LANCASTER – The last girls’ high school basketball game ever played at Lancaster High School, built in 1963, will go down as a memorable one.
With play set to begin next year in the new high school, the Lady Gales wanted to go out in style, and did they ever on Feb. 17, against visiting Delaware Hayes.
After jumping out to a fast start and a double-digit halftime lead, Lancaster watched as the Pacers came all the way back to tie it late in the third quarter. However, the Gales responded in a big way, finishing the third quarter on a 13-3 run, thanks to outstanding play from three sophomores, and once the Gales gained control, the three seniors – Harper Allen, Molly Stedman and Carlee Arledge- took over in the fourth quarter to bring home a 73-54 victory.
“We talked about how this will be the last time a basketball game will be played on this court at this high school,” Lancaster coach Dusty Miller said. “For all the past players, the girls wanted to have one more win on this court. Our bench play was great because we were in foul trouble, which allowed us to hang in there, and once we got to the fourth quarter, the seniors took over. Molly was doing a great job feeding the ball, and Harper and Carllee did a great job knocking down shots in the fourth quarter.”
It was a great way for the Gales to finish the regular season. After starting the year with a 2-6 record, they won 10 of their 14 games to improve to 12-10.
The Gales looked like they were in control as they jumped out to an 18-7 first-quarter lead and led 33-20 at halftime. The Pacer came out red-hot in the third quarter and outscored Lancaster 17-4 to tie things up at 37-37 with just over two minutes left.
That’s when sophomores Koewynn Rogue, DJ Rossi, and Izzy Palmer helped steady the ship. Rogue and Rossi combined to go 5-of-6 from the free throw line and Palmer scored inside to push Lancaster’s lead 44-37. Arledge connected on a 3-pointer, and Stedman banked in a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Gales a 50-40 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.
In the final quarter, the seniors scored 21 of the Gales’ 23 points, led by Allen, who scored 11.
The three seniors combined to score 55 of the Gales’ 73 points.
Arledge led the way with 23 points, including four 3-pointers. Allen finished with 22 points, nine rebounds and two assists, and Stedman chipped in 10 points and five assists. Rogue, a starter, had eight points and eight rebounds, while Rossi came off the bench to score six points, and Palmer had four points and four rebounds, also coming off the bench.
“Everyone on our bench played with confidence, and hopefully, that carries over into our tournament game,” Miller said. “We have continued to get better as the season has gone along and we have everyone healthy. This team has continued to buy into our standards, and they are playing well together.”
The Gales will open Central District Division I play at Grove City on Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. Lancaster played the Greyhounds during the regular season and lost 36-33.
Tom Wilson is a sports reporter for the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. Contact him at 740-689-5150 or via email at twilson@gannett.com for comments or story tips. Follow him on X at twil2323.
This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Lancaster girls’ basketball team wins final game at old high school
Reporting by Tom Wilson, Lancaster Eagle-Gazette / Lancaster Eagle-Gazette
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
