Liberty High School girls basketball team falls to Governor Mifflin in PIAA playoffs

Shooting woes and turnovers doomed Liberty High School's girls basketball team on Tuesday night.

The Hurricanes made just 3-of-14 free throw attempts and Governor Mifflin forced them into 27 turnovers en route to a 51-42 victory in a PIAA Class AAAA second-round playoff game at Hamburg High School.

Liberty, which finished 17-10, fought gallantly after falling behind by as many as 11 points in the first half. The Hurricanes could never fully recover like they did in rallying from 12 down to defeat Cardinal O'Hara in their first-round state game.

"I don't think it's really hit me yet that this is my last high school game," said senior guard Jody Chickey, who led Liberty with 11 points. "Obviously, I wish we would have played better. It happens. I try not to dwell on it. I'm glad we made it this far."

Governor Mifflin (19-8), the sixth seed from District 3, advances to Friday's quarterfinals against Council Rock South at a time and site to be determined.

Junior guard Emily Gingrich, who's verbally accepted a full scholarship to play soccer at St. Joseph's, burned the Hurricanes with 25 points and seven steals.

"She's just a gifted athlete," Mustangs coach Richard Bausher said. "She has such a feel for everything. She's just learning to play basketball. I can't imagine how good she'd be if basketball was her No. 1 sport."

Liberty found itself in an early hole as Gingrich scored 10 points in the first quarter to stake the Mustangs to a 16-6 lead.

The Hurricanes continued to struggle in the second quarter. It took Chickey's pull-up jumper from the wing to reduce the deficit to 25-16 at the half.

Liberty shot just 7-for-31 from the floor in the first half, including 1-for-12 from 3-point range. Perhaps most mystifying was Liberty's 1-for-10 effort from the foul line.

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Liberty High School girls basketball team falls to Governor Mifflin in PIAA playoffs