By almost any measure, the 2016-17 season has been the most successful campaign in recent history for the Otto-Eldred Lady Terrors.
Coach Barb Close and her squad made the playoffs in each of her first two seasons at the helm but both ended with quick exits. The third time, however, has been the charm.
After reaching the program’s first-ever District 9 title game — in which the Otto-Eldred fell to a very strong North Clarion team 53-40 — the Lady Terrors followed it up by earning their first victory at the state level by defeating West Greene 61-57 on Saturday.
The win was even more notable considering that O-E started the game down 12-0 within the first two minutes. But the Terrors never lost their composure.
“We told the girls they can do this,” Close said after the game.
The road to Hershey will get considerably tougher. Otto’s next opponent will be the Golden Eagles of Kennedy Catholic (23-1), the D-10 champions and No. 1-ranked Class A team in the state by MaxPreps. The second round game will be held at DuBois High on Thursday at 6 p.m.
Coach Chris Mele’s team has been near the top of the state rankings all season, and is coming off a convincing 56-31 win over Williamsburg in the first round.
While O-E are entering uncharted territory, Kennedy Catholic has been a regular participant at the state tourney in recent years. The Golden Eagles’ most recent district title was their seventh in a row.
What’s perhaps most frightening about Kennedy Catholic is how you can never tell who is going to beat you on a given night.
In the D-10 title game victory over Farrell, senior Neely Whitehead was the leading scorer with 20 points. In the first round win over Williamsburg, it was underclassmen who led the way, as freshman Malia Magestro (17 points) and sophomore Gillian Fisher (11) both finished in double figures.
If the Lady Terrors are to have any chance of challenging Kennedy, they will need to continue to rely on the stellar play of juniors Camryn Thomas and Ali Cousins and the senior leadership of Tiffany Bair.
Thomas has been a dominant post presence during O-E’s playoff run, averaging 23 points per game over the last three contests, including a double-double of 26 points and 13 rebounds against West Greene. Cousins finished with 15 points and six steals in that same game, and has also been deadly at the free-throw line in late-game situations.
As the lone senior on the team, Bair has provided steady guidance. This was evident against West Greene, as Close remarked about how Bair took charge of the team when it looked like the game might get out of hand.
Regardless of state rankings or seeds, the Terrors know that they belong at the highest level of competition.
“We feel like we can play with anybody,” Close said. “We feel like we’re a top-10 team and we’ve got to play like a top-10 team.”
