By JO WANKEL

Era Sports Writer

CLARION — Williamsburg’s Levada Gorsuch was a force to be reckoned with, scoring 17 points in PennWest Clarion’s Gym Wednesday, and Otto-Eldred did not have an answer. Williamsburg claimed a 47-36 victory and the chance to advance to the Elite Eight in the PIAA 1A Girls’ Playoffs.

The game’s 6 pm start became a 7:15 pm start when Williamsburg was stuck in traffic due to an accident, delaying their arrival by an hour and a half.

Despite the delay, both teams hit the floor energized and ready. Williamsburg opened scoring but O-E’s Baylee Francis sank a basket in response, tying the score at 2. Otto-Eldred’s Carrie Drummond sank two free throws halfway through the first quarter to tie the score at 4-4.

After a close-fought first quarter, the score was tied at 13-13.

“We got off to a great start. It was tied after the first quarter. That didn’t last long,” O-E Coach Shawn Gray said.

The close-fought battle continued into the second quarter, as O-E’s Ayla Van Scoter sank a basket with 5:20 left in the second quarter to tie the score at 15-15. Shortly after, the momentum changed, allowing the Lady Pirates to get ahead and stay ahead.

Two Williamsburg baskets From Page B-1

put the Lady Pirates ahead 19-15, but the Lady Terrors’ had Lexie Prince find her moment and sink a basket to reduce that lead to two.

Williamsburg’s Gorsuch sank two baskets, Leeanna Royer successfully drained three free throws and Anna Colbert sank a three to give Williamsburg a 29-17 lead. Drummond sank a three for Otto-Eldred to make the score 29-20 at the half.

Otto-Eldred came out fighting and posted the first two points in the third quarter, but Williamsburg’s Gorsuch put up four points and Ranalli added two to give the Lady Pirates a 35-26 advantage with 4:11 left in the third.

From that point, O-E’s efforts to turn the tide fell short, with Williamsburg holding a 39-32 advantage at the end of the third.

In the fourth quarter, Williamsburg used four successful free throws from Gorsuch, a basket from Royer to get ahead by 14. With 1:16 remaining, O-E’s Rayel Hakes drained one of two free throws to reduce the lead to 13 (Williamsburg 46-33) and a three at the buzzer from O-E’s Kylie Irons made the final Williamsburg 47, Otto-Eldred 36.

Keying the Otto-Eldred offense were Carrie Drummond and Rayel Hakes, each with eight tallies.

“They are a very athletic team and much bigger than us,” Gray said. “The girls fought to the end. I couldn’t be more proud of them.”

On Saturday, Williamsburg will advance to face the winner of the Farrell/Bishop Carroll game, also played Wednesday.

At CLARION OTTO-ELDRED (36) Bell 1-0-1-2, Drummond 2-2-2-8, Hakes 2-3-6-8, Van Scoter 3-0-0-6, Francis 3-12-7, Prince 1-0-0-2, Irons 1-0-0-3. Totals 13-6-11-36. WILLIAMSBURG (47) Anastasia Ranalli 4-2-2-10, Prough 1-0-0-2, Leeanna Royer 4-3-3-10, G. Colbert 2-0-0-5, Levada Gorsuch 7-3-4-17, Alexander 1-1-2-3. Totals 18-9-11-47.

Otto-Eldred 13 7 12 4 WILLIAMSBURG 13 16 10 8 Three-Point Goals: O-E 4 (Drummond 2, Hakes 1, Irons 1); Williamsburg 2 (Royer 1, Colbert 1). Total Fouls: O-E 9, Williamsburg 12.