Pictured above: Molly Jenkins, shown in the Wyoming Valley Conference championship game earlier this season, hit the game-winner for Lake-Lehman. (Tim Drewes Photo)
A single point from the foul line could have extended the game.
Any field goal on Lake-Lehman’s final possession was enough for the win.
But, when Molly Jenkins received the ball while open at the 3-point arc from just to the right of the top of the key with five seconds left, it was time to take a shot at extending the Lady Knights’ season.
Jenkins, a junior forward with just one 3-pointer in the previous 29 games, confidently swished the shot from there, lifting Lake-Lehman over Columbia, 50-48, Wednesday night in a Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class 3A girls basketball second-round game.
The shot, which went through with about three seconds left, leaving no time for Columbia to put together an answer, sent Lake-Lehman into an all-District 2 state quarterfinal Friday night at Scranton High School against Dunmore at 7 p.m.
Lake-Lehman worked the ball around while trailing, 48-47, after Bria Kroege put Columbia ahead with the last of her 32 points.
Hailey Kline spotted sophomore sharpshooter Ella Wilson at the top of the key. Wilson, who has more 3-pointers than any two Lady Knights combined, drew plenty of defensive attention. After dribbling to the left, Wilson decided it was not time for a contested shot and sent the ball across the arc to Jenkins, who had room and time to launch the game-winner.
Throughout the season, Jenkins is the lowest scorer on the starting five in a balanced offensive attack. All five starters produced at least seven points in Wednesday’s win.
Kline led the Wyoming Valley Conference Division 2 and overall champions with 18 points. Wilson added 10 and Jenkins’ winner gave her 8.
Lake-Lehman had opened a lead early in the fourth quarter against the Lancaster-Lebanon League overall champions.
Columbia rallied from deficits of 41-33 with 4:38 left and 47-44 with just under a minute remaining on baskets by Wilson.
Kroege, a junior who is already the school’s all-time leading with more than 1,600 points, brought Columbia back. She scored 16 of her points in the fourth quarter, including the go-ahead basket with 21 seconds left.
Brooke Kroege, Bria’s twin sister and another 1,000-point scorer, added 12 points.
The game was tight for the first three quarters.
Columbia led 10-8 after one quarter. Lake-Lehman led 21-20 at halftime and 32-28 going into the fourth quarter.
