Shipley girls hold off Penn Wood

"I couldn't even reach the rim from the three-point line a couple of years ago," Courtney Redcross said with a smile as she stood in the hallway just outside Shipley's Yarnall Gym.

It's hard to believe now, but Redcross, a senior for the Gators, used to be solely a post player, the kind who would stand down low and not even think to pull up from 14 feet, let alone beyond the arc.

But that was when she was a freshman, in her first year of varsity basketball.

As the Northeastern recruit has gotten older, she has developed her game, which was on display Friday night, as she hit key shots down the stretch in the Gators' 65-60 win over Penn Wood.

"I don't panic," said Redcross, who scored 16 points "If I panic, I know my teammates are going to panic. So if I keep my composure, my team is able to keep their composure, too."

Shipley (10-7) led for all but the opening two minutes, but the Patriots (13-6) never made it easy. Although it trailed by as many as 15 three times in the fourth quarter, Penn Wood battled back behind the strong play of seniors Dahnye Redd and Joy Morton.

Whenever the Gators' lead seemed like it was going to slip away completely, someone different stepped up.

First it was Redcross, then fellow senior Maya Overton followed.

"Outside of the state championship two years ago when I hit a clutch free throw - this was the best I've ever played in my life," said Overton, who netted 12 points.

Freshman starters Anna Camden and Lauren Ross were also huge for Shipley, combining for 30 points.

"Anna surprises me every day - Lauren, too," Overton said. "You never know what they are going to do next. It's amazing to watch them."

Redcross and Overton both went to Waldron Mercy Academy for elementary school. While Shipley was always Redcross' main choice, Overton wasn't sure.

"Maya, come," Overton remembers her friend saying back when they were in eighth grade and Redcross wanted her to become a Gator.

Five years later, both are pretty happy she did.

Penn Wood 10 14 14 22 - 60

Shipley 18 18 15 14 - 65

PW: Dahnye Redd 21, Carle Andrews 16, Joy Morton 15, Gabby Hairston 6, Samantha Dillon 2.

S: Anna Camden 18, Courtney Redcross 16, Maya Overton 12, Lauren Ross 12, Yndiah Bobo 3, Emily Talluto 2, Casey Winter 2.