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By Michael Boytim
mboytim@altoonamirror.com
PORTAGE -- The Portage Area girls basketball team is replacing five starters from last year but has already built an identity as a team with an elite ability to get to the foul line along with the full-court defense the Lady Mustangs have played for years.
The problem has been the ability to take advantage of getting to the line.
Portage missed 11 free throws and fell to United, 46-42, at Len Chappell Gymnasium on Friday.
"It's frustrating," Portage coach Lance Hudak said. "You practice free throws hard. You try not practicing them hard. You talk about the importance of free throws. Then you try not talking about it. Last night we were 14-for-18 (at United). Tonight, that was definitely the difference. We were 7-of-18, and they made a lot (22-of-36). That's the difference. It's muscle memory, going to the line and just having the confidence to knock it down. It's just something we struggle at, and I told the girls, we give such effort -- we have to be better at things we can control. I truly believe we can control making foul shots."
The Lady Lions parade to the line was led by Lilly McGinnis, who finished 15-for-20 from the line. McGinnis finished with 22 points despite making only three field goals. In fact, United made only nine field goals as a team to Portage's 16 but still won the game.
"We try to get the ball in her hands as much as we can, whether it's the free-throw line or just in our offense," United coach Collin Moore said. "She came up big for us and has been big all year."
Portage never led in the game but got close several times.
United took its first double-digit lead on a free throw with 2:26 left in the third quarter, but Kendall Bednarski cut it to 30-26 with 9.5 seconds left in the period.
United responded with four straight free throws.
But Bednarski scored five points in a quick 6-0 run that made it 34-32 Lady Lions -- however Moore called a timeout and got United back on track.
"They did great," Moore said. "That's a tough game, especially when you are playing back-to-back like that. They held their composure. Games are tough when teams are pressing you and they are as good as Portage is. I'm happy to come away with a win."
United took a 44-37 lead with 48.5 seconds left, but Portage wasn't done. The Lady Mustangs got 3-pointers from Payton Noll and Bednarski, and then Bednarski stole a pass and made a layup to make it 44-42.
"We were still there with all that happened last night and tonight all because of their effort and their heart," Hudak said. "They are willing to lay out and sacrifice their body to put a hand on the ball. That's what I love about these girls. They are so selfless. When you have that type of effort, no matter what sport it is, you're going to have a chance."
Hudak is hoping his girls put everything together down the stretch.
"I have been coaching a long time," Hudak said. "This is the first time I have had a team that had struggled so much from the foul line. It's frustrating. I just hope these last two games really wake them up even more to come out of their shells and go to the line and be more confident."
UNITED (46): Henning 1 1-2 3, Rose 0 1-2 1, McGinnis 3 15-20 22, Esposito 2 1-4 5, Litchenfels 1 4-6 6, Fiochetta 0 0-2 0. Totals -- 9 22-36 46.
PORTAGE (42): Noll 1 0-0 3, C. Burkett 0 3-4 3, Bagby 2 0-5 4, Bednarski 10 3-5 25, B. Burkett 0 0-0 0, Stancovich 0 0-0 0, Irvin 1 1-4 3, Burda 1 0-0 2, Krestar 1 0-0 2, Myers 0 0-0 0. Totals -- 16 7-18 42.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
United 9 11 12 14 -- 46
Portage 8 6 12 16 -- 42
3-point goals: United 4 (James 3, McGinnis); Portage 3 (Bednarski 2, Noll).
Records: United (9-7); Portage (9-8).
Officials: Anthony Warynovich, James Holtz, Devin Richardson.
JV: No game