Penncrest’s Bailey Garrison, right, is defended by Springfield’s Mia Valerio in a game last season. Garrison collected five points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals in Tuesday’s 40-39 victory over Radnor in the Central League quarterfinal round. (PETE BANNAN-DAILY TIMES)
By Matt Smith
Emily Huggins had been so angry at herself.
Mired in a two-game cold spell, the Penncrest guard never stopped working. The baskets weren’t dropping with any frequency, but she understood that eventually she would have to score points. The Lions needed her offense.
“I was not hitting any of my shots for a couple of games and I was really struggling with my mental health,” the senior said.
In the third quarter of Thursday’s Central League quarterfinal at Radnor, Huggins banked a 3-point shot to break a tie. Moments later, she hit a runner to put her squad in front by seven points. Her confidence was back.
Fast forward to the fourth quarter. Radnor’s Nyah Yao made a basket to give the hosts a one-point lead with 11.6 seconds to go. Penncrest coach Larry Johnson called a timeout.
Out of the break, Lila Curci dribbled at the top of the key, handed off to a streaking Huggins, who went straight to the lane. Radnor’s Anna Reger stayed on her every step of the way. Huggins seemed to lose her balance, but managed to hurl up a one-handed shot, off backboard and in with 4.2 seconds on the clock.
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