Marin Miller goes for a layup against Jaida Parker. Photo for the Mirror by Chuck Meyers

HOLLIDAYSBURG — In almost every team sport, defense wins championships, and Hollidaysburg’s McLanahan Corporation-sponsored team ratcheted up its defense Thursday night to win the High School Girls Division title in the Blair Regional YMCA Summer Basketball League.

Hollidaysburg held a talented Tyrone team — sponsored by Mayes Memorials — to just 28 total points, including nine in the first half — and posted a 42-28 championship game victory.

“Defense was definitely the key for us tonight,” said Hollidaysburg guard Marin Miller, who led all scorers with 16 points. “We played the best defense we’ve played this season tonight.”

Hollidaysburg coach Deanna Jubeck, whose team finished play in the summer league with an overall record of 15-3, also thought that keeping Tyrone’s potent offense at bay was the tell-tale factor Thursday.

“The key was how we played defensively,” Jubeck said. “Offensively, we know that we can put the ball in the basket. Defensively, we had to focus on stopping Tyrone’s big four players — (Jaida) Parker, (Stephanie) Ramsey, (Emma) Getz and (Kaelynn) Gibbons.”

Parker and Gibbons shared game-scoring honors for Tyrone with 10 points apiece, while Ramsey and Getz were kept off the scoreboard by Hollidaysburg.

“We didn’t finish our shots early in the game,” said Tyrone coach Luke Rhoades, whose team finished with an 8-10 overall record. “But give (Hollidaysburg) credit — they were very well-prepared, and they had a game plan for us.”

Led by Miller’s eight points on two 3-point shots and a field goal, along with a 3-pointer and field goal by Sydney Lear, Hollidaysburg burst out to a 20-6 first-half lead.

Lear finished with 12 points for Hollidaysburg, which pulled away in the second half after a driving bucket by Parker had cut the Hollidaysburg lead to 30-23 with 10 minutes remaining in the game.

With Miller hitting a pair of driving layups and two free throws, and Alison Hatajik and Lear both chipping in field goals, Hollidaysburg embarked on a 10-2 run to take a comfortable 40-25 lead down the stretch.

“This totally feels amazing,” Miller said of her team’s championship. “We had an awesome team effort tonight, everybody got to play, we ran the floor well and we worked really well together.”

TYRONE MAYES MEMORIALS (28): Weston 0 1-2 1, Parker 2 5-7 10, Ramsey 0 0-0 0, Getz 0 0-0 0, Gibbons 4 2-3 10, Crowell 0 0-0 0, Woomer 3 0-0 7. Totals – 9 8-12 28.

HOLLIDAYSBURG MCLANAHAN CORPORATION (42): DiPangrazio 0 0-0 0, Hatajik 3 2-4 8, Miller 6 2-6 16, Lear 5 0-1 12, Figard 2 0-0 4, Shoemaker 0 0-0 0, Steiner 0 0-0 0, Kordish 0 0-0 0, Heim 1 0-0 2, Vent 0 0-0 0, Frazier 0 0-2 0, Stevenson 0 0-0 0. Totals – 17 4-13 42.

Halftime: Hollidaysburg, 20-9.

3-point goals: Tyrone 2 (Parker, Woomer); Hollidaysburg 4 (Miller 2, Lear 2).

Officials: Jack McDougal, Keith Redfoot, Denny Detwiler.