski added 10. Keira Link topped Central Cambria (6-4) with seven points.
Link and Aubrey Ruddek (six points) were named to the All-Tournament Team for the Red Devils.
PORTAGE (56): Bednarski 5 0-2 10, C. Burkett 3 0-0 6, J. Burkett 7 0-0 15, Chobany 6 1-2 14, Hudak 0 1-4 1, Noll 2 0-0 4, Myher 2 0-0 4, Bagby 1 0-0 2. Totals -- 26 2-8 56.
Central Cambria (37): Barra 2 1-2 6, Link 2 3-4 7, A. Ruddek 2 2-2 6, Ab. Sheehan 1 2-2 4, Al. Sheehan 1 0-0 3, Long 2 0-0 4, George 1 0-0 3, L. Ruddek 0 4-4 4. Totals: 11 12-14 37.
Score by Quarters
Portage 18 21 9 8 -- 56
Central Cambria 15 2 6 14 -- 37
3-point field goals- Portage 2 (J. Burkett, Chobany); Central Cambria 3 (George, Al. Sheehan, Barra).