Burrell girls buckle down to defeat Freeport
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Thursday, January 30, 2025 | 9:50 PM
Burrell’s Julianna Fisher drives past Freeport’s Lillian Holloway and Maggie Conger during their game on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, at Burrell.
Burrell’s McKenna Miller works against Freeport’s Cecelia Schlegel during their game on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, at Burrell.
Burrell’s lone senior, Julianna Fisher, takes the court during player introductions on senior night before the Lady Bucs’ game against Freeport on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, at Burrell.
Burrell’s Julianna Fisher works against Freeport’s Nia DiSanti during their game on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, at Burrell.
Burrell’s Julianna Fisher works against Freeport’s Maggie Conger (center) and Macy Stivenson during their game Thursday.
Burrell’s Leah Waldsmith scores against Freeport on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, at Burrell.
Burrell’s Mikayla Coury battles Freeport’s Cecelia Schlegel and Maggie Conger for a loose ball during their game on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, at Burrell.
Freeport’s Cecelia Schlegel scores past Burrell’s Julianna Fisher during their game on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, at Burrell.
Freeport’s Nia DiSanti shoots a 3-pointer next to Burrell’s McKenna Miller during their game on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, at Burrell.
Burrell’s McKenna Miller brings the ball upcourt against Freeport on Thursday.
Burrell’s McKenna Miller shoots a 3-pointer against Freeport on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, at Burrell.
Burrell’s Casey Brancato shoots a 3-pointer against Freeport on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, at Burrell.
Freeport head coach Jason Kerr watches from the bench during the Yellowjackets’ game on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, at Burrell.
Freeport head coach Jason Kerr talks with his team during a timeout in their game on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, at Burrell.
Burrell head coach Shaun Reddick watches from the bench during the Lady Bucs’ game against Freeport on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, at Burrell.
After a first quarter in which the Burrell and Freeport girls basketball teams combined for 26 points, scoring was a little harder to come by the rest of the way in Thursday’s Section 1-4A clash of rivals at Burrell High School.
But the homestanding Bucs scored enough and made the plays they needed to down the stretch to finish off a 31-26 victory.
“A hallmark of this team is doing the things we have to do,” Burrell coach Shaun Reddick said.
“We’re a little short-handed, and we’re struggling a little bit right now. We’ve been battling injury and sicknesses. We’re running a thin crew. With the excitement of senior night added in, everyone was a little emotional. But these girls are willing to do whatever it takes to win a game. They kept playing and kept battling through some of the tough parts of this game.”
Burrell upped its record to 12-8 overall and 7-5 in section play and solidified its hold on the fourth WPIAL playoff spot from the section. The Bucs wrap up section games Monday at Valley and next Thursday at home against Oakland Catholic.
Freeport, despite the loss, remains alive for the section’s fifth playoff spot with a record of 5-13 overall and 4-7 in the section. The Yellowjackets host North Catholic at 6 p.m. Friday before Monday’s big section clash with Highlands at Freeport Middle School.
The Golden Rams fell to 4-8 in the section with Thursday’s loss to North Catholic.
“Monday will ultimately decide our playoff fate,” Freeport coach Jason Kerr said. “If we win, we’re in, and if we don’t, we’re done. The focus is to get through (Friday) and take advantage of what we can do to get better. Then we prep for Monday, the biggest game of the year for these girls.”
Before the game, Julianna Fisher, Burrell’s only senior, was lauded in a ceremony recognizing her accomplishments over the past four seasons.
She then went out and scored seven points and pulled down a dozen rebounds.
Fisher had several key plays in the final quarter to help the Bucs seal the win.
She grabbed a rebound and put in a layup with 6 minutes, 17 seconds left to give Burrell the lead for good and then added a free throw with 1:39 on the clock to make it a two-possession game at 30-26.
Fisher added a steal to halt a Freeport possession and grabbed a rebound off a missed free throw from junior Casey Brancato with less than a minute to play.
“She is consistent every night for us,” Reddick said. “Freeport threw five girls at her and said somebody else was going to have to beat them. Unfortunately for them, we had just enough to beat them.”
Sophomore Leah Waldsmith added six points for Burrell. All came in the first quarter.
Brancato, sophomore McKenna Miller and junior Mikayla Coury tallied five points each.
Sophomore Adriana Vogel came off the bench to hit a key 3-pointer with 13 seconds left in the third quarter to give Burrell a 25-24 advantage heading to the fourth.
Freshman Cecelia Schlegel nailed a jumper with 7:18 left in the fourth to put Freeport in front 26-25.
But it was the final points the Yellowjackets scored.
“This team is exactly where I would want them to be with all freshmen and sophomores and the two juniors,” Kerr said.
“The improvements are great. You can see it, especially defensively. It’s just that we’re young and are still learning offensively. It’s up and down, and we just have to be better in those situations throughout the game.”
One of those juniors for the Yellowjackets, Nia DiSanti, led all scorers with nine points.
Freshman Maggie Conger recorded nine rebounds, and Schlegel contributed six points in the loss.
Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.
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