By GREG CLARK
Era Sports Writer
PORT ALLEGANY — The Port Allegany High School girls’ basketball team was thinking more than roses on Valentine’s Day when the Lady Gators gift wrapped an undefeated North Tier League season to their faithful fans with a 38-35 win over Coudersport on Thursday.
“I’m speechless tonight,” said Kristina Francis, Port’s ninth-year (122-95) head coach. “We started the season 2-3 and these girls have grown together and have flourished. It was a great night.”
With their 17th consecutive victory the 19-3 Lady Gators capped a 14-0 league campaign, and along with rival Coudy (16-6, 11-3), could make some noise in the upcoming District 9 Class A tournament.
“Both of these teams can stay with anybody in the district because of the defense,” said Chris Fink, Coudy head mentor. “We’ll see whether either of us can score enough points to win.”
Points were at a premium early in the contest as Becca Lathrop tallied all six Port points and Coudy’s Courtney Rogers hit a 12-footer just before the buzzer to force a 6-6 tie after one.
“That (first quarter) was very sloppy,” Fink admitted. “Our team was tight and that wasn’t an indication of how we played all year. Give credit to Port for making us look that way at times. We didn’t have anything to lose tonight, so I’m not sure why we were tight.”
Lathrop registered another bucket and fourth-quarter hero Krista Miller converted two free throws before Taylor Green cut the visitors’ deficit to 10-8 on a 16-footer with 5:40 left in the half. Ironically, Green’s father Brian guided Coudy to five unblemished N.T.L. seasons (2006-09, 2011) and Northern Potter to another in ‘05.
The Lady Gators’ Brooke Roys then scored seven straight points on three layups and a foul shot to give the hosts a 17-9 intermission cushion.
“She (Roys) is strong when she goes to her left,” Francis offered. “That is a good one-two punch (with Lathrop) from the left or right side.”
Port enjoyed a trio of eight-point leads in the third stanza, but Jenna Gabrieski scored four points and Elizabeth Burd converted a putback to pare the Coudy disparity to 23-21 with 1:12 remaining.
“We showed a lot of heart in that second half for coming back,” Fink declared.
After Lathrop dropped in two from the charity stripe for a 25-21 margin after three, Coudy took a 26-25 lead when Keirsten Counts drilled a 3-pointer from the top of the key and then a baseline 4-footer with 6:36 left.
The Lady Falcons opened a 29-26 advantage on a triple from the left corner by Green, but Miller slashed in for a layup and swished the ensuing free throw for a 29-all deadlock with 4:16 showing.
“I beg her (Miller) to do that more often,” Francis declared. “She has great control of the ball and is a great free throw shooter. That was very big.”
The affair was still knotted at 33s when Roys grabbed an offensive board and banked it home for a 35-33 Port lead with 1:26 left.
The Lady Falcons misfired on their next attempt, and the smallest player on the court (Miller) garnered the rebound and was fouled. Miller then played Cupid with an arrow through Coudy’s heart as the 5-5 junior drained both foul shots for a 37-33 differential with 54 ticks remaining.
“She (Miller) got knocked pretty hard,” Francis noted. “She was our unsung defensive hero and really made things happen.”
Green stuck two from the line with 30 seconds left to axe the lead in half and then Port’s Lynae Delacour made one at the other end for a 38-35 count with 7.4 on the clock.
With only five teams fouls, the Lady Gators applied full court pressure with 5.6 remaining and Shania Jones had a momentary steal. Coudy immediately got the ball back, but precious seconds had ticked off and Lady Falcons were unable to launch a shot before the final horn.
“They were told to (foul),” Francis admitted. “Somebody tried to foul but we didn’t get it.”
Lathrop led Port with 10 points and 13 rebounds, and Roys added 12 points. Gabreski had 10 points for Coudy.
COUDERSPORT (35)
Rogers 2-0-2-4, Fink 1-0-0-2, Counts 2-0-1-5, Green 3-2-2-9, Gabreski 3-4-5-10, Burd 2-1-4-5, Totals 13-7-14-35
PORT ALLEGANY (38)
Miller 1-5-5-7, Johnson 1-0-0-2, Delacour 0-1-6-1, Drabert 3-0-0-6, Roys 5-2-3-12, Lathrop 3-4-4-10, Totals 13-12-18-38
By Quarters
Coudersport 6 3 12 14—35
Port Allegany 6 11 8 13—38
Three-point FGs: Coudy – Counts 1, Green 1; Port – None
JV Score: Port 31, Coudy 20 (Coudy – Katie Bertrand 10 points, Port – Mia Snyder 12)
