By Kenny Varner

WINGATE – Sometimes in sports it’s not if you win or lose against a team it’s how hard you competed when your backs against the wall.

Friday night the young Bald Eagle Area girls basketball team welcomed in a veteran and talented team in  Hollidaysburg.

Playing with numerous first year players, the Lady Eagles hung around for much of the contest and even outscored the Tigers 8-3 in the final stanza before falling 50-24 in Laurel Highlands action.

“The girls’ efforts right now is what’s keeping this team together. We have a lot of girls out there who are new to basketball. They are out there playing tonight. We got some good senior leaders trying to keep things together,” said Bald Eagle Area coach Mike Habovick. “I’m super proud of this team. That’s a state level championship team we just played there. They may have doubled us up but we scored 24 against Hollidaysburg. So we’re pretty happy with that.”

The Eagles were led by Kinsey Clark. Clark posted eight points on the night.

Addison Mottin followed with five points., She notched the team’s lone  three-pointer of the night.

Taylor Habovick finished up with three points while Riley Housel, Danyka Smith, Jaysa Smith and Lydia Walk all scored two points.

The Tigers were led by Bella Vent who finished with a game-high 19 point game. She hit three triples en route to the win.

Teammate Clare Padamarisky also finished in double digits with 16.

In the first quarter Hollidaysburg got out to a sizzling start, outscoring the Eagles 22-2.

Vent notched 12 of her 19 points in the first. Padamarisky was next with four points.

Bald Eagles’ lone bucket was scored by Mottin.

But despite the Lady Eagles refused to go away as they battled back in the second to outscore Hollidaysburg 8-6, cutting the Tigers lead to 28-10 as the game went into the intermission. Clark led the scoring with six while teammate Smith added a bucket. Padamarisky paced the Lady Tigers with four.

Teammate Jillian Sydney scored two points both from the charity stripe.

Coming out of the half, the Tigers were again busy in the scoring department, putting pressure on the young Eagles.

When the dust settled ending the third quarter, Hollidaysburg outscored Bald Eagle Area 19-6.

Again Padamarisky led her team, this time she finished the third with an eight-point effort.

Going into the final stanza, the Lady Tigers led 47-16.

Despite being in a “Mercy Rule”status, the Eagles ended the fourth in style, showing their “never say die” attitude and hustle.

Hollidaysburg started off the quarter scoring. Vent muscled her way through the heart of the Eagles defense and hit on a runner in the lane while being fouled on the play. She finished the old fashion 3-point play with a foul shot.

From there, Lydia Walk got on the scoreboard, hitting a tough jumper.

The Eagles scored again when Housel hit 1-of-2 from the foul line.

On the following possession, Mottin hit a triple to keep the run going.

Jaysa Smith finished the game scoring as she went hard in the lane, ending the score at 50-24.

Hollidaysburg  50, Bald Eagle Area 24

HOL 22 6 19 3 – 50

BEA   2  8  6  8 – 24

Scoring: HOL –    Alissa Heim 1 0-0 2, Lauren Stevenson 1 0-0 2, Bella Vent 7 2-3 19, Clare Padamarisky  7 2-2 16, Jillian Sidney 0 2-2 2, Makenna Weinert 2 1-2 5, Skyler Bailey 1 0-0 2, Kate Steiner 1 0-0 2. Totals 20 7-9 50 BEA – Kinsey Clark 4 0-0 8, Riley Housel 0 2-4 2,Lydia Walk 1 0-0 2, Danyka Smith 1 0-0 2, Taylor Habovick 1 1-2 3, Addison Mottin  2 0-0 5, Jaysa Smith 1 0-0 2. Totals 10 2-6 24

Played but didn’t score: HOL –    Taryn Leighty 0 0-0 0, Bella Basenback 0 0-0 0. BEA – Jordan Williams 0 0-0 0, Gabbie Perry 0 0-0 0, Olivia Taylor 0 0-0 0, Madison Stamm 0 0-0 0, Sybil Thompson 0 0-0 0.

Three-point shots: HOL – Vent 3. BEA – Mottin .