By JON GERAMITA
jgeramita@ncnewsonline.com

Someone forgot to bring the peach basket.

Last night’s Neshannock vs. Mohawk girls basketball game might not have set basketball back to the days of Dr. James Naismith, but it came close.

The game was scoreless after one quarter, and the teams copmbined for only one field goal in the first half. The Lady Warriors did not score a point for the first 18 minutes of play.

The Lady Lancers got the victory, 18-14, in one of the strangest games in recent years.
“Yikes!” Neshannock coach Greg Huston said.

“I’ve never seen that before, no points in a half,” Mohawk coach Mike O’Lare exclaimed.

Neither team came close to a field goal in the first quarter. Kylee Patton had a chance to end the drought with two free throw attempts, but she missed.

After the opening period, Huston looked up at the scoreboard and told his team “Great defense, but honestly, I’ve never seen this all my life,” eliciting unsettled laughter from the bench.

But eventually someone had to score. Right?

Patton made 3 of 4 at the line for a 3-0 lead with 3:17 left in the second quarter.

Mohawk’s best chance to score were on two Alyssa Natale free throw attempts. Both were long.

With 2:30 left before halftime, Lady Lancers’ freshman guard Chelsea Kauffman drove the baseline, put up a shot, and — after teasing the rim — dropped. She may never get another ovation like that one.

The Lady Lancers (8-2, 12-6, led 9-0 early in the third when Mohawk’s Chelsea Brown scored and was fouled with 6:03 left. And she may never get plaudits like those again.

Mohawk played well for the rest of the quarter, cutting the deficit to 11-8 on Brown’s layup and to 11-10 on Kelly Fox’s steal and score.

Patton made it 15-12 early in the fourth, but it would be her team’s last bucket until the final minute.

Brown’s turnaround jumper a minute later cut the lead to 15-14, but that was it for the Lady Warriors.

Mohawk had eight possessions to either tie or take the lead, but each opportunity resulted in a turnover or a missed shot.

“We want it ugly,” O’Lare said. “But we need to score.”

Patton made 1 of 2 from the line with 1:30 left for a 16-14 lead.

After a timeout, O’Lare set up a play for Brown to post up Patton. In a microcosm of such a defensive struggle, Patton reached around Brown to get the steal.

“That’s mental toughness right there by Kylee, she knew we needed to win with defense,” Huston said.

And Caitlyn Bleggi’s steal at half court resulted in a basket to make it 18-14 with 30 seconds left.

It was a unique way for Neshannock to qualify for the WPIAL playoffs. At 8-2, the Lady Lancers can do no worse than third place. The Lady Warriors are tied with New Brighton (3-6) for the last playoff spot. The two play Jan. 28 at New Brighton.

“We have to go down there and win,” O’Lare said.

Patton had 11 points and Erika Warvell grabbed seven rebounds for the Lady Lancers.

“Just a tough section battle.” Huston said. “It was a crazy night.”