Cheltenham's run comes to end vs. Mt. Lebanon

Cheltenham's task going into its PIAA girls' state Class AAAA basketball semifinal against Mount Lebanon figured to be difficult enough last night, trying to hand an unbeaten team its first loss.

Pulling off that feat without injured guard Shayla Felder was pretty much asking for the impossible, and that turned out to be the case last night in a 59-45 loss to the Blue Devils (30-0) at Shippensburg University.

Cheltenham (28-3) survived the loss of Felder, who had a fractured left tibia, for its 49-38 quarterfinal win over Downingtown West.

Asking the Panthers to do the same against Mount Lebanon proved to be too tall a task.

With the win, Mount Lebanon, champion of District 7, advances to a state title game against Cardinal O'Hara. The Lions were a 47-36 winner over Downingtown East in the other semifinal.

Cheltenham, the second seed from District 1, was trying to get to the title game for the third time in the last five years. The Panthers won the title two years ago and lost to Oakland Catholic in the 2005 title game.

Mount Lebanon is trying to win the title this year after finishing second to Central Dauphin last season.

Without the the steady guard play of Felder, the Panthers were at a disadvantage against a team that placed four starters in double figures.

The Blue Devils took control early with a 19-10 first-quarter run. They led, 31-17, at the half.

The Panthers' lead guard, Monet Constant, led the way with 13, and combination guard and forward Tiffany Johnson added 12.

Downingtown East 8 10 7 11 - 36

Cardinal O'Hara 10 7 13 17 - 47

DE: Kristen Blye 7, Ro Gentry 3, Kelli Joran 11, Meghan Kerrigan 5, Biz Matta 9, Amber Yacenda 1.

CO: Danielle Callahan 8, Natasha Cloud 5, Stephanie Holzer 17, Alicia Manning 4, Alysha Womack 13.

-Mike Gibson