It marked the second meeting of the season between the two squads. Tamaqua had taken the first matchup, 40-32, but Saturday night belonged to the Bears.
Mahanoy Area entered the tournament at 17-5 overall and second place in Division 2, while Tamaqua came in 16-6 and third in Division 1.
Deadlocked Early
Both teams came out trading baskets in the opening half. Tamaqua and Mahanoy each scored 10 points in the first quarter and matched each other again with 12 points apiece in the second, sending the game to halftime tied at 22-22.
Neither side could create much separation as defenses tightened and possessions became more valuable.
Bears Take Control in the Third
The turning point came in the third quarter when Mahanoy Area found its rhythm offensively. The Lady Bears outscored Tamaqua 12-8 in the frame, fueled by strong inside play.
That small cushion proved crucial down the stretch.
Tamaqua battled back in the fourth quarter behind Kendle Miller’s outside shooting and Lauren Ligenza’s scoring inside, but the Raiders couldn’t fully close the gap as Mahanoy matched them point for point in the final period.
Key Performers
Felicia Bro led the way for Mahanoy Area with 17 points, while Ella Connelly added 14. The Bears also received important contributions from Lill Carl and Naomi Kowalick, who each connected from beyond the arc.
Tamaqua was paced by Lauren Ligenza’s game-high 18 points, with Kendle Miller adding 11, including three three-pointers to keep the Raiders within striking distance.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mahanoy Area | 10 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 44 |
| Tamaqua | 10 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 40 |
| Team | Player | FG | 3PT | FT | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tamaqua | Lauren Ligenza | 8 | 2 | 4 | 18 |
| Kendle Miller | 4 | 3 | 0 | 11 | |
| Millie Black | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | |
| Leah Black | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | |
| Makenna Ellington | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| Tamaqua Totals | 16 | 3 | 11 | 40 | |
| Mahanoy Area | Felicia Bro | 6 | 1 | 4 | 17 |
| Ella Connelly | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 | |
| Lilly Carl | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | |
| Naomi Kowalick | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | |
| Mahanoy Area Totals | 18 | 4 | 4 | 44 | |
