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The Hohl truth

Senior has 36 points as PV edges Dunkirk

OBSERVER Photo by Roger Coda Dunkirk’s Jessica Beehler gets ready to shoot as Pine Valley’s Kaylee Crisanti (40) and Kayla Hohl (4) pursue during Thursday’s game at Dunkirk High School.

In the midst of a blustering snowstorm that had most schools canceling their after-school activities, the Pine Valley Lady Panthers suited up, put their heads down, and battled the blizzard to come play the Dunkirk Lady Marauders.

“We got about halfway there and we were really considering if it was really worth coming,” Pine Valley coach Dave Pihlblad said. “It was not a good drive. It was nasty out there, but I’m glad we made the trip because we ended up playing a pretty darn good game in the end.”

The game was neck-and-neck all the way up until the final moments.

Late in the fourth quarter with approximately two minutes remaining, Dunkirk cut a then seven-point Pine Valley lead to just one entering clutch time.

Enter Kayla Hohl.

Hohl, who facilitated the Pine Valley offense the entire night, drilled a 3-point dagger with 40 seconds left that distanced themselves from Dunkirk en route to a 56-47 win for the Lady Panthers.

“I knew that it had to be done, so I just did it,” said Hohl, who had 34 points with seven 3-pointers on the night.

“She’s our go-to, and she was phenomenal today. Defensively, offensively — she was all over the floor, and when we needed the big shot, she stepped up and hit it. She’s one of the best in the area,” Pihlblad said.

Hohl was a presence was felt all over the floor Thursday. To go with her 34 points, Hohl hauled in 10 rebounds, six assists and was a force defensively with six steals and four blocks to lead her team to victory.“It’s a lot of pressure, trying to be the leader and having to always be there for your team and carrying them,” said Hohl. “I couldn’t have done it without my team.”

Hohl indeed carried the team, as the Marauders fought a tight contest the entire way.

With starter Nadara O’dell out of the game, Dunkirk tried to combat Hohl and the Pine Valley offense with an up-tempo offense and pressing the Panthers in the full court defense, but their efforts fell short of victory.

“If you don’t do what’s necessary as far as closing her out, and making sure that you know where the shooter’s at, then of course she’s going to have a phenomenal night, just like anybody would,” first-year Dunkirk head coach Darnell Baldwin said of Hohl and the Lady Panthers. “But that’s the thing, we didn’t play the right way. … We didn’t press well, we didn’t trap well, and we just didn’t play basketball the right way, so the better team won.”

The two teams played completely different styles of basketball with Pine Valley playing a half court offense opposed to Dunkirk’s fast-paced run and gun approach.

“That’s why we schedule non-league games against Dunkirk,” Pihlblad said. “They’re a really athletic and quick squad and they really tested us today, and that’s why we like to play them. … We just kept stressing composure, and making smart decisions. Not letting the moment or the game get too much, relaxing and taking good shots. I felt like at the end there we made the extra pass, and we took the good shots that we needed to.”

“We didn’t execute at all,” Baldwin said about the loss. “The one thing that’s going to lead to success for us is communication on defense. … With the press that we have in place, we have to trap quickly, and move and release. We didn’t do that and we allowed some easy points in transition. … With that being said, I’m very optimistic about the season, we just got to clean up those things up.”

Dunkirk (1-2) had key contributions from Kymi Nance, Jessica Beehler, Amari Carter and Alexis Tofil.

Nance, acting as the key facilitator, finished with 12 points, while teammates Carter and Tofil both produced double-doubles of 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Dunkirk is scheduled to play again today at 8 p.m. for the opener of the Westfield Tip-Off Tournament. Pine Valley (2-1) will play next on Dec. 18 at Salamanca.

NOTES: Hohl hit a buzzer-beater at the end of the first quarter for a 15-14 Pine Valley lead… Beehler (Dunkirk) had six points before fouling out in the fourth quarter with 7:46 remaining… Kaylee Crisanti finished second in scoring for Pine Valley with nine points.

PINE VALLEY (56)

Hohl 13 1 34, Miller 1 0 2, Crisanti 4 1 9, Tunstall 3 1 7, Smuda 2 0 4, Totals 23 3 56

DUNKIRK (47)

Nance 5 0 12, Carter 5 0 10, Tofil 5 0 10, Beehler 3 0 6, Davis 2 0 3, Smith 1 0 3, Torres 1 0 2, Totals 21 0 47

3-Point Field Goals: Hohl 7, Crisanti 1, Nance 2, Smith 1

Pine Valley 15 8 14 19 — 56

Dunkirk 14 10 9 14 — 47

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