COUDERSPORT — It was the type of a game you would expect from two teams vying for a berth to the PIAA Final Four after having their postseason runs last year cut short in the quarterfinals due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thrilling back-and-forth action unfolded between the Coudersport Lady Falcons and Bishop Guilfoyle Lady Marauders Saturday afternoon in a tight game from start to finish. But in the end, it was Bishop Guilfoyle that stood victorious, edging Coudy 48-47 to earn a spot in Tuesday’s PIAA Class A semifinals against Rochester.

The largest lead between the teams was just seven points and four different players finished in double figures.

Leah Homan scored a game-high 22 points for Guilfoyle, while Teresa Haigh finished with 18. Sarah Chambers led Coudy with 17 points, while Liz Frame tallied 11. Guilfoyle was the only team to score at least 40 points on Coudy this season.

“We were right there; you never like to lose,” Coudy head coach Bob Tingley said. “We didn’t let them just drive up and go home. We made (Bishop Guilfoyle) play, and I wish them the best of luck.”

With Coudy taking an early 4-0 lead, it was Haigh who sparked the Guilfoyle offense, scoring nine of her 18 points in the first quarter. Homan made her first field goal in the first — a three-pointer that tied the game at 12 heading into the second.

It was then when the Lady Marauders (15-4) went on a run and took a 28-21 lead later in the quarter. The team was able to take advantage of some unforced Coudy turnovers and extend some of its own possessions with offensive rebounds.

“They shoot the ball real well,” Tingley said. “I guess it seemed like we gave up a lot of second shots in the first half that probably hurt us. Then (the) second half, I think we got on the boards a little better and we emphasized we had to do that coming out.”

The Lady Falcons (20-2) were held to just one field goal during the second quarter — a three-pointer from Sierra Myers. However, the team went a perfect 10-for-10 at the charity stripe to stay in the game, as it trailed just 28-25 at halftime.

Overall, Coudy finished 16-for-22 at the free throw line.

“I think our foul shots — they kind of paid off,” Chambers said. “They got us back in the game a lot of times, so we just wanted to take it to them and then when we were getting double-teamed, to try and kick it out.”

Coudy started the second half strong and regained the lead less than a minute into the third with baskets from Frame and Chambers.

But that would be the last time the Lady Falcons would hold an advantage.

Homan gave the lead back to Guilfoyle soon after, but Coudy later tied it at 32 after Frame converted on a three-point play. From there, the Lady Falcons battled to within one point of the Lady Marauders four different times.

“We never were during the course of the year a real good half-court set type of offense team,” Tingley said. “We had to get transition baskets and when we did, we could hurt people. Tonight, it was a little bit harder. We got some, but we needed one more somewhere along the line that we didn’t get.”

After trailing 42-36 going into the fourth quarter, Coudy got to within a point after Rosalyn Page converted an and-1. She finished the game with seven points.

The Lady Falcons had a chance after to take the lead, but the team came up empty-handed after Frame missed a pair of free throws. The offense got a rebound after the second miss but again couldn’t capitalize. Daniela Scipioni made it a three-point advantage for Guilfoyle and Chambers cut the Coudy deficit down to a point again after a layup.

After a Guilfoyle timeout with 1:51 left, the Lady Marauders would possess the ball until there were 6.7 seconds left. In that time, Coudy fouled Guilfoyle five times to send them to the free throw line for a 1-and-1.

“I wanted to go ahead and get into the bonus and then try to run some kind of an offense,” Tingley said. “It took a long time to foul. I think the kids are apprehensive about fouling even though you got fouls to give.”

Homan missed the front end of the 1-and-1, which led to Page grabbing the rebound, passing the ball to Chambers, who then dribbled up the floor before losing possession of it. The ball ended up in the possession of Frame, who launched a desperation three that fell short at the buzzer.

“The plan after was someone to get the rebound and then I was supposed to get (the ball) up the court. I kind of fumbled it, but we wanted to get it out and run,” Chambers said.

“We wanted to get a dead ball, so we could try to set up our play, but obviously, it’s not going to work out how you want. So we just wanted to get it up the court as fast as we can and just take it right to the hole because we knew we just needed two points.”

The loss marked the final game for three Coudy seniors in Page, Chambers and Lauren Loveland, a senior class that’s won three district titles.

There is deep gratitude from Chambers and the Lady Falcons for making it back to the state tournament after having last year’s run cut short.

“I think you could see the fire (and) the dedication and I’m just so proud of my team as a whole,” Chambers said. “I’m just going to remember all the wins and just the great teams I’ve had over the years and the best friends that I’ve made.”

AT COUDERSPORT

Bishop Guilfoyle (48)

Leah Homan 9 2-7 22, Teresa Haigh 8 0-0 18, Scipioni 3 0-0 6, Warner 1 0-0 2. Totals: 21 4-7 48

Coudersport (47)

Sarah Chambers 4 8-10 17, Liz Frame 4 3-5 11, Page 1 5-5 7, Porterfield 3 0-2 6, E. Chambers 1 0-0 3, Si. Myers 1 0-0 3. Totals: 14 16-22 47

Bishop Guilfoyle 12 28 35 48

Coudersport 12 25 32 47

Three-point goals: BG 4 (Homan 2, Haigh 2), Coudy 3 (S. Chambers, E. Chambers Si. Myers); Total fouls: BG 19, Coudy 11; fouled out: Brunner (BG)