The Herald, Sharon, Pa: Winter sports '97-'98

Published Thursday, Feb. 26, 1998

DISTRICT 10 CLASS AAA
Tigers 52, Bisons 37

Sharon falls to LeBoeuf

By Jeff Greenburg
Herald Assistant Sports Editorr

EDINBORO _ It isn't often in a high school basketball game that, short of a last-second shot, one can point to a single play being the difference in the outcome.

That might have been the case Wednesday evening, how-[JU]ever, in Fort LeBoeuf's 52-37 victory over Sharon in a District 10 Class AAA semifinal clash at Edinboro University.

The play in question came with the first-half clock winding down and Sharon (17-8) looking to cut into a 21-17 Lady Bisons' lead. Fort LeBoeuf star Brooke Freeburg picked the pocket of Sharon's Muhsinah Saleem with about 5 seconds on the clock and managed to race down the floor in time to drain a 3-point shot from the top of the key as the buzzer sounded, giving the Lady Bisons (25-2) a 24-17 edge and, more importantly, much-needed momentum.

``That was a huge lift, it really was,'' said Fort LeBoeuf coach and Brooke's father Rick Freeburg. ``It was a huge momentum turn.''

Sharon coach Mary Jo Staunch concurred.

``I think that hurt us a little bit,'' Staunch said. ``That kind of swung the momentum their way and I think that made us a little bit more hesitant inside.''

It was hard not to be with the likes of the 5-11 Freeburg and 5-10 Sarah Suroviec patrolling the lane. Freeburg collected 12 rebounds and Suroviec finished with 10 boards.

Freeburg, a Street and Smith honorable mention All-American, also led all scorers with 27 points, while Suroviec chipped in with 11.

``I think, defensively, we weren't consistent; we broke down,'' Staunch said. ``And we didn't rebound as well as we should've, or could've.''

Riding an advantage in quickness, however, Sharon, was able to give the heavily-favored Lady Bisons all they could handle and more early on.

With Saleem pumping in six first-quarter points, the Lady Tigers led by as many as four points before settling for a 12-12 tie at the end of one frame.

Fort LeBoeuf, the state's 6th-ranked Class AAA squad according to the Harrisburg Patriot-News, then moved in front 17-13 and eventually 21-17 with 3:11 left in the half, setting up Freeburg's heroics.

Freeburg, who finished the first half with 15 points, continued her stellar play after the intermission by scoring the first six points of the half on another 3-pointer and a traditional 3-point play that enabled the Lady Bisons, the 2-time defending D-10 champions, to open up a seemingly safe 30-17 advantage.

But the Lady Tigers fought back to cut the deficit to 38-31 entering the final frame.

Fort LeBoeuf, however, responded with another run, this time building the lead to 46-33 with 4:19 remaining in the game and Sharon never seriously threatened thereafter.

``I'm really proud (of the girls),'' Staunch said. ``They didn't give up. We continued to try. Nobody quit on us and that's what we stress. And that's the kind of character this team has.''

The Lady Tigers finished 13 of 49 (.265) from the floor, including a combined 2-26 (.077) in the second and fourth quarters, and just never seemed to find their touch. Saleem finished with 10 points, but had only four over the game's final 25 minutes.

Getting much of the credit for that was LeBoeuf freshman Cassie Seth, who saw considerably more playing time due to starter Beth Gausman being hampered by the flu. Seth also received plenty of help from teammates who were constantly double- and triple-teaming Saleem anytime she tried to drive the paint.

``They made the adjustment (on Saleem) and we didn't really adjust to them,'' said Staunch, whose squad faces Villa Maria, a 54-36 loser to Franklin Wednesday, in the District 10 AAA consolation game Saturday for the right to advance to interdistrict play. ``Other people just weren't stepping up and doing what they could do. I think (Saleem) tried to do a little bit too much, but that's her. She plays a big role on our team and she was just trying to make things happen.''

Tricia Sinkuc came off the bench to provide 9 points, including 7 on a pair of 3-pointers in the second half; Alana Zajac added 7 points; Jenny Bell pulled down 10 rebounds; and Katie Banick snared 5 boards for the Lady Tigers.

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Updated Feb. 26, 1998
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