Cougars’ Fourth-Quarter Rally Falls Just Short Against Mount St. Mary

Nicholas Mistretta

MHS ’79 Cougar Sports Correspondent

It was the kind of game where every possession mattered.
The Montgomery girls varsity basketball team opened its season with a hard-fought, defensive battle against Mount St. Mary, ultimately coming up just short in a 31–28 loss on Friday night.

Both teams struggled to find early offensive rhythm, combining for just 5 points in the first quarter. Montgomery edged in front 3–2 after the opening eight minutes, leaning on its defense to offset a slow start from the field.

Mount St. Mary found its footing in the second quarter, outscoring the Cougars 10–9 to send the game into halftime tied 12–12, setting up a grind-it-out second half.

Mount St. Mary pulls ahead, Cougars chase late
The turning point came in the third quarter, when Mount St. Mary put together another 10-point frame while holding Montgomery to 6. That stretch gave the visitors a 22–18 lead heading into the fourth.

Montgomery responded with its best offensive quarter of the night, scoring 10 points in the final period and ramping up defensive pressure, but Mount St. Mary did just enough at the other end, adding 9 to protect its narrow advantage and escape with the three-point win.

Schulberg sharp from deep; Herring controls the glass
Aliza Schulberg powered Montgomery from the perimeter, knocking down three 3-pointers and finishing with 9 points, tying for the team lead in scoring. She was also active on both ends, contributing 3 assists and 3 steals, helping fuel the Cougars’ late push.

In the paint, Virginia Herring turned in a standout effort, posting 6 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Her work on the glass helped Montgomery control second-chance opportunities and limit Mount St. Mary to single looks on many trips.

Johnson all over the box score
Alia Johnson delivered one of the most complete lines of the night for Montgomery. She finished with 7 points, including a made three and a pair of free throws, along with 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block and 1 steal. Her playmaking and versatility gave the Cougars stability on both ends of the floor.

Abby Schwartz added 4 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals, while Anya Saini chipped in 2 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals, rounding out a core group that defended aggressively and kept Montgomery within striking distance throughout.

As a team, Montgomery totaled 22 rebounds, 9 assists, 10 steals, and 1 block, numbers that reflected a strong defensive and effort-based performance despite the loss.

Crum leads Mount St. Mary
Mount St. Mary was led by Sophia Crum, who scored a game-high 14 points, knocking down four two-point field goals and two threes to pace the offense. Riley Ng and Calleigh Kreitz combined for 3 points from the free-throw line, and Mount St. Mary made timely baskets in the second and third quarters to build its slim margin.

Photo Credit: Nicholas Mistretta/headlinenewsmontgomery.com