The Zephyr girls basketball team sprang into the win column Tuesday, clipping the Canaries for their fourth win of the year.

Head coach Rick Worman has been looking for offensive consistency all year, and Tuesday's win over Allen provided some of that oomph, winning 46-32 in their Lehigh Valley Conference tilt.

It was a close game heading into the fourth quarter, with the Zephs leading by five. Like their brethren who were hosting the Canaries at Zephyr Gymnasium, the girls blazed the nets in the final quarter to seal the victory. They scored 10 points in that final stanza while holding Allen to just one point. That combination of torrid shooting and stifling defense paved the way to their fourth win, raising their record to 4-14.

It was a good win for a team that's been looking to solve their scoring woes. They were led by senior Nicole Umbenhauer who had a monster game, tickling the twine for 20 points. Freshman point guard Taylor George also had a good game, finishing with 14. Both Ivanna Jones and Madison Kelly finished with four points, while Brook Mellinger chipped in with three.

It was a good team effort with contributions across the board. It's been a formula they've been searching for all year long, and Tuesday's win proves they can make baskets, especially in crunch time.

As they wind down the season, the Zephs have shown steady signs of improvement. They have been competitive in their last three games, losing by only six points to Allentown Central Catholic High School who came into the contest with a gaudy 14-3 (10-1 division) record.

They battled throughout the game, jumping out to an early 13-8 lead before the Vikettes turned on the jets in the second quarter to take a two-point lead into halftime. They continued to stay within striking distance, finally succumbing in the last period to lose 39-33.

That game featured another strong performance by Umbenhauer who finished with 15 points. Her presence inside kept the Zephs close, scoring six buckets from the field. George also had a solid game, finishing with seven points, while Kelly poured in four and Karly Klein added three.

The team has made strides in the second half of the season. Moreover, the last few games gives them something to build on and they'll be looking to keep their winning ways in tact when they host Northampton Area High School on Friday.