When a top ten team in the country comes to your gymnasium it adds a huge element to the game. But when the #8 team in the country is also 17-0, the chance to be the first team to knock them down adds a whole other element to the matchup.
The Lions knew that this would not be an easy task and also needed to start the game off strong. The Spartans thought they caught Harrisburg sleeping early again, when they opened up the game with a 16-2 run in the first nine minutes of the half.
Harrisburg did not let this faze them and showed good character by responding with an 8-0 run to put the game back within reach. After a back and forth first half, Harrisburg was only down six, 23-17 with 4:11 to play. Unfortunately as the half came to a close, the Spartans showed why they are a top ten team as they finished the half with an 11-0 run to go into halftime with a 34-17 lead.
As the second half started the game had changed. The early effort and intensity the Lions had played most of the first half had been squashed by the power of the Spartans shooting and overall solid play in the second half. The Spartans claimed their 18th straight win of the season beating the Blue and White 63-30.
Kiara Carter (Palmyra, Pa. / Palmyra Area) was strong for the Lions in the loss pulling down 14 rebounds, scoring five, and getting two blocks on the night. Jasmine Yanich (Harrisburg, Pa. / Susquehanna Township) and Kaitlyn Carmo (Bronx, N.Y. / Milton Hershey) tied for leading the team in points, each scoring seven.
Harrisburg will travel to St. Mary's (Md.) for a 2:00 p.m tip off as CAC action continues to heat up. The playoff picture is starting to take shape as the final month of regular season basketball has begun. The Lions will need to start playing 40 minutes of solid basketball each game, if they hope to extend their 2014 season.