By SPENCER BATES
DUKE CENTER — Just last week Maddie Kahm found herself on the sidelines, yet to be cleared after sustaining a knee injury ahead of the season.
The Allegany-Limestone girls basketball team’s second-leading scorer from the 2024-25 season, Kahm’s absence would be critical. Making matters all the foggier, the injury came with a veil of uncertainty as A-L head coach Andrea Darrow was left without any real timetable for the return of her veteran sharpshooter.
But just a week before her team’s season was set to tip-off, Darrow and Kahm got the news they had been hoping for — a full medical clearance to participate in sports. Kahm got on the court immediately and recorded her sixth and qualifying practice on Dec. 4, the day before they kicked off the new campaign.
Now, every coach wants for their team to have a sense of hardened resilience, but understand that it is unlikely to get that right out of the gates. Something like that takes time, setbacks and learning experiences to develop.
But when a team returns enough players that still have the lessons they learned last season fresh in their minds, that sense of resilience comes flooding back that much faster.
“Before the game, we talked about how we now have the upperclassmen, we’ve got the age, the experience, we couldn’t come out with nerves,” Darrow said. “But (we did) have the nerves. So we really had to make some adjustments along the way, and I am really proud of the way they adjusted to dig out of a decent sized hole.”
Bradford’s Haley Keane (23) puts up a floater over Allegany-Limestone’s Emerson Ortego (25). Keane scored a game-high 26 points for the Owls in their 40-39 loss to the Gators on Dec. 5. (Hunter O. Lyle)
The Gators got off to a rocky start in its season-opening game that saw them down double figures to Bradford in the Randy Stebbins Memorial Tournament. Significant and well-executed ball pressure by the Owls forced numerous A-L turnovers that were returned for fast-break points or chances at the free throw line.
“I’m very happy (with how we executed),” Bradford coach Jason Blatchley said. “You’re playing your first game with nerves but I thought our girls handled it well. They came out strong and if we continue to pressure the ball like that, great things are going to happen.”
The early struggles, and foul trouble that came as a result, disheartened Darrow, since evading and taking advantage of that kind of pressure is exactly what the team had been working on ahead of the game. Fortunately, all it took was a reminder and the presence of a level-head in the huddle to get the train back on the rails.
“We got on them in the first quarter, because we have practiced against (that pressure),” Darrow said. “We had a plan, but with those early-game jitters you lose what you’ve talked about. So we had to just reiterate things and that’s when I felt like we really slowed down.”
The Gators turned a corner and behind an 11-4 run in the fourth quarter they found themselves down just two points and had possession with mere seconds left on the clock.
Darrow had just one final chance to draw up a potential game-winning play. But who would she trust with the ball in their hands and the game on the line? Few would think the player that was just cleared to play seven days ago.
But that is exactly what she did.
“Her heart was in it, her head was in it, and she wanted it,” Darrow said, explaining the late decision of going to Kahm.
After a successful inbound pass, Kahm found herself with the ball in the corner. She sold her defender with a hesitation and a quick look at the basket. She took off and in one smooth motion went up and under for the reverse layup, which, after an initial bounce on the rim, found the bottom of the net.
The resilience of the Gators was completely and utterly embodied in one play, by perhaps its most resilient player.
The Owls were left with no time and could only heave up a prayer at the buzzer, which missed the mark, solidifying the dramatic 40-39 win for A-L.
Allegany-Limestone’s Molly John (5) and Bradford’s Shovia Long (0) battle for a loose ball. (Hunter O. Lyle)
For Bradford, it was heartbreak. They had held a lead from the time it was 6-5 in the first quarter until there were under 10 seconds left. But, as Blatchley told his players after the game, this defeat is far from the end of the world. It didn’t go their way on the night, but this is a pivotal result in terms of gaining experience.
“I told the girls, sometimes the ball goes your way, sometimes it goes the other way,” Blatchley said. “It’s a game that we’ll learn from. We’ll watch film on it, and we’ll get better from it. I’m very proud of what we did tonight.”
For the Gators, it was jubilation. A resounding win that Darrow believes will give her team a significant boost in the early part of the campaign.
“It’s just absolutely huge to have that first win,” Darrow said. “It’s just going to boost their confidence going forward.”
AT DUKE CENTER
Allegany-Limestone (40)
Kahm 5 0-0 13, Hayes 2 4-4 9, Frederick 2 4-6 8, Wojewodo-Ko 1 3-3 5, Ortego 1 1-2 3, Giardini 1 1-2 3. Totals: 12 13-17 40
Bradford (39)
Keane 9 8-8 26, Davis 3 0-0 6, Kicioc 2 1-4 5, Funk 1 0-2 2. Totals: 16 9-14 39
A-L 6 19 27 40
Brad. 14 25 35 39
Three-point goals: A-L 4 (Kahm 3, Hayes), Brad. 0; Total fouls: A-L 18, Brad. 13; Fouled out: Frederick (A-L).
