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The Lady Blue Devils came into last Friday night’s PIAA 2A state playoff game against Kane knowing they’d have to push the pace, and they did so very effectively as B-A came home with a 69-40 win.

The game, played at Clarion High School – a two hour drive from Bellwood, showcased Bellwood-Antis’ high powered offense and speed, both of which led to Kane’s downfall.

B-A, a team that has averaged 42% shooting percentage from the floor this year, continued to improve upon that against Kane as they shot at a 44% clip. Senior Tina Hollen played one of her best games of the season and led the team with a 71% shooting average, scoring 12 points in the process. Emilee Leidig and Alli Campbell, who are primarily three-point shooters hovered closer to the team average against the Lady Wolves with 44% and 46% respectively, which certainly helped B-A.

Although shooting percentage, which was a big factor in the Lady Blue Devils loss to Blairsville, was a big part of B-A’s win, quick starts, both in the first quarter and the third quarter, sealed the deal. B-A, on the backs of Campbell and Leidig, shot out to a 19-4 lead in the first quarter, before Kane found their legs and tightened the gap to 23-11 by the quarter’s finish. The Lady Blue Devils did the same out of the half-time break and scored 15 points to the Lady Wolves four by the end of the quarter.

This intensity allowed Lady Blue Devil coach Jim Swaney to do something rare in playoff games: rest the starters for the next round, which should help the Lady Blue Devils as they face a tougher test Tuesday when they face West Middlesex at Plum High School outside of Pittsburgh.

West Middlesex, champions of District X, faced Leechburg in the first round of the PIAA state playoffs and won 56-40 against the (Leechburg) Lady Blue Devils. West Middlesex also won their conference title and went 13-1 in the process, and 21-4 in total. The Big Reds are led by 6’0″ sophomore MaKennah White, who scored 20 points in the first round win.

With a win, the Lady Blue Devils would move to the third round of the tournament where they will face the winner of Bishop McCort and Chartiers Houston.