Tough second quarter proves to be deciding factor in CM girls loss

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: January 6, 2019

By Kenny Varner

LOCK HAVEN – The learning process is still materializing for the Central Mountain girls basketball team.

In its game against Shikellamy, the Wildcats came out going toe-to-toe with the Braves, resulting in a 10-10 stalemate after one.

But a strong inside game for Shikellamy took over in the second, outscoring the young Wildcats 21-4 en route to a 58-29 victory.

Central Mountain finished with two players in double figures on the night.

Quinlynn McCann led the way with a team-high 13 while teammate Avery Baker had 11.

McCann had a double-double as she finished with 10 rebounds.

Baker also finished with three three-pointers in the night.

The Braves went inside to center Tralyn Hummel and she dominated underneath, posting 23 points.

Rebekah Amerman followed with 14 while Tori Smith added 10.

“We weren’t happy with our last game. Our game against Bald Eagle . It was the first time this year we didn’t think we competed well this year. Even though it was a pretty close game we weren’t happy with the way we competed. So the last two days we’ve been talking about getting back to understanding what our process was. We came into this knowing it was going to be a long process. So we wanted to get back to that,” said Central Mountain coach Scott Baker. “I’m happy with tonight. I thought we got back to competing. Back to the basics and we did some nice things.”

In the opening period, the Wildcats held the lead for much of the quarter, led by Baker and McCann.

Baker started the scoring on a drive in the lane.

Shikellamy’s Amerman tied things at two, hitting a long two with 6:30 in the quarter.

The Braves took a 4-2 lead less than a minute later as Tori Sheller hit another soft jumper.

MCCann tied the contest as she took one to the heart of the Braves’ defense.

Shikellamy hit one-of-two from the line, taking a one-point lead with 4:52 left.

However, McCann roped a triple from beyond three-point range, taking the lead at 7-5.

After a Shikellamy turnover, Baker hit a triple of her own, upping the lead to 10-5.

But back rolled the Braves as they went on a 5-0 run to knot things as the first quarter buzzer sounded.

In the second, the Braves went to its inside game and started to feed the ball into Hummel as she scored 10 points as Shikellamy outscored Central Mountain 21-4.

Went the two teams went into the intermission, the Braves held a 31-14 advantage.

However, the Wildcats never gave in as they came out of the intermission ready to go back to battle.

The young crew once again came out and matched Shikellamy bucket for bucket, each scoring 13 in the period.

After keeping the game within 15 points, Central Mountain could not keep up in the final stanza.

The feisty group battled hard before falling, 58-29.

“When you haven’t won your going to get in situations where you panic. Again there is just no way and I’m not an excuse maker. But there is no way to compensate for lack of experience other than experience,” said Baker. “There is nothing you can do in a practice session other than you just have to have game time. When you see those things over and over again they will fix themselves over time. You got to be able to play the young ones to see growth.”