By Tom Robinson, NEPASportsNation.com
DALLAS TWP. – Brenna Hunt needed just 3 minutes to wipe out 11 minutes of methodical work by Holy Redeemer to close the gap in Saturday night’s Wyoming Valley Conference Girls Basketball Tournament championship game.
Hunt scored 10 points in an 11-point, Lake-Lehman streak that carried the Lady Knights to their third straight championship in the event with a 45-34 victory.
“Brenna Hunt was outstanding,” Lake-Lehman coach Charlie Lavan said. “She gave us a spark in the fourth quarter.”
Actually, Hunt got things started as the third quarter was ending.
Hunt’s only basket of the first half had been a jumper in the lane for a 14-2 lead at the midway mark in the second quarter. She turned one of her seven steals into a basket with 2:35 left in the third to try to slow Holy Redeemer’s momentum.
The Lady Royals, however, kept coming. They fought back steadily to get within 22-19 late in the quarter before Hunt restored order to lift Lake-Lehman to its third straight win in the series since losing to its Division 2 rival early in the season.
“We know them because we’ve played them four times already,” Hunt said.
Hunt took a defensive rebound coast-to-coast to start rebuilding the lead before the third quarter ended. She had six points, three rebounds (two of them offensive) and a steal in the final 1:02 for a 28-19 lead going into the fourth.
Lia Keefe set up Hunt for the first basket of the fourth quarter, then hit the front end of a one-and-one.
Hunt drove down the right side for a 33-19 lead with 6:10 left in the game, giving her 10 points in 2:52 and 12 in 4:25.
Holy Redeemer never got closer than 12 the rest of the way.
While the Lady Royals rotated nine players throughout their comeback, the Lady Knights, as is often the case, stuck with each starter. All 5 played the entire 32 minutes.
“They are tough, tough kids,” Lavan said. “We ask them to do it and they just do it without even blinking an eye.
“Their motors are always running.”
Hunt said the key is that all five produce.
“If you’re open, we’re going to pass it to you,” she said. “We all trust each other with the ball.”
That showed early in the game when Molly Jenkins, who scores the least of the five starters throughout the season, had half the points in the 14-2 start. She hit back-to-back baskets, including from the left elbow for the first two scores of the second quarter and a 12-2 lead.
“I knew I had to get off to a fast start,” Jenkins said. “I knew they weren’t guarding me as close after last game.”
Hunt finished with 16 points, 6 rebounds and the 7 steals.
Jenkins had 11 points and 5 rebounds.
Ella Wilson scored 8 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.
With all five players providing at least five rebounds, Lake-Lehman had a 43-35 advantage on the boards.
Lia Keefe finished with seven points and eight rebounds while Hailey Kline had eight rebounds and a game-high five assists.
Holy Redeemer was led by 14 points from Jillian DelBalso and 11 from Meghan Albrecht.
MORE COVERAGE
Lake-Lehman/Hazleton Area semifinal: Lake-Lehman girls dominating WVC Division 1 opponents – NEPA Sports Nation.
Holy Redeemer-Pittston Area semifinal: Ashton leads Holy Redeemer upset – NEPA Sports Nation.
