Culver leads Lady Rams to third round of playoffs; drops Central

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: February 23, 2019

SPRING MILLS- The preseason checklist the Penns Valley girls basketball team created for themselves are starting to be marked off as the list grows shorter.

The Mountain League Champions hosted Central Friday night in the second round of District 6 action.

Defensively, the Lady Rams shut down the Dragons offense allowing 18 points to be scored in three quarters.

“We work really hard on our defense. We know that sometimes our offense can go up or down but we know we are hopefully going to be in every game,” said Penns Valley coach Karen McCaffrey said. “They work so hard. I thought Bella Culver did an outstanding game on Kylie Metzler who is a tough player inside. I think we held her to four. She’s been averaging 15-to-20 points per game. So that was outstanding.”

This contest was never in jeopardy for Penns Valley as they cruised to a 45-27 victory.

With the win, the Rams secure a state playoff berth, adding another check mark to the list.

Guard turned center Bella Culver had a game for the ages as she finished with a game-high 22 points and 16 rebounds. She collected a double-double by the intermission and for most of the game out rebounded the entire Central team until the final stanza.

“She is a converted center. She used to be the point guard. So she has been learning the center position,” said McCaffrey. “She is so fast that she uses her quickness but I didn’t think she shot very well in the paint tonight or she would have had a lot more points.”

Despite battling sickness, Hannah Montminy battled through the illness and collected a quiet but firm 12 points.

“Hannah was sick and not feeling well tonight. For four years Hannah she came out and took the pressure,” said McCaffrey. “I am so proud of all of them.”

Jordan Andrus was solid from beyond the 3-point line, hitting three for a 9-point effort.

Paige Kubalak had two points but was a force on defense and in the rebound department, pulling down six boards.

Early on, the Rams went to work right off the bat after an early bucket by Central.

That would be the only time the Lady Rams would trail in the contest as they went on an 8-0 run.

In the run, Culver had four points while Kubalak and Montminy chipped in two apiece.

The Dragons cut the lead to three as Maddi Metzler hit a triple from beyond the arc, making it 8-5.

In two consecutive possessions the Rams got the ball to a side open Andrus who sunk two triples, upping the lead to 14-5.

After a Dragons’ turnover Culver sunk a lay up to make it an 11-point advantage with 2:00 left in the opening period, 16-5.

The Penns Valley and Central defense’s took over and kept the rest of the period scoreless.

Going into the Central would outscore the Rams 6-2 to open the second quarter, closing it to a 18-11 Penns Valley lead.

But the Rams would shut down the Dragons the rest of the half while five points as the period started to wind down.

Culver sent the fans into a frenzy when she took a late rebound and hit a half court bucket at the buzzer, making it 26-11 going into the intermission.

From there it was all Penns Valley as it outscored Central 19-16 in the second half to advance to the next round to play either Central Cambria or Cambria Heights in the next round Tuesday.

With the win, the Lady Rams improve to 18-5 while Central ends its season with an even 12-12 mark.