Mount Lebanon Makes State Quad A Girls History With Win Over Archbishop Carroll

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, March 25, 2011 | 12:00 AM

The Mount Lebanon Blue Devils won their third straight PIAA Quad A Girls title with a hard fought 47-46 victory over the Archbishop Carroll Patriots on Friday night at the Bryce Jordan Center at Penn State.

The Blue Devils won despite their struggles at the free throw line, going just 11 of 24 and just 4 of 8 in the final quarter. The victory was the second for Mount Lebanon over Archbishop Carroll this season, the Blue Devils beat the Patriots 54-52 in overtime on January 15th.

The Patriots had a chance to win the game on the final possession as Jen Carney attempted to drive baseline but Anna Kestler forced her to change direction and Carney missed a five foot runner with three seconds left.

Mount Lebanon took the lead in the second quarter, the Blue Devils led the rest of the way, despite having both Kestler and Madison Cable, the Gatorade Player of the Year in Pennsylvania on the bench with three fouls. Jordan Holmes came off the bench, grabbing five of her team high six rebounds in the period as Mount Lebanon led 32-26 at the break.

The Blue Devils were able to add to the lead in the third, led by Kelly Johnson, who finished with 13 points and four steals, both pacing Mount Lebanon to a 39-32 lead heading to the final quarter. Archbishop Carroll wasn't done, coming out quickly and cut the Lebo lead to just one at the 5:04 mark and with the basketball. But for a strange reason and with a media timeout coming on the next stoppage, Patriots coach Chuck Creighton took a timeout, stopping the momentum of his team. Archbishop Carroll then turned the ball over on the next three trips down the floor.

Mount Lebanon advanced the lead to five with a layup by Emma Pellicano and a jumper by Kestler, that set up by a steal by Cable. Cable put the Blue Devils back up by four, going four of four from the line, the last two coming with 40 seconds remaining. Rachel Pearson cut it to one with a three point play with 28 seconds left, Kestler missed two free throws setting up the finish.

Cable ended with nine points and three steals, Pellicano added eight points. The Blue Devils shot 18 of 41 from the field and turned the ball over 14 times. Mount Lebanon finishes the season at 25-6, winning 22 of their last 23 games, with the only loss in that period coming to Shaler in the WPIAL championship game.

Carney led the Patriots with 17 points, the Mount St. Mary's recruit grabbed six rebounds. Archbishop Carroll shot 16 of 41 from the floor and 12 of 14 from the line, but committed 19 turnovers. The District 12 champions finish the season at 23-8.

Score by Quarters:
Mount Lebanon : 11 – 11 – 10 – 14 = 47
Archbishop Carroll : 11 – 11 – 10 – 14 = 46