Times Observer Photo by Steve Younger Eisenhower’s Clara Steinberg, left, and Sammy Childs reach for a rebound during Saturday’s District 10 AA quarterfinal basketball game.

OIL CITY — The Eisenhower girls basketball team (10-12) entered its District 10 AA quarterfinal game on Saturday as the seventh seed against No. 2 and Region 3 champion Maplewood (19-3).

With the odds stacked against them, the Lady Knights came out and played their best game of the season and gave the Tigers all they could handle, and then some.

In fact, it took a shot at the buzzer for Maplewood to post a 40-38 victory that broke the hearts of Eisenhower and its fans.

The game was a defensive gem, with Maplewood leading 14-9 at halftime.

“The first half was just a defensive battle by both teams,” Lady Knights coach DJ Steinberg said. “I thought we did a really nice job against their bigger upperclassmen.”

Eisenhower began to find its shooting touch in the third quarter as sophomores Laney Font, Clara Steinberg and Lainey Belcher each hit 3-pointers to open up a 26-21 lead before the Tigers closed the quarter on a 7-0 run to take a 28-26 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Sophomore Sammy Childs paced the Lady Knights in the fourth quarter as she scored all 6 of her points. Clara Steinberg was 3 for 4 from the free throw line down the stretch to keep Eisenhower within reach of Maplewood.

See IKE / B2

With the score tied at 38-38 and looking like the game was headed to overtime, Savannah O’Hara hit the game-winning shot to send the Tigers into the semifinals.

“Today’s game literally came down to the final possession,” Coach Steinberg said. “While we didn’t come away with the upset win, I am super proud of these girls for their effort today and all they have accomplished this season.”

Clara Steinberg led all scorers with 17 points. Maggie Means led Maplewood with 13.

“These girls just played so well today,” Coach Steinberg said. “I think they opened up some eyes with what we are capable of. We don’t graduate anyone and we have some talent coming up from the eighth grade. The future looks bright for the Lady Knight program.”

EISENHOWER (38)

Font 2 0 5, Childs 3 0 6, Belcher 2 0 5, Alcorn 1 1 3, Gates 0 2 2, Steinberg 6 3 17, Totals 14 5 38.

MAPLEWOOD (40)

SO’Hara 4 2 10, MO’Hara 1 0 2, Dispenses 0 0 0, Means 6 0 13, Koelle 4 1 9, Banik 1 0 2, Frazier 2 0 4, Totals 18 3 40.

3-point goals — Font, Belcher, Steinberg 2, Means.

Eisenhower 2 7 17 12 — 38

Maplewood 8 6 14 12 — 40