With the game tied and time running out in the fourth quarter against Penn-Trafford on Tuesday, senior Mary Vargo took a shot and watched the ball go through the basket.
Baldwin players celebrated, assuming that they had just won the WPIAL playoff consolation game. But the referees disagreed, ruling that time had expired before Vargo shot the ball.
That sent the game into overtime, and the Highlanders ended up losing, 71-70.
“Ten seconds on the clock in the fourth, and Jules (Ott) shot it, then Bella (Niles) shot it, and Mary got the rebound, and we won – but they didn’t count the shot,” junior Laci Bernotas said.
Niles said the ruling was tough to hear.
“We were very shocked by that,” Niles said. “But we still were like, okay, we need to focus. We still have a chance to win this game.”
During regulation, the game had been fast paced and intense. Both teams battled back and forth.
“It was head to head. If we scored, they scored. Every possession, someone scored,” Laci Bernotas said.
Laci Bernotas believes the weakest part of Baldwin’s game were the turnovers.
“We had a bunch of turnovers. They rushed us throughout the whole game, especially when they got in their full-court press,” Laci Bernotas said.
In overtime, the Highlanders could have been more composed.
“We were very antsy in overtime,” Niles said.
Despite the loss, several Highlanders stood out.
“Mary Vargo impressed me because she was very focused and was very determined to win the whole time,” sophomore Lynsey Bernotas said.
Lynsey Bernotas, meanwhile, scored 30 points for Baldwin.
The team now moves on to the state playoffs. Their first-round game will be on March 8, with the opponent and location to be determined.
