Waynesboro edges Greencastle-Antrim for first win
By Ben Destefan
GREENCASTLE – As evident by the celebration, it has been a long time coming for the Waynesboro girls’ varsity basketball program.
And, the Maidens earned it.
Entering Saturday’s rescheduled league game at Greencastle-Antrim, Waynesboro sat at 0-18 on the season, closing in on a second consecutive winless campaign with chances dwindling. The season prior, the Maidens went 0-22, having last won on Feb. 6, 2017, marking almost two full calendar years since experiencing a victory.
Establishing a lead early and answering each Blue Devil bucket down the stretch, Waynesboro finally broke through on Saturday, defeating G-A, 35-33, in Mid-Penn Colonial Division action.
“We try to play hard every game, and that’s what it takes,” Waynesboro coach Allison Steiger said. “We’re not used to being on the other side, and for us to have the lead and keep our composure, I’m just really proud of them.”
While the Maidens (1-18) left ecstatic, the Blue Devils (12-6) were stunned on a day six seniors were celebrated prior to tip. The loss was Greencastle’s third in the last four games and kept the Blue Devils from clinching the Colonial Division.
With the result added, G-A also fell to 14th in the District 3-5A power rankings, now flirting with missing a top-16 qualifying spot for the playoffs.
“We just didn’t play well,” G-A coach Mike Rhine said. “We didn’t rebound and we didn’t shoot well. We’ve been on the other end of a lot of these real close nail-biters, but today we weren’t.”
A terribly slow start by the Blue Devils culminated in an 8-1 lead for the Maidens by the end of the first quarter. Waynesboro maintained the advantage, leading 14-11 at halftime, before a frantic second half unfolded.
Needing something to fall, Lydia Crist drained two 3-pointers on consecutive trips down the floor, granting Greencastle a short-lived 17-16 margin.
Rather than wavering, the Maidens responded, starting with a 3 by Faith Helman prior to Leslie Huckle knocking down a triple in transition, quickly reclaiming the lead for Waynesboro.
Holding a 24-21 cushion to start the fourth, lay-ins by Abby Sheasley and Sophia Johnson pushed the Maidens’ advantage to seven early in the frame.
Four Greencastle free throws created a one-possession game midway through the quarter before offsetting buckets by Waynesboro’s Leah Blount and G-A’s Lauren Pool made it 30-28 Maidens.
A strong drive and finish by McKenna Rakaczewski drew the Blue Devils even, prior to another quality inside move from Sheasley putting Waynesboro back ahead, 32-30.
Blount followed with a successful floater in the lane before a pair of Rakaczewski free throws set the stage for a wild final minute of regulation.
After a technical foul was issued from a small tussle, Crist hit her second attempt from the stripe, producing a one-point game with 27 seconds left.
Possessing and looking for the lead, a travel was called against G-A, handing the ball to Waynesboro with 7.9 showing on the clock. Having to foul, the Blue Devils sent Huckle to the line, where she made one of two, giving Greencastle one last chance to tie or win.
Essentially out of time, a desperation 3 bounced off the rim, sparking the long-awaited eruption from the Maidens.
“We’ve been in close games, we just haven’t been on the winning side on them,” Steiger said. “We knew we had to defend them and we knew it was going to be physical. I’m happy for our girls.”
Sheasley paced Waynesboro with 12 points, showcasing a nice combination of size and scoring ability that posed problems for G-A inside.
Blount and Huckle both added eight points for the Maidens, who return to action Tuesday at Big Spring.
Crist and Rakaczewski each finished with 11 points for the Blue Devils, who will try to grab the Colonial crown Tuesday at James Buchanan.
“Now we just have to go win Tuesday, that’s what it comes down to,” Rhine said. “It’s going to be tough, but we know we’re capable. We have to start better and find some points.”
