Middletown Pa. - The Lady lions had a slow start in their game Saturday against the Cazenovia Wildcats, but a very strong finish propelled Harrisburg to a 71-61 conference win.
The Blue and White women's basketball team came into today's game a definite favorite to the visiting Wildcat's and the women played much of the game expecting the win would be given to them in the end. After four straight points from Cazenovia with 13:11 to play in the first half the Wildcats put themselves up 15-6 early in the contest. This was a definite wake up call for the Lions, but turning their A-game on is not as easy as turning on a light switch no matter how much we want it to be.
Finally, a quick 2:21 Lion 6-0 run completed with just under 5 minutes to go in the half tied the game at 19. Harrisburg followed that run with an 11-4 strong first half finish and held a seven point advantage going into the locker rooms at halftime.
The second half started just like the first for Harrisburg as Cazenovia came out firing and scored seven unanswered points in the first two minutes to again tie the game, this time at 37 apiece. If it were not for a strong well rounded bench performance for the lions, things could have easily gone differently today. Mikhail Whitcomb (Trevorton, Pa. / Line Mountain) gave an impressive performance today scoring 13 points, including a big 3 pointer with 10:18 in the second half that put the Lions up 53-49.
The game went back and forth as the final whistle started getting imminently closer; the visiting Wildcat's even had a one point lead near the four minute mark. That's when a Miranda Zeanchock (Carrolltown, Pa. / Cambria Heights) layup helped kick start the Lions into high gear for the first time all game. Harrisburg turned it on and cruised to a ten point win after teasing the Wildcats with the potential upset that was always within grasp except for the final minutes.
Harrisburg did just enough to get another conference win, but it was not their best performance of the year. Hopefully they will start and play the entire game tomorrow against Morrisville St. the way they played only the final minutes of today's contest.
Watch below for post game comments from Mikhail Whitcomb.