With both teams rotating players every four minutes to allow even participation, it was New York that jumped out to a 7-3 lead. Neither team had an organized practice, and it showed.

The Pennsylvania squad was plagued with missed passes and poor communication, which led to forced shots. When Steinberg’s time came to rotate in, she wasted little time picking up the pace for the Pennsylvania squad.

Steinberg scored three quick baskets to give her team their first lead of the game.

With Steinberg rotating out, the New York squad, which held a considerable height advantage, began to assert itself under the boards and whittled the Pennsylvania lead to just three with eight minutes left in the first half.

Eisenhower’s Clara Steinberg defends Wellsville’s Caelyn Stevens during the Big 30 Senior Classic on Sunday at Portville High School. Times Observer photo by Steve Younger

With the Pennsylvania squad needing a spark, Coach Jamie Evans of Port Allegany looked no further than his bench, and to Steinberg.

“I wish I had 10 Steinbergs all season long,” he said postgame. “The athleticism, court knowledge and her hustle, as a coach you expect that in an all-star game, but I thought she really pushed the tempo and got us going.”

The Pennsylvania squad extended its lead to 12 at the halftime break.

With Steinberg on the bench to start the second half, the New York squad wasted no time in battling back. The Pennsylvania team went scoreless for over five minutes and needed a spark.

It would come when Steinberg sank two free throws followed up quickly by a 3-pointer to give the Pennsylvania squad a 10-point lead.

The New York squad would battle back to knot the score at 57-57 with one minute remaining in the game

Port Allegany’s Jenna Renner would get a steal and an open layup for the Pennsylvania squad to give her team a 59-57 lead that held up for the win.

“Defensively I thought the girls really stepped up,” Evans said. “That last group of girls that we had on the court had all played AAU together for a couple of years, so they had some familiarity playing together, and in a game like this it gave us a little advantage.”

For the game, Steinberg had 10 points, seven rebounds, five steals, three assists and one blocked shot.

Steinberg is committed to Penn West California University of Pennsylvania to continue her academic and athletic career.

PENNSYLVANIA (59)

Renner 3 0 8, Hanslovan 2 0 5, Hilfiger 1 2 4, Olmstead 0 0 0, Errick 0 0 0, Steele 5 1 12, Clinger 4 0 9, Haynes 0 1 1, McKeirnan 2 0 4, Evens 1 0 3, Prince 1 0 3, Steinberg 4 1 10.

NEW YORK (56)

Williams 1 2 4, Kahm 1 0 2, Crouse 2 3 7, Ross 0 0 0, McCumiskey 2 4 8, Butcher 1 0 2, Rhinehart 3 2 11, Bushey 2 0 4, Northrup 4 0 10, Haynes 1 0 2, Ortego 0 2 2, Stevens 2 0 4. Totals 19 13 56.

3-point goals–Renner 2, Hanslovan, Steele, Clinger, Evens, Prince, Steinberg, Rhinehart 3, Northrup 2.

Halftime score–Pennsylvania 30, New York 24.