Shade no match for Lourdes Regional in PIAA 1A second round; Muha's career comes to close
SILVER SPRING TOWNSHIP — In the waning seconds of Wednesday's PIAA Class 1A second-round game between Shade and Our Lady of Lourdes Regional, Shade's Jenna Muha delivered a 50-foot pass to a wide-open Kendahl Stutzman, who banked in the short-range jumper. The basket didn't make much of a difference in the outcome, just a change in the final tally.
The contest had been decided much earlier as Lourdes Regional, behind a relentless, suffocating defense, overwhelmed Shade 55-34 at Cumberland Valley's Eagle Dome to advance in the state tournament.
But that pass exemplified Muha's persistence and unwillingness to give in regardless of the score in what would be the last game of her decorated high school career.
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"She's the heart of this team," Shade head coach Mark Satkovich said. "She makes everybody on this team better. Yes, she's Somerset County's leading scorer. She's the District 5 leading scorer. But she also plays defense and all aspects of the game. She never gives up."
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From the opening tip, Lourdes Regional (20-7) raced out to an early lead it would never relinquish. Paityn Moyer converted a layup and two three-pointers from the right wing to pace the Red Raiders to a 16-6 lead at the end of the first quarter.
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"It was very hard to overcome," Muha said. "We had some sick people, and some are injured. We couldn't give our best game. We tried our hardest, but we came up short."
On the offensive end, Shade (17-11) struggled to get Muha touches in favorable positions for the record-setting senior to score. Like most of the past season, the 6-foot-1 forward was a focal point of the opponent's game plan as Moyer face-guarded her and the rest of the Red Raiders' defense collapsed on her at every opportunity.
Lourdes Regional extended its nine-point halftime lead, outscoring Shade 23-7 in the pivotal third quarter. Masie Reed tallied 12 points in the period as the Red Raiders exploited a seam down the key in the Panthers' defensive set. Lourdes Regional, the third seed from District 4, went 7-for-14 from the free throw line in the final eight minutes to secure the victory.
Moyer and Reed combined for 39 points to lead the Red Raiders, who advance to the Class 1A quarterfinals to face St. John Neumann, 40-37 winners over The Christian Academy.
Despite the loss, the round of 16 matches the farthest Shade has ever reached in the state playoffs and for the first time since 2014.
"I just love these girls," Muha said. "I'm so thankful for them and my coaches. Not all books have a good ending, but I couldn't ask for anything more. I was blessed with so much with my teammates by my side, and I couldn't done it without any of them."
With 16 second-half points, Muha finished the game with 20, bringing her career total to 2,349 points. The Frostburg State commit also collected 16 rebounds in the effort. Freshman Kennedy Landis added eight points and seven rebounds for the Panthers.
"Jenna is an outstanding young lady, and I don't just mean basketball player," Satkovich said. "Coaching her for the last three years has been a joy. She's just an amazing individual and a fantastic athlete."
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This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Shade ousted by Lourdes Regional in PIAA Class 1A second round
