Bethlehem Catholic’s girls’ basketball team won a 40-35 come-from-behind victory over Freedom last week at Freedom High School.

“It was energy plus effort,” said Becahi guard, Morgan Orloski. “It was all about rebounds and loose balls and a need to win the game.”

It was the Patriots, however, who came on strong, with Hailey Silfies controlling the boards and Meckenzie Herman controlling the points.

While the Patriots had maintained a six-point lead by the end of each quarter, the Hawks were looking for ways to shut down Silfies and Herman, while looking for ways to spark their own offense.

In the second quarter, Jordynn Jones, Tessa Zamolyi, Natalie Rhine, Julia Zambo, and Orloski combined for 11 points for the Hawks, but so did Silfies, Herman, and Kaitlyn Swint.

At halftime, energy plus effort was the theme in the Bethlehem Catholic locker room.

“Every point gives energy,” said Orloski.

Returning to the court, Herman opened the third quarter with back-to-back threes for the Patriots, but Rhine responded with a three pointer for the Hawks.

Rhine said, “After she hit a bunch, we got the hint we needed to shut her down, so that’s how we came out in the fourth quarter.”

Now it was Orloski who would open the last quarter of the game with a three-pointer, and Sarah Baumann went on to add two more points for the Hawks soon after. Minutes later, Baumann rebounded her own miss to score again and tie the game at 35.

“We were speeding them up, and that’s when we have the position. That’s where it’s our game,” said Orloski.

Turnovers and intentional fouls sealed the game for Becahi in the end with Rhine hitting three out of four foul shots, while Tessa Zamolyi made both of hers.

Jaiden Coyne and Kyra Jefferson also scored for Freedom.