Quaker Valley girls getting used to nail-biting finishes

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, January 5, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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Two girls basketball games on back-to-back nights. Two nail-biters, one home and one away. Excitement galore.

Yes, Quaker Valley’s second win this season indeed was a thriller.

The Quakers knuckled down at the end of the game Dec. 11 to nip host Winchester Thurston, 35-34, in a gripping nonsection matchup.

“It was an exciting end. We took the lead with less than a minute to go and hung on from there,” QV coach Ken Johns said.

The next night, the Quakers lost a tough 47-43 section decision in overtime to visiting Beaver Falls.

Going back to the Winchester Thurston contest, sophomore guard Rose Cline scored what proved to be the game-winner by handing QV a 35-32 lead after a basket by junior guard/forward Mimi Thiero had given the Quakers a one-point advantage.

“In the moment, I didn’t think much of the basket. I just wanted help our team win and focus on getting back on defense,” the sprightly Cline said. “I think we worked well as a team and played with a lot of energy and ambition to win.

“Our intensity towards the last few minutes really ramped up and showed us how our team can play when we work together.”

Thiero added two blocked shots in the game’s waning seconds while QV junior guard Lucy Roig came up with a critical steal with 11 seconds to go. Roig, a lacrosse standout, finished with six rebounds, three steals and three assists.

“Anna Campbell made two 3-pointers early in the game to keep us in it,” Johns said. “Rose Cline scored eight second-half points to help spark a run in the third quarter then secured the game down the stretch.”

The 6-foot-5 Thiero wrapped up her night with 14 points, 18 rebounds, eight blocked shots, seven steals and four assists.

“We’ve had contributions from a number of players early on (this season),” Johns said. “Keira Watson has been asked to do a lot as a freshman, running as the point guard most of the time, and has emerged as our second-leading scorer. She scored 15 in our win against Eden Christian Academy.”

The Quakers’ Section 1-3A opener Dec. 12 against Beaver Falls became a tense, nip-and-tuck tussle in the fourth quarter.

The Tigers took a 34-28 lead into the fourth frame only to watch QV stage an impressive comeback.

Thiero and sophomore guard Anna Campbell rendered the theatrics starting with Campbell’s 3-pointer with 6:48 to go.

A three-point play by Thiero with 4:37 remaining cut the deficit to three, then a Campbell field goal at the 3:45 mark narrowed it to one.

Thiero gave the Quakers their first lead of the second half, making it 39-38. And she wasn’t finished.

After Beaver Falls regained the lead on a 3-pointer by junior guard Dreaven Haskin with 32 seconds left, Cline sank a free throw eight seconds later.

Junior guard Taylor Pullen connected on two foul shots with 10 seconds showing on the clock to boost the Tigers’ advantage to 43-40.

Thiero calmly hit a her second 3-pointer of the contest with just two seconds to go. The clutch shot only added to the game’s intrigue when the ball bounced around and high above the rim before going through the hoop.

However, the visitors cashed in for four unmatched points in OT.

Thiero racked up 17 second-half points, including 10 in the fourth quarter, en route to a game-high 23. Leasia Karto, a freshman forward, Campbell and Cline combined for 16.

Thiero was scouted at the QV gym by college coaches from Maryland, Penn State, Wisconsin and West Virginia.

The Tigers were sparked by the flashy backcourt tandem of Pullen and Haskins. Pullen clicked for 10 points in the first half and three in overtime to finish with 22. Haskins chipped in with 17.

QV rebounded Dec. 16 by blasting Sto-Rox, 61-16, as Thiero accounted for 28 points while Watson tacked on 13.

The Quakers then dropped back-to-back decisions Dec. 23 and Dec. 27 to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (52-44) and Shaler (54-24) to fall to 3-6 overall. Thiero poured in 30 points against OLSH.

At the start of the new year, the Section 1-3A standings were as follows: OLSH (3-0), Riverside (2-1), Beaver Falls (2-1), Mohawk (2-1), QV (1-2), Sto-Rox (1-2), Ellwood City (1-2), New Brighton (0-3).

Tags: Quaker Valley