PATTON – Kirsten Weakland recalled the weekend of March 13-14, 2020 as Cambria Heights waited to perform at the PIAA Class 3A girls’ basketball tournament wiped out by the coronavirus outbreak.
She wants to return to the state playoffs and finish what the 2020 team couldn’t.
“I want so much” Weakland said. “I was so upset that I went into the Trinity game and didn’t know it was our last game and then it was our last game. I just want to do it again this year. “
It took Weakland and the Lady Highlanders at least a quarter to shake off a week of inactivity and went to a 51-21 win over Bald Eagle Area on Wednesday night in a District 6 class 3A quarterfinal playoff game at Cambria Heights High School . Cambria Heights will host the Penns Valley in the semi-finals on Monday at 7pm.
“I definitely don’t want this year to end – especially (after the way) it has been cut.” Cambria Heights trainer Amber Fees said.
The Lady Highlanders, who hadn’t played since February 24, only took one of their first 12 shots from the ground. The first of Bryce Burkey’s three 3-pointers put Cambria Heights 6-4 and 2:36 ahead.
“I thought we came out a little flat in the first quarter. That disappointed me “ Fees said. “I think our nerves got a little bit busy because these are most of the people we played in front of all year (before). They were excited but nervous at the same time. I’m glad we got that out of our system. “
“I think we were all just a little nervous because we haven’t had that many fans since last year. It’s been over a year since we had so many fans at a game. “ Weakland said. “Looking at the stands and seeing all these fans made us all kind of nervous.”
“It was nice that some people came out” Abbie Baker said. “But I think it was a mixture of nervousness and rust. We didn’t come out that strong, and Bald Eagle definitely came out very strong. “
Cambria Heights began to assert itself under the boards and in the transition. Baker raked 12 rebounds and received three steals.
“She did a phenomenal job of getting those rebounds” Fees said. “Before each game, we give them a goal of how many they should get. And I think that really helps her get that into her mindset – that she has to get so many to have a good game. “
“I feel like I could have shot better today,” he said. said Baker, who got five points. “But when we moved the ball, everyone kept getting good shots. So it wasn’t that I didn’t have to score a lot. “
Weakland fueled the transition with seven steals. Most of her strong 19 points were stolen.
“Kiki is always all over the floor, no matter what defense we are in.” Fees said. “She’s definitely busy and sets the tone for our defense.”
“You are a complete team. You are a good team. “ Bald Eagle Area trainer Shawn Thompson said.
Cambria Heights forced 30 sales and held a 41-29 lead on rebounds.
“The sales came from them playing solid defense. They mistook their defensive looks for us a couple of times. “ Thompson said.
“I think our girls do a very good job when they want to relax. And I’m very proud of it when I look down there and see three or four of our kids walking through the boards. “ Fees said. “I don’t think we’ve had a successful shooting game so far this year. So we have to get the second and third chances to put the ball in the hoop. “
Burkey contributed 13 points and Jade Snedden added 10.
“Everyone got their points. It was a great team effort today. “ Said Baker.
Sarah Holler and Abigail Hoover led Bald Eagle Area with five points each.
SOON EAGLE AREA (21): Perry 1 0-0 3, G.Cingle 2 0-1 4, Onder 0 0-0 0, Holler 1 3-4 5, Serb 2 1-2 5, Hoover 0 2-4 2 , Snyder 0 2-2 2, C.CIngle 0 0-0 0, Bucha 0 0-0 0, Moyer 0 0-0 0. sums – 7 8-13 21.
CAMBRIA HEIGHTS (51): Jones 2 0-0 4, K. Weakland 8 0-0 19, Burkey 5 1-2 13, Snedden 4 2-2 10, Baker 2 1-2 5, Bender 0 0-0 0, M. Weakland 0 0-0 0, Adams 0 0-0 0. Overall – 21 4-6 51.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Bald eagle area 4 7 4 6 –21
Cambria Heights 8 15 11 17-51
3-point goals: Bald Eagle Area 1 (Perry); Cambria Heights 5 (K. Weakland 3, Burkey 2).
Records: Bald Eagle Area (6-10); Cambria Heights (10-3).
Officials: Sue Kovensky, Lynn Smith, Craig Andros.
Latest news and more in your inbox
