Playoff hopes are alive and well.
Blackhawk High School is a longstanding rival for all Beaver Area sports teams, but especially girls basketball. The games between the teams are typically a back-and-forth match-up, and when the Bobcats took the court against the Cougars January 27 the game was exactly that.
Both teams put in a great effort to keep the score close all game, but unfortunately the Cougars pulled ahead at the end resulting in a 72-51 Bobcat loss.
The JV also hit a roadblock against the JV Cougars and took a devastating first loss of the season, 48-9.
As the Bobcats begin to wrap up the regular season, they know every game counts if they hope to make the playoffs. With this mindset, the girls tipped off against Ambridge High School January 31 for senior night.
Senior Payton List is the only senior on the squad this season, so the team wanted to ensure her night was special. After a mid-court celebration for List, the Bobcats took the court against the Lady Bridgers.
The girls held possession, made great plays, and dominated the entire game to add a 53-32 win over the Bridgers to their record.
February 2 the Bobcats traveled to Central Valley High School to tip-off against the Warriors. The JV girls took the court first and were unfortunately defeated 40-33 after a close matchup with Central Valley’s JV squad.
Shortly after, the varsity girls tipped off at center court. The Bobcats came out hungry for another win which gave them the motivation and drive to decisively defeat CV 58-25.
The girls still have games to make-up from Covid and winter storm cancellations.
“This end of the regular season is going really well, although it’s going to be a tough one to finish. This week we have five games, so hopefully we will be able to keep going strong,” said freshman Emerson Connelly.
The first of those games was February 7 against Quaker Valley High School.
First the JV took the court against the Quakers. The JV girls have only lost two games all season, so the team was hoping at add another win to their record. After the Bobcats dominated all game, they managed to secure another win 35-20.
The varsity tipped off shorty after the JV finished. Just like the JV, the varsity team held possession all game and pulled ahead in the fourth quarter. The Bobcats came out on top to win 41-25 over the Quakers.
With no time to rest, the Bobcats tipped off against Ambridge High School again February 8. A couple of weeks ago, the girls faced the Bridgers for senior night and dominated all game. And this game was no different.
After taking the court, the Bobcats held the Bridgers to minimal ball possession and almost no shots. With this stellar performance by the entire team, the girls crushed the Bridgers 50-8.
Playing two back-to-back games is tiring enough, but what about three games in a row? Not for these Bobcats—these girls were prepared. February 9 the girls returned to their home court against Montour High School for Youth Night.
Youth Night is an opportunity for elementary school basketball players to come out and support the varsity team and see what their future as a Bobcat basketball player will look like. This year, the younger kids made a tunnel coming out of the girls locker room giving Head Coach Greg Huston and the team the opportunity to run through and receive high fives before the game.
Before the varsity team took the court, JV teams tipped off. The Bobcats came out on top, 55-32, over the JV Spartans to advance their season record to 8-2.
When the varsity took the court, the team knew this game was going to be close. Each team had equal possession and equal points for the first three quarters of the game. However, in the fourth quarter, the Bobcats dug deep to pull ahead of the Spartans and win 46-39.
This week the Bobcats wrap up the regular season with an away game tonight at Mohawk High School at 6 p.m.
The Bobcats will be advancing to the playoffs. The schedule has not been released, but should be released after the regular season finishes