The Coudersport Area High School girls basketball team were hoping to join the boys in the PIAA Class A quarterfinals Wednesday night, but the Lady Falcons were unable to double the pleasure for the District 9 Northern Tier community fans, falling to Avonworth 53-51 in overtime on the Clarion Area High School hardwood.
The Northern Tier League and District 9 champions saw their 26-game winning streak halted to finish 27-3.
Avonworth (16-10), which was the District 7 third seed after losing to eventual champ Mt. Alvernia in the WPIAL semifinals, outscored Coudersport 6-4 in the extra period after tying the game, 47-47, on Liz Raves\’ field goal with 27 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
The Lady Falcons scored first in overtime, but the Antelopes went up 52-49 on Lyndsey Costa\’s three-pointer with 2:57 left. Lady Falcon Jessica Wilson\’s basket made it 52-51 with 1:12 to go, but Avonworth ran down the clock before Abbey Francis was fouled with 10 seconds left.
She made the first free throw but missed the second. Coudersport gained possession and did get off a shot, but Wilson\’s attempt from the foul line hit the front rim, bounced long and then off the rim.
After Avonworth built a 26-21 halftime lead, Coudersport rallied to knot the score at 35 going to the fourth period. A 7-0 run gave the Lady Falcons a 42-38 with 4:47 left, and they were up with 46-43 with 2:12 remaining before missing two of three free throws in the next 40 seconds to let the Antelopes force overtime.
Coudersport standout Kristy Kamper scored a game-high 19 points, including four three-pointers, to end her career with 1,344 points. Wilson had eight points for a career total of 1,162.
Francis hit four treys to pace Avonworth with 16 points.
The two remaining District 9 teams, the Bradford and Coudersport boys, will play in the quarterfinals Friday at 7 p.m.
Bradford (20-7) will play District 3 runner-up Steelton-Highspire (25-6) at State College Area High School in Class AAA. Coudersport (29-0) goes against District 10 champion Kennedy Catholic (19-9) of Sharon at Clarion University.