Snyder later helped close the game out by going 4-for-4 from the foul line in the final moments of the game to lock up a 55-45 win that clinched Central Cambria’s second straight district title.

“I’m so proud of Delaney,” Central Cambria coach Brittany Bracken said. “She made all those free throws at the end, but what everyone doesn’t know is that she stays after practice every day and shoots about 100 of them. I definitely have a lot of confidence in her, and that comes from the hard work and prep she puts in.”

Snyder finished with 12 points and made all five of her free throws.

“I wasn’t really feeling any pressure, because I have been practicing them all week,” Snyder said. “I had a couple misses earlier in the season, and I wanted to make sure my foul-shot percentage was perfect for the big game.”

Cambria Heights' Kinley Rogal puts up a shot over Central Cambria's Katie George (left) and Alaina Long. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

Snyder also credited her upperclassmen for helping her along this season.

“Alaina Long and Katie George are just such great role models,” Snyder said. “They always find a way to help you and lift you up. They help us win games.”

Long, the team’s only senior who finished with 11 points including a key 3-pointer that extended Central Cambria’s lead from three to six with 3:52 remaining, has a special bond with Snyder.

“Delaney is my cousin, so I have known her my whole life,” Long said. “She’s like my little sister. I take her under my wing and care so much for her. I see her potential. I trust in her, and she trusts in us. It works out great, and we have a great connection.”

Long and Katie George, who scored a team-high 20 points, were major parts of Central Cambria’s District 6 championship last year and a state playoff run that included a pair of victories.

That experience was evident on Friday.

“I saw a lot of poise in Katie and Alaina,” Bracken said. “A lot of poise, a lot of leadership and a lot of guidance — they did a great job finding each other and taking good looks. They talked defensively. They came ready to get this, and they went out and got it.”

Central Cambria will take on the team that ended its postseason run last year, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, at home on Friday, March 6. OLSH topped the Lady Devils, 47-43, in the PIAA quarterfinals last season.

“Last year, we only had about two or three of us that played,” Long said. “Between my experience and Katie, we both were on the court and played. That experience really helped to calm our nerves and everyone else’s nerves, because we were able to take the pressure off. We are hoping to do that for the rest of the playoffs.”

Cambria Heights, which led 9-5 early and had the game tied at 35 in the third quarter, will host the third-place team out of District 4 next Friday.

“Obviously there’s a lot of disappointment in the locker room, because we were so close,” Cambria Heights coach Eric Thomas said. “We have come a long way from being 5-6 at the start of the year, and I like our chances against anyone to be honest with you.”

Heights senior Kinley Rogal led all scorers with 25 points.

“She’s just getting into the paint, and no one can stop her,” Thomas said. “She’s shooting a high percentage too. She’s a rock right now, but we need some scoring from some other girls too. But I’m super proud of these girls. Kinley plays with her whole heart, and I couldn’t be prouder of her.”

Julia Karlheim, who finished with eight points and 15 rebounds, had a putback and made a free throw with 4:34 to play that cut Central Cambria’s lead to 45-42, but Long responded with a 3-pointer and Cambria Heights missed several layups down the stretch. The Lady Highlanders also failed to convert a few early that could have extended their lead.

“We struggle with that all the time, and part of that is youth starting two freshmen,” Thomas said. “Both Karlheims struggled finishing layups tonight, but I’m proud of them getting those opportunities. They are getting the boards and getting into position. I was super impressed with how easy we got layup opportunities, but we have to finish. That was the difference in the game.”

George came away with several tough rebounds in the final stages of the game to preserve the lead.

“We had a target on our back this year,” George said. “We did the best we could, and we didn’t let anything stop us. I am very proud of our team and all of our preparation and hard work. We were here last year, and I knew it was going to be a loud gym. I knew I was going to have to make some big shots and get some big rebounds.”

Bracken saluted Thomas, her high school coach at Northern Cambria, and his team’s effort after the game.

“Cambria Heights played a really great game,” Bracken said. “But we never lost confidence in ourselves. We knew it would be a game of runs, but I feel like every time they made a punch, we had a counter-punch.”

CAMBRIA HEIGHTS (45): Rogal 12 1-2 25, Bender 0 0-0 0, L. Karlheim 1 3-4 5, J. Karlheim 2 4-6 8, Kirsch 3 0-0 7, Adams 0 0-0 0. Totals — 18 8-12 45.

CENTRAL CAMBRIA (55): Long 4 1-1 11, Alexander 2 2-2 8, Grimaldi 1 0-0 2, Ruddek 0 2-2 2, George 5 6-8 20, Hite 0 0-0 0, Snyder 3 5-5 12, Matlin 0 0-0 0. Totals — 15 16-18 55.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Cambria Heights 9 8 20 8 — 45

Central Cambria 11 11 17 16 — 55

3-point goals: Cambria Heights 1 (Kirsch); Central Cambria 7 (Long 2, Alexander 2, George 2, Snyder).

Records: Cambria Heights (16-9); Central Cambria (20-6).

Officials: Clark Adelman, Jack McDougal, Keith Redfoot.