Bethlehem Catholic’s girls’ basketball team’s 18-point first quarter compared with its three-point second quarter was cause for alarm early in the Hawks’ 56-49 victory over Pleasant Valley in the East Penn Conference quarterfinal last Friday at Becahi.

“In the beginning we were moving the ball really well, but when we started to play one on five and try to drive against their zone, it wasn’t working, so we needed to calm down and move the ball like we did in the first quarter,” said Becahi center/forward Abby Brown.

While the Hawks moved the ball well in the first, the Bears lost the ball multiple times on sloppy passing.

In the second quarter, Kourtney Wilson scored the only points for Becahi. Pleasant Valley had consecutive threes, one by Madison O’Neil and one by Cameron Caffrey at the end of the second quarter, which was the start of the Bears’ ascent back into the game.

Halfway through the third quarter, Pleasant Valley’s Ashley Schwenck tied the game, 25-25.

Caffrey hit another three, Wilson scored on a steal, Caffrey scored from underneath on an inbound play, and Jaleesa Lanier hit a three for Becahi.

“They started to pressure more and whenever other team’s start to pressure, we panic a bit, so I think we just lost our composure,” said Brown. “We can’t keep losing our composure when teams bring it. We have peaks and valleys. We need the energy to go through all four quarters. Otherwise, we will find ourselves in trouble. Everybody’s bringing it in playoffs. Everybody.”

The Hawks led 34-33 to start the fourth quarter, but with another three pointer by Caffrey and a three point play by Schwenck, Becahi would need to bring it if they were to advance in the EPC tournament.

With a basket apiece from Brown and Wilson, Isabelle Rosario hit a much-needed three pointer for the Hawks, and Lanier intercepted a pass and scored on a layup. Briana Barnard added four points from underneath.

“Going up by 10 with about two minutes left, I didn’t take it for granted, but there was a little weight lifted off my shoulders then,” Brown said.

This Wednesday, Becahi and Freedom will face off in the EPC semifinal at 7:30 p.m. at Easton Area Middle School. The winner will play the winner of Northampton versus Nazareth in the EPC final scheduled for 6 p.m. this Friday, also at Easton Area Middle School.