08/06/24 Patrick Waksmunski / WolfordÕs Morgan Ruggery of Gearhart’s Moving & Storage (BG) fires a shot over Marissa Cacciotti of Altoona Honda (Bellwood-Antis).

By John Hartsock

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HOLLIDAYSBURG — The Altoona Area High School team, sponsored by Beard Legal Group, earned its third consecutive appearance in the Blair Area YMCA High School Girls Division basketball championship game Tuesday night, but it came at a heavy cost.

Star new senior guard Lanie Wilt, who led Altoona with 14 points in a 36-33 comeback win over the McLanahan Corporation-sponsored Hollidaysburg High School team, collided with a Hollidaysburg player during a battle for a loose ball in the final seconds of the game, fell to the ground and remained there for nearly half an hour before being stretchered off the court.

Wilt was taken to a hospital emergency room, where he was diagnosed with a concussion.

The quiet concern of everyone in the gym was palpable as Wilt was examined by the medics, once again demonstrating that the welfare of the players is more important than the outcome of any sporting event.

“He was tackling another player and he jumped on the ball and his head hit the other player’s body,” Altoona coach Chris Fleegle said of the unfortunate circumstances immediately after the game. “He left everything on the field, like he always does.

Fleegle later confirmed that Wilt had a concussion, adding, “She was taken to the hospital to get checked out, hopefully just as a precaution.” “She was responsive right before she was taken away on a stretcher. She’s a very resilient woman and everyone hopes she’s OK.”

Altoona will play Bishop Guilfoyle Academy, sponsored by Wolford’s Gearhart’s Moving and Storage, in the high school girls division championship game on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. The BG team advanced with a 46-27 victory over Bellwood-Antis, sponsored by Altoona Honda, in the other semifinal game played Tuesday.

Hollidaysburg jumped out to 9-0 and 11-2 early leads against two-time league champion Altoona, and the Lady Lions rallied in the second half to take a 23-13 lead into halftime.

Wilt hit a 3-pointer from the right side with 5:05 left in the game to give Altoona a 30-29 lead, then scored a putback with less than four minutes left to give Altoona a 31-30 lead. Wilt was fouled on the shot and converted the free throw, giving Altoona a 32-30 lead.

Melana Eyer’s shot on goal gave Altoona a 34-30 lead, but Bella Vent converted one of two free throws and Clare Padamonsky’s rebound brought Hollidaysburg within 34-33 with eight seconds left in the game.

Hollidaysburg’s missed free throw was collected by Altoona’s Brionna Hudson, who was fouled during the play, and made two game-winning free throws on the other side of the court to secure the win for Altoona.

Vent, a senior who won the Altoona Mirror’s 2023-24 High School Girls Basketball Player of the Year award as a junior, led Hollidaysburg with 12 points.

“This is a summer league. You’re here to see what you have as a team, and I think we’ll be in a good place as a team this November,” said Hollidaysburg coach Deanna Jubeck, whose program has advanced to the quarterfinals of the PIAA Class 5A girls tournament the last two seasons.

The BG team, which won the PIAA Class 1A state championship last March, got a game-high 17 points from incoming freshman Layona Williams, who will make a great team even better next winter.

“Her and Gia Adams are both excellent defensive players, and working together, they’re going to make it really hard for opposing quarterbacks to move the ball against us next season,” BG coach Kristi Kaack said of Williams.

“I was really proud of Williams for playing the way he played tonight,” Kaack said. “I thought his shot selection was really good tonight — he got into the lane a lot, and that opened up the 3-point shot opportunity for him.”

Adams and Morgan Ruggery each contributed 10 points for Bishop Guilfoyle, while Jenna Norton led Bellwood with 10 points.

“We’re trying to put all the pieces of our team puzzle together and I’m pleased with our team’s effort this summer,” Bellwood coach Kyley Longo said. “Last summer, we didn’t even make the playoffs in this league, so this is a step in the right direction for us.”

Kaack is looking forward to a great championship game against Altoona on Thursday.

“We missed the playoffs in this league last year, so it’s great to be here in the championship game this year,” Kaack said. “I’m really proud of our kids and the commitment they’ve shown to get better. They’ve earned it (the championship spot), and Altoona is a great team with great coaching.

“We are excited to play with players of the caliber that they have,” Kaack added.

BISHOP GUILFOYLE (46): Gofus 1 0-2 2, Adams 3 2-2 10, Ruggery 2 6-8 10, Williams 7 1-2 17, Petrecca 3 0-2 7, Hite 0 0-0 0, Bennett 0 0-0 0, P. Ronan 0 0-0 0, K. Ronan 0 0-0 0. Totals — 16 9-16 46.

BELLWOOD-ANTIS (27): Clapper 1 2-3 4, Gerwert 1 2-2 4, Norton 2 4-4 10, Cacciotti 1 0-0 2, Sweigert 1 0-0 2, Hammond 1 0-0 3, Plummer 1 0-0 2, Worthing 0 0-0 0. Totals — 8 8-9 27.

Halftime: Bishop Guilfoyle, 26-11.

3-point field goals: Bishop Guilfoyle 5 (Adams 2, Williams 2, Petrecca); Bellwood-Antis 3 (Norton 2, Hammond).

HOLLIDAYSBURG (33): Vent 4 3-4 12, Stevenson 0 0-0 0, Weimert 3 2-4 8, Heim 0 1-2 1, Padamonsky 2 3-6 7, Sydney 2 0-0 5, Steiner 0 0 -0 0. Totals — 11 9-16 33.

ALTOONA (36): Wilt 5 2-3 14, R. Eyer 4 0-0 9, M. Eyer 1 4-4 6, Harpster 1 0-0 3, Nguyen-Moore 1 0-1 2, Hudson 0 2- 2 2, Cogan 0 0-0 0. Totals — 12 8-10 36.

Halftime: Altoona, 23-13.

3-point field goals: Hollidaysburg 2 (Sidney, Vent); Altoona 4 (Wilt 2, R. Eyer, Harpster).

Officials: Bill Pfeffer, Jack McDougal, George Figura.