By Jose Negron
Belle Vernon Area trailed after each of the first three quarters Thursday before finding a way to outlast rival Ringgold, 43-37, in Section 3-4A play Thursday night.
The Leopards (3-1, 1-0) tied the game with 5:23 left in the fourth quarter and went 8 for 14 from the free throw line in the final 5:06 to seal the victory. During that span, BVA outscored Ringgold, 10-4.
“I think one of the things we kept preaching to them was that we were OK,” Belle Vernon Area head coach Ronnie Drennen said. “We were still being positive and had the belief that we could stay the course and if we trust in what we’re doing, we can win. We needed more connectivity at times, but I just had a feeling that no matter what was going to happen, these girls were going to come together and get it done.”
With the game tied at 33-33, BVA took its third lead of the game on a free throw from Viva Kreis. About a minute and a half later, the complexion of the game changed when Ringgold standout Nya Adams, who finished with eight points, received her fifth and final foul of the game.
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