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Boyertown girls finish off O'Hara in state semifinal

Abby Kapp's grandparents like to be bored. At least that's what Maurita and Jack, Kapp's grandparents on her father's side, always say to the Boyertown senior after close or nerve-racking basketball games.

Abby Kapp's grandparents like to be bored.

At least that's what Maurita and Jack, Kapp's grandparents on her father's side, always say to the Boyertown senior after close or nerve-racking basketball games.

They don't like the tight ones, the duo often jokes with No. 23 for the Bears.

"They live in Scranton-about two hours away-and they have been to an incredible amount of games," Kapp said. "They could probably make the drive here in their sleep by now. It's amazing."

The Kapps may not like the nail bitters but there's no doubt they loved every second of Monday night's PIAA Class 6A semifinal contest against Cardinal O'Hara, especially the final 9.9 ticks.

Kapp - a dynamic guard/forward - took the ball off the inbounds by midcourt, with the game knotted at 37. She took some dribbles, let the clock wind down, and made her move resulting in a step back jumper that gave the Bears the 39-37 upset over the Lions.

The only problem? It wasn't the original play Boyertown (27-5) had drawn up during the timeout, as mid play, coach Jason Bieber made the change and told Kapp to go get the ball.

He didn't regret it.

"Heck why would I want anyone else shooting the ball other than Abby?" Bieber said.

Exactly.

The Bucknell recruit finished with 15 points, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2 steals for the Bears, as the gutsy Boyertown squad kept the contest back and forth throughout. It didn't hurt that the Lions (25-6) struggled shooting, going 15-for-51 from the field and 3-of-19 from beyond the arc.

"During these games, quarters feel like a lifetime," Kapp said. "There is so much time, you have to pace yourself, I guess, and not get ahead of yourself. We did that. We played until the very end."

As for Friday night's game against North Allegheny? With a state championship on the line at Hershey, Maurita and Jack wouldn't miss it, Kapp said.

"I never thought I'd get this opportunity-this experience-so I'm just going to make the most of it," Kapp said. "And take it all in."

But first, she had some important people waiting for her.

Cardinal O'Hara 15 6 10 6 - 37

Boyertown 13 9 7 10 - 39

CO: Mary Sheehan 15, Maura Hendrixson 11, Hannah Nihill 6, Kenzie Gardler 5

B: Abby Kapp 15, Tori Boalton 10, Katie Armstrong 8, Ali Marcus 6

kharman@phillynews.com

@ka_harman