DUNMORE – An intense back-and-forth game between Weatherly and Susquehanna Community School provided the perfect climax to the District 11/2 Class 1A subregional girls’ basketball tournament on Friday night at Dunmore High School.

Susquehanna overcame an early Weatherly 5-0 run to go 14-5 to end the first quarter. The lead shifted several times throughout the game, until Susquehanna juniors Mackenzie Heath and Taylor Huyck nailed big three-pointers late to secure a 49-44 championship game victory over the Wreckers.

“It was a game of runs. We had our runs, they had their runs,” Susquehanna head coach Kirk Fallon said. “Fortunately, we made shots down the stretch that don’t always go in. It could’ve gone either way tonight.

“That team is really good. He (Weatherly coach Kevin Kringe) does a really good job. I’ve watched them all year and I can’t say enough about how hard those girls play. It’s impressive to watch from my sideline.”

Huyck was the leading scorer on the night with 19 points for the Sabers. Teammate Mackenzie Steele and Weatherly’s Emily Zoscin both registered 10-point nights.

Fallon admitted his game plan was around stopping Zoscin.

“I thought that we’d end up in this game with Weatherly and they’ve been great all year,” Fallon said. “To win this sub regional, you’d have to go through them.

“Zoscin is a phenomenal player and most of our game plan was surrounded around her. Stop her and contain her, and I think we did a pretty good job. You’re never going to completely stop her. That was our main focus, take her away and take our chances.”

Although Susquehanna came out with the victory in the end, Weatherly still collected the District 11 1A girls’ basketball championship.

“That means a lot to be a District 11 champ,” Weatherly’s Kringe said. “To represent and go back-to-back with a program like this has been a wonderful ride. The seniors and juniors have been great. The sophomores are kicking it up. I’m so proud and glad for them.

“I just wish we made a couple more plays tonight to make it a little happier, but we’re going home to cut the nets down at our place and we’re still going to have a good time tonight.”

UP NEXT ... Both teams will head to states. Weatherly will face the District 1/12 subregional runner-up on Saturday, March 9.

WILD NIGHT … Fans on both sides of ball were extremely passionate for their respective schools. An electrifying game kept everyone on the edge of their seat until the whistle blew at the end.

CONTAINING FOR WEATHERLY … Kringe talked about containing some of Susquehanna’s players. “We were trying to keep Steele out of the lane, trying to contain their shooters and speed the game up. We did for some parts, but not the whole game.”

THREE-POINT FEVER … Friday night’s game featured a total of 13 three-pointers. Weatherly’s Lindsey Hoffman and Susquehanna’s Mackenzie Heath had three apiece.

WEATHERLY

Zoscin 2-4-8-10, Hinkle 2-0-0-4, Hoffman 6-0-0-15, James 3-0-0-7, Peifer 2-0-0-5, Hernandez 1-0-0-3, Miller 0-0-0-0. TOTALS: 16-4-8-44.

SUSQUEHANNA

Steele 4-2-3-10, Maby 3-0-0-7, Huyck 5-7-9-19, Rhone 0-0-1-0, Heath 5-0-0-13, Miller 0-0-0-0. TOTALS: 17-9-13-49.

Weatherly 10 15 7 12 - 44

Susquehanna 14 9 10 16 - 49

Three-pointers: Weatherly - Hoffman 3, Zoscin 1, James 1, Peifer 1, Hernandez 1; Susquehanna - Heath 3, Huyck 2, Maby 1.