By SPENCER BATES
PORTVILLE — For the grand majority of its first two games of the season, the Allegany-Limestone girls basketball team were chasing a lead.
And, much to the delight of head coach Andrea Darrow, the Gators had been successful in achieving victory via comeback in both of its games at the Randy Stebbins Memorial Tournament.
But hunting down a lead is an entirely different experience than trying to sustain one, and that is exactly what Darrow’s squad saw in its 42-35 win over Portville.
“In the first half, I felt like we were more settled, especially in our offense,” Darrow said. “Whereas this past weekend, we were a little scattered.”
The Gators were in full control of its matchup with the Panthers through three quarters. They held a 36-16 advantage. Their veterans got their scoring in, with Maddie Kahm, Serena Frederick and Mya Hayes recording eight, six and five points, respectively. And they got a big boost from the younger players on the team, who got valuable minutes. One of whom being Logan Potter, who netted a game-high 10 points.
“It’s huge, we just talked about a few game situation type things, clock situational type things, and for her to be able to experience some of that is great,” Darrow said of Potter’s minutes. “There’s definitely still some learning to do all around. But I thought her defense was solid again tonight. Every little bit is going to make her better.”
For as good as A-L was through three frames, it was taken aback by a late surge from Portville as it looked to play the spoiler.
The Panthers, with just six players, scored 19 points, more than it had combined for through three quarters of play in the fourth frame alone, and defensively they kept the Gators to just six points.
The hosts hounded their guests, forcing turnovers galore and turning those into fastbreak points at the other end. It was an all-out blitz and one that, Darrow noted, left her team stunned.
“I think some of it was just that our body and our brain didn’t match speed,” Darrow said. “Portville started hitting a few shots and started closing that gap on the scoreboard, and we kind of felt that pressure. That impacted us, and we have to get used to that because I’m sure it’s not going to be the only game this season where (we’re trying to sustain a lead).”
Allegany-Limestone’s Lyla Giardini (32) gets her shot blocked by Portville’s Ali Haynes (22). Haynes scored a team-high nine points for the Panthers in their loss to the Gators. (Spencer Bates)
In the end, time was not on the side of Portville. Its inspired run in the final quarter would not be enough to pull off the dramatic comeback. However, the silver lining for head coach Inga Welty was that she could tell that if her players had the chance to have a do-over for the game, they would take it.
“I went in (the locker room after the game) and asked them what the difference (between halves) was,” Welty said. “What was nice was that I didn’t have to tell them. They told me the things that they did differently and what they wished they would have done better from the first step. … It’s nice to know they regret (starting slow). I think that’ll carry over into the next game, and hopefully through the rest of the season.”
Something else that Welty saw click in the minds of her players during their late rally was a sense of confidence. Through the first few games of the season, she admitted that her younger players have relied a bit too heavily on the likes of Emma Rhinehart and Ali Haynes, the two most veteran players of the team, who scored nine and seven points apiece.
The Panthers got some good contributions later on from the likes of freshman Ava Scanlon, who finished with eight points, and junior Addison Isaman, who tallied seven points.
“I’m trying to show them that they don’t have to rely on the seniors to make things happen,” Welty said. “I think that last quarter proved to them that Emma doesn’t have to be the one that brings the ball up. ‘I can be the one that sends it in on a screen-and-roll, I can be the one that drives in and makes the bucket.’ That part is going to go a long way for our progression this season.”
Portville’s Emma Rhinehart (14) rises up for a layup in transition against Allegany-Limestone. (Spencer Bates)
For Darrow, she hopes her players take away the valuable lesson that they cannot let a few issues compound into a bigger one.
“Our body language shows,” Darrow said. “If we know we didn’t do well, offensively, defensively, we show it. We need to learn to play through (the struggles). It’s basketball. You’re not going to hit every shot. We’re going to have mistakes on defense. It’s about how you react to that.”
Welty is also hopeful this game will stick with her players as she wants them to remember the mark this game left.
“You want it to sting,” Welty said. “You want the game to sting, and you want it to bother them that they didn’t win and they didn’t show up. You use that as a teaching moment. I think it’ll burn a little fire in them to want to be better.”
Allegany-Limestone is next in action on Dec. 12 when it will host Olean at 7:30 p.m.
Portville will host Jamestown for its next game, set for Dec. 11 at 6 p.m.
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AT PORTVILLE
Allegany-Limestone (42)
Potter 6 0-0 10, Kahm 5 0-0 8, Ortego 3 1-2 7, Frederick 3 0-0 6, Hayes 2 2-4 5, Wojewoda-Ko 2 0-0 4, Giardini 1 0-0 2. Totals: 22 3-6 42
Portville (35)
Haynes 3 3-4 9, Scanlon 4 0-2 8, Rhinehart 4 1-2 7, Isaman 3 2-2 7, Scott 1 2-2 4. Totals: 15 8-12 35
A-L 17 26 36 42
Port. 5 7 16 35
Three-point goals: A-L 5 (Potter 2, Kahm 2, Hayes), Port. 3 (Rhinehart 2, Isaman); Total fouls: A-L 16, Port. 8; Fouled out: None.
