Lehman

TYRONE — After having to establish an identity in December, the Tyrone girls basketball team has become one of the area’s hottest teams aroundd, having won nine of their last 11 games as February begins.

That stretch goes back to a Dec. 30 triumph over Central, the same team on Monday night the Lady Eagles beat, 55-36, on senior night to sweep the three-game series between the two schools.

“That’s what we were really looking for; just give it all for these seniors,” Tyrone coach Mike Whitling said. “They’ve given everything for the last four years, and I thought we did a great job of that.”

The win also helps the Lady Eagles (13-5) keep pace with Penn Cambria to potentially become the top seed in the District 6 Class 4A playoffs. As of today, Tyrone is the No. 2 seed.

Lola Woomer helped set the tempo late in the first as she put away a floater, and added a 3-pointer, as she scored 10 of her game-high 17 points.

“This is a very good Central team that’s up and coming. They’re playing really well right now, we just hit some shots tonight. One of the hardest things in sports is to beat a team three times and we were fortunate enough to do that” Whitling said.

Later in the opening frame, Brielle Parker connected with senior Rylan Crowell for a layup before Lola Woomer added another bucket off a takeaway to make it 22-10 after the first.

Central did cut into that lead in the second as Adyson Poet knocked down a 3-pointer before adding a jumper late in the frame to make it a 27-19 Tyrone lead at the half.

Addie Imes led the Lady Dragons with 17 points.

“The girls have decided that they’re done being this team that gets pushed around,” Central coach Blake Over said. “We’re 6-3 in our last nine games (entering Monday). Tonight, I’d have liked to see a little bit more from them, but they’ve been working really hard and they’ll come out okay.”

After some early turbulence in the third, Woomer sparked the Lady Eagle offense in the third as she buried an off balance jumper and another jumper later in the third.

Claire Lehman added a 3-pointer to help blow the game open at 45-26 as she scored 11 points for the game.

“Her passion level, her willingness to go do those gritty type things, that’s what holds this team together,” Whitling said of Lehman. “Those types of plays help us hold the team together. I’m very happy to have her, and wish she wouldn’t be leaving, but glad she’s graduating.”

Tyrone has no time to rest as it will play a total of five games over the last eight days of the regular season. Tonight it will head to Philipsburg-Osceola.

“I think we were trying to figure out kind of team we were after losing Alayna Woomer (due to an injury),” Whitling said of his team’s growth from December. “We definitely have grown up and we have learned to work as a team. We had to find different ways to score and our team has hopefully figured that out.”

Central meanwhile has two more chances to solidify their playoff chances in class 3A beginning with Wednesday’s visit from Hollidaysburg.

“This is a game to show our team that we’re not where want to be yet,” Over said. “I’d rather have it be now than in a couple of weeks when playoffs start. Hopefully we can make it in and go on a run once we get there.

“I just challenged them a little bit to put in a little extra effort, understanding the season is coming to an end. You’re going to regret the work that you don’t put in.”

CENTRAL (36): Poet 2 1-6 6, Benton 1 2-2 4, Parilla 0 0-0 0, Diehl 1 0-0 3, Imes 7 3-6 17, Long 2 0-0 4. Totals–13 8-17 36.

TYRONE (55): Crowell 3 0-0 6, Lehman 3 4-6 11, Volders 2 1-2 5, L. Woomer 7 2-3 17, A. Woomer 1 0-0 2, Parker 2 2-3 6, Woodring 2 2-2 6, Naylor 1 0-0 2. Totals–21 11-16 55.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Central 10 9 7 10 – 36

Tyrone 22 5 18 10 – 55

3-point field goals: Central 2 (Poet, Diehl), Tyrone 2 (Lehman, L. Woomer)

Records: Central (8-12), Tyrone (13-5).

Officials: Dan Solomon, Maireade Byrne, Jack McDougal

JV: No game