Canon-Mac’s historic season ends with loss in PIAA quarterfinals
ALTOONA – The best girls basketball season in Canon-McMillan history came to a close Friday night.
A slow start meant the Big Macs had an uphill battle all night and eventually District 3 runner-up Dallastown pulled away to secure a 54-39 victory in the PIAA Class 6A quarterfinals at Altoona High School.
Dallastown (26-3) advances to play District 6 champ Altoona, a 39-37 winner over Cardinal O’Hara, in the state semifinals Monday. Canon-McMillan, which was in the state quarterfinals for the first time in the 50-year history of the program, finishes 23-5.
“We’re top eight in the state,” Big Macs coach John Fontana said. “When our staff first got here they had won two section games in four years, so it’s a great year and the girls should be really proud.”
Dallastown led 10 after one quarter and by seven at halftime. The Wildcats methodically built on that lead in the third quarter thanks to eight points from Ava Jamison.
Jamison, Dallastown’s leading scorer, was held to four points in the first half, but had 13 points over the final two quarters to finish with 17.
Canon-McMillan struggled from the field and managed only seven points. Sam Miller had a basket at the beginning of the frame, and the Big Macs didn’t get another field goal until a layup by Madison Clair in the final seconds, which cut the deficit to 36-24.
At times this season, Canon-McMillan overcame rough offensive patches in games, but Friday the hole was too big.
“This is a game where you have to make shots,” Fontana said. “We were 1 for 19 from three and we missed probably 15 layups. If you don’t make shots you get beat. They’re a good team. You have to give them all the credit in the world. They were the better team.”
That lone three was hit by Lauren Borella, which cut the lead to nine early in the fourth, but that was as close as the Big Macs would get.
Dallastown successfully broke Canon-McMillan’s press a couple times for easy runout by Denyla Handy and once it got a double-digit lead successfully ran a stall offense.
The Wildcats finished off the victory by going 12 of 16 at the free throw line in the fourth.
Dallastown coach Molly Day was pleased with her team’s defensive effort.
“I thought the biggest thing we did was disrupt them,” Day said. “We’re a big scouting team and like to know what other teams are going to do. We pride ourselves on defense and we prepare our kids for what they do best. I thought that helped limit what they could do offensively.”
Dallastown jumped out to a 15-5 lead at the end of the first quarter thanks in part to a trio of three pointers.
Two of them were hit by Natalie McLane, including a desperation one at the buzzer that banked off the window and through the hoop.
Faye Saunders scored the game’s first points for Canon-McMillan, but the Wildcats followed with a 12-1 run.
Canon-McMillan settled in a bit in the second quarter and won the frame 12-9. Madison Clair had six points in the quarter.
Clair finished with a team-best 14 points.
The Big Macs did not make a three pointer in the first half.
Handy had 10 points in the first half for Dallastown, but picked up three fouls. She finished with a game-high 24 points.
Canon-McMillan’s three senior starters, Clair, Borella and Miller, leave the program as WPIAL champions, two-time state playoff qualifiers and spearheaded this season’s team that made the PIAA quarterfinals for the first time.
Fontana took each one off the court late in the fourth, so they could get an ovation from the Canon-McMillan fans that made the trip.
“Sam Miller, Lauren Borella and Maidson Clair leave a legacy here that will live a long time,” Fontana said.
Canon-McMillan 5 12 7 15 – 39
Dallastown 15 9 12 18 – 54
Canon-McMillan: Madison Clair, 14 points.
Dallastown: Denyla Handy, 24 points; Ava Jamison, 17.