Kane freshman Addison Haight scored 38 points and had the game winning basket to win a thriller over the visiting Port Allegany Gators on Thursday 57-56. It was a tough loss for Port Allegany, who got down early but worked all game and had a late lead, but it wasn’t enough.
The Gators continued having trouble starting games. “We talk about it before every game,” Port Allegany coach Jamie Evens said. “For some reason we can’t figure out how to come out of the gates ready to play. At this point it is a mental issue that is on me to figure out.”
Port Allegany called a timeout after being down 6-4 within the first few minutes. The timeout didn’t prove effective though, Kane made it 10-4 in the next 40 seconds of play.
Kane held on to their lead with Haight scoring 10 first quarter points and they started to grow it going into the second quarter. Their largest lead was 22-13 at the 6:01 mark in the second. Port Allegany was 12-2 for a reason though, and it’s hard to keep them down for too long. Jenna Renner scored four straight points and Brynn Evens added a layup to make it 22-19.
The Gators got the lead back with 1:55 left in the first half after four straight points from Ella Moses helped make it 25-24. They held the lead at halftime 29-26.
Haight started the second half with a free throw and a three-pointer to tie the game. Later she scored six points in two minutes to propel the Wolves back in front 33-30.
That lead grew to 37-31, but Port Allegany was still within striking distance going into the fourth quarter down 40-36. Kane was still playing well though, they were up 44-37 early in the quarter and then 50-43 with 3:48 left in the game.
In the last two minutes Port Allegany got their points when they needed them. Six straight points in 40 seconds tied the game 53-53 with 32 seconds remaining. Kane then went to the free throw line coming out of a timeout and knocked down both free throws.
The Gators traveled on their next possession, but quickly got the ball back when they got a steal off the ensuing Wolves inbounds pass. Evens called a timeout after gaining possession, then Maddison Erick hit a clutch mid range jumper to tie the game.
Another steal off the inbounds pass gave Port Allegany a chance to take the lead. Brynn Evens went to the free throw line and made one out of two to take a 56-55 lead with 8 seconds remaining..
What came next was an appropriate ending for the game. It’s scary for the future Kane competition that Haight is only a freshman, because she showed the poise and confidence of an older player when she quickly took the ball right down the lane and made the game winning layup as time was expiring to cap off a 38-point night and get the win 57-56.
“Addison is a special player,” Kane coach Brian Wymer said. “She just continues to grow and continue to learn, I’m glad she is on our team.”
Brynn Evens scored 16 points to lead the Gators. Moses had 15 points, and Peyton Gordon scored 12 as other contributors. Kane improves to 8-5 while Port Allegany falls to 12-3.
The Gators next game will be against Oswayo Valley on Tuesday. Kane will play at Cranberry on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
AT KANE
PORT ALLEGANY (56)
Renner 2-4-6-8, Moses 4-7-11-15, Errick 2-1-2-5, Gordon 3-6-8-12, Evens 5-6-9-16. Totals 16-32-36-56.
KANE (57)
Bell 1-0-0-2, Saf 3-0-0-6, Haight 17-3-4-38, Olmstead 2-2-2-6, Ely 1-1-2-3, Wyner 0-1-2-1, Boschert 0-2-2-2. Totals: 24-9-14-57. Three-Point goals: Port A. None; Kane 1 (Haight)
