Fast starts are often a prelude to success in sports, and when William Allen's Tashawna Flood hit a lay-up to give the Canaries a quick 2-0 lead, it seemed the Zephyrs were in for an uphill battle all night.

However, Jill Rex's corner jumper quickly knotted the score, and from that tying basket, Whitehall never trailed again, surviving Allen's furious comeback bid in the third period to post another league win.

The Zephyrs 54-44 victory at home was much closer than the final score indicated. Each time the Zephs looked like they were going to pull away, the Canaries mounted a run. They used a combination of perimeter shooting from Wynonna Wo and the inside drives of Taylor Styles to battle back throughout the second half, eventually tying the game 41-41 at the 3:52 mark of the fourth quarter.

The Zephs were able to ward off that comeback attempt by implementing a lethal combination of their own in that crucial third period. After starting the quarter ice cold, Ivanna Jones and Caylin Munn began to heat things up, with Munn delivering under the basket, while Jones rained in jumpers from the field. Munn finished with six points, and Jones netted 12 in the win.

However, the Zephyrs pivotal play that helped them finally gain control of the game was a baseline drive by Jill Kreglow after an offensive rebound and putback by Canary Mardelyn Martinez which tied the game at 41.

Kreglow didn't hesitate once she got the ball, attacking the rim which resulted in basket and a foul. She made the subsequent free throw and the Zephs never looked back again.

That play was something that head coach Dwight Repsher had been promoting all night.

"We talked about that; it was there the whole night," said Repsher. "I was after them to take that and Jill finally took it and we got a three-point play, and that was it."

LeAnna Cruz, who finished with nine points, often sets the tempo of the game from her guard position, constantly looking to create turnovers with her relentless defensive pressure. That is complemented by a fierce competitive streak, a player who isn't shy about mixing it up inside with the bigs as evidenced by a shiner she had early in the season.

She got a crucial rebound late in the game, helping to seal the win.

"Even being hurt in the beginning of the season, that really didn't stop me," said Cruz. "I knew I had to be aggressive for my team, and I knew the type of player that I am, and I'm not one to back down from anything."

Cruz said that the game and the victory was significant since it helped give them a winning record, putting them at 7-6 on the year.

"We knew coming into this game that it was going to be a defining moment, not only for our team, but our girls basketball program in general" said Cruz. "We knew we had to come out and play hard, even harder than the Northampton game. This game meant a lot more to us than any other game."

With Allen looking to spoil their night, Cruz said that mental toughness was the key to withstanding the Canaries run.

"That's one aspect of out team that I absolutely love," she said. "We're mentally tough and we don't let anything come and get us down."

Even though Styles was slashing her way to the basket and scooping in basket after basket each time down the floor at one point in the fourth, Cruz said that they knew that one player wasn't going to beat them.

"Her scoring [13] points doesn't matter to us, what matters to us is winning the game," said Cruz.

While Cruz missed her first few attempts from the field, the senior stayed with it, finally finding her stroke midway through the first. That determination to overcome obstacles was ingrained in her from an early age.

"While growing up with my Dad, he enforced mental toughness, along with confidence and a short memory," said Cruz. "He kind of taught me that and my coaches also said that no matter what, eventually they're going to fall."

Repsher said that the contributions from Munn and Jones were crucial to the win. He said they did a good job passing inside, with Jones feeding Munn for two of her six points.

Caylin hasn't been playing much, but she's making progress," said Repsher. "This was a nice step for her."

The Zephs also benefited from the deft hand of guard Taylor George who finished with a game-high 14 points, draining three treys to help the Zephs win another Eastern Pennsylvania Conference game.

Repsher said the win was about playing well together and sharing the ball, and executing the tings they want to do.

"It's going to take everybody," said Repsher.