Canon-Mac pulls away to reach PIAA quarterfinals for first time
McMURRAY – In the final minute, each of Canon-McMillan’s starters got a curtain call of sorts as they headed to the bench to be replaced by some reserves after building a comfortable lead.
It was the perfect way to salute the best girls basketball team that Canon-McMillan has ever had.
This group has taken the program to heights it’s never been.
The state quarterfinals.
Thanks to strong defense and excellent free-throw shooting, Canon-McMillan pulled away from City League champ Allderdice in the second half for a 49-37 victory in the PIAA Class 6A second round at Peters Township’s AHN Arena.
“We’re just so happy,” Big Macs senior Madison Clair said. “We knew we could get this far and never doubted ourselves.”
Canon-McMillan (22-4) advanced to play District 3 runner-up Dallastown on Friday in the state quarterfinals at a site and time to be announced. Allderdice, which won its first state playoff game in 40 years in the first round, finished 20-7.
The Big Macs did their damage at the free-throw line. They made 26 of 33 attempts.
They needed every one of them, because for the better part of three quarters shots were not falling for them.
Late in the third, the Big Macs had made only five shots from the field, but were still leading thanks to their patented stout defense.
Canon-McMillan led 28-23 late in the third when they had a key offensive sequence. Lauren Borella made a layup and then after a miss from Allderdice, Borella threw a long pass to Madison Clair, who made a layup in the final seconds. That gave Canon-McMillan its largest lead at 32-23.
The momentum carried over into the fourth. Sam Miller made a three, Faye Saunders put home a runner and Clair converted a layup, while being fouled and made a free throw.
Suddenly a tight game was blown open and Canon-McMillan led 40-23.
“We wanted to attack the hoop,” Big Macs coach John Fontana said. “We were settling for too many outside shots in the first half and (Allderdice’s) zone does that to you. They’ve got a good zone defense and were packing it in, but I knew if we could stop them then we could start running. We were able to shut them down and start running.”
The Big Macs finished off their strong night at the free throw line by going 10-for-13 in the fourth. Clair was 9 for 11 from the line and finished with a team-best 18 points.
“We like to make the games close and miss our free throws at times, so it is really nice that we had a good gap from making our free throws,” Clair said. “We do get a good amount of free throws because we like to attack the rim. Making them puts us in a comfortable place.”
The Big Macs did have one brief scare in the fourth when Clair went down with a rolled ankle, but she was able to walk off the court. She said after the game she could’ve returned if the score was closer.
“I sprain my ankles all the time, so I’m kind of used to it,” Clair said. “It always hurts more when you initially do it, but after a couple minutes I felt OK.”
Canon-McMillan led 17-13 after a grinding, physical and foul-ridden first half.
Allderdice was whistled for nine fouls and Canon-McMillan drew eight foul calls.
Allderdice held a 10-7 advantage at the end of first quarter led by five points from Seena Teshome, but had a dry spell in the second quarter that lasted over five minutes.
Bailey White finally ended the drought by hitting one of two free throws in the final minute. The Dragons’ lone basket was a runner by Rhyan Sledge.
Canon-McMillan didn’t fare much better from the field, making only one shot. It was a layup by Clair that gave the Big Macs a 12-10 lead.
The Big Macs made their bones at the foul line going eight for 12 in the frame. Borella and Brooke Stanton made three of their four attempts.
White, an Edinboro track recruit, finished with a game-high 20 points.
Allderdice 10 3 10 14 – 37
Canon-McMillan 7 10 15 17 – 49
Allderdice: Bailey White, 20 points; Seena Teshome, 11.
Canon-McMillan: Madison Clair, 18 points.