Moniteau's Catherine Kelly drives toward the basket during the PIAA girls basketball playoff game against West Middlesex at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 8. Kelly became Moniteau’s all-time leading scorer, but the Warriors lost the game, 38-36. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

CHERRY TWP — There has been no lack of effort from Moniteau’s girls basketball team all season, no lack of talent and no lack of desire.

It’s a lack of height that hovered over the team like a dark cloud ever since senior forward Kendall Sankey sustained a knee injury in early January. Davina Pry, another senior forward, was already lost for the season with a knee injury of her own in November.

Warriors coach Dee Arblaster knew that an opponent with a good frontcourt player could cause major problems for her team and the Warriors encountered that challenge Friday night in the form of West Middlesex’s Caitlin Stephens.

The 5-foot-10 senior forward scored 23 points and pulled down 13 rebounds in a PIAA Class 2A first-round playoff on the Warriors’ floor. Her final basket, which came just before the final buzzer, lifted the Big Red to a 38-36 victory over the Warriors.

A late Moniteau turnover handed possession to West Middlesex. With 3.4 seconds left, freshman Jen Babcock, standing in front of her own bench, inbounded the ball to Stephens near the left block and the forward moved to her left into the paint and then toward the basket and laid in the winning basket.

“That was a coaching error on my part,” said Arblaster. “I should have taken a girl off the inbound and double-teamed (Stephens). We knew we weren’t going to stop her tonight, but wanted to contain her.”

For the Big Red (20-5), Stephens, who is averaging 20 points per game this season, was the clear choice to avoid overtime, but head coach Mary Jo Staunch lauded Babcock’s effort.

“That’s a big moment to put a freshman in, but she’s a great softball player and I knew she could make that pass,” she said.

The final sequence not only ended Moniteau’s season, it turned Friday into a bittersweet farewell for Moniteau senior guard Catherine Kelly, who scored 12 points. Her baseline jumper with 5:48 left in the third quarter pushed the Warriors’ lead to 27-23 and made Kelly the program’s all-time leading scorer.

Alyssa Deal, a 2006 graduate, held the previous record with 1,447. Kelly finishes her scholastic career with 1,452.

“It’s awesome to get the record, to have my name up there with the other great players here,” said Kelly, “but it sucks because we’ve been through so much as a team this year. I’m so proud of our team.”

Moniteau (18-7) grabbed its last lead of the game when Sophia Fleeger turned a steal into two points, putting the Warriors up 34-33 with five minutes left. With the Big Red leading 36-34, Kelly drained two free throws to tie the score with 40 seconds remaining.

Kelly also paced Moniteau with nine boards.

“This was supposed to be our year,” said Arblaster. “But with the injuries, it turned into a season we weren’t expecting. I’m very proud of the girls and the effort they showed.”

WEST MIDDLESEX 38

Sloan Mild 1 1-4 4, Brooke Blaze 1 0-0 2, Lilly Kildoo 0 1-2 1, Emma Mild 2 1-2 6, Caitlin Stephens 9 5-8 23, Jen Babcock 1 0-0 2, Grace Stephens 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14 8-16 38.

MONITEAU 36

Abbey Jewart 2 2-3 8, Sophia Fleeger 2 0-0 4, Catherine Kelly 4 3-6 12, Allie Pry 4 0-0 9, Cheyenne Curl 1 1-2 3, Emily Matz 0 0-0 0, Sydney Bayless 0 0-0 0. Totals: 13 6-11 36.

W. Middlesex 8 10 11 9 — 38

Moniteau 9 13 7 7 — 36

3-point goals: West Middlesex 2 (S.Mild, E.Mild); Moniteau 4 (Jewart 2, Kelly, Pry).

Moniteau's Abbey Jewart drives toward the basket during the PIAA girls basketball playoff game against West Middlesex at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 8. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Moniteau's Allie Pry battles for the ball with West Middlesex's Sloan Mild during the PIAA girls basketball playoff game at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 8. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Moniteau's Catherine Kelly is congratulated by head coach Dee Arblaster and teammates after becoming Moniteau's all-time leading scorer during the PIAA girls basketball playoff game against West Middlesex at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 8. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Moniteau's Sydney Bayless and West Middlesex's Caitlin Stephens battle for the ball during the PIAA girls basketball playoffs at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 8. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Moniteau's Allie Pry drives the ball down the court during the PIAA girls basketball playoff game against West Middlesex at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 8. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Moniteau's Catherine Kelly became Moniteau's all time leading scorer during the PIAA girls basketball playoff game against West Middlesex at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 8. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/8/2024)

Moniteau's Catherine Kelly scores during the PIAA girls basketball playoff game against West Middlesex at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 8. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/8/2024)

Moniteau's Catherine Kelly drives toward the net during the PIAA girls basketball playoff game against West Middlesex at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 8. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/8/2024)

Moniteau's Catherine Kelly drives toward the net during the PIAA girls basketball playoff game against West Middlesex at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 8. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/8/2024)

Moniteau's Cheyenne Curl passes the ball during the PIAA girls basketball playoff game against West Middlesex at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 8. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/8/2024)

Moniteau's Catherine Kelly is surrounded during the PIAA girls basketball playoff game against West Middlesex at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 8. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/8/2024)

Moniteau's Alexandra Pry passes the ball during the PIAA girls basketball playoff game against West Middlesex at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 8. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/8/2024)

Moniteau's Sophia Fleeger makes a layup during the PIAA girls basketball playoff game against West Middlesex at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 8. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/8/2024)

Moniteau's Catherine Kelly drives toward the net during the PIAA girls basketball playoff game against West Middlesex at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 8. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/8/2024)

Moniteau's Alexandra Pry passes the ball during the PIAA girls basketball playoff game against West Middlesex at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 8. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/8/2024)

Moniteau's Cheyenne Curl passes the ball during the PIAA girls basketball playoff game against West Middlesex at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 8. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/8/2024)

Moniteau's Catherine Kelly drives toward the net during the PIAA girls basketball playoff game against West Middlesex at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 8. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/8/2024)

Moniteau's Catherine Kelly attempts to reach the net during the PIAA girls basketball playoff game against West Middlesex at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 8. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/8/2024)

Moniteau's Abigail Jewart attempts to reach the net during the PIAA girls basketball playoff game against West Middlesex at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 8. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/8/2024)

Moniteau's Catherine Kelly drives the ball down the court during the PIAA girls basketball playoff game against West Middlesex at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 8. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/8/2024)

Moniteau's Catherine Kelly attempts to reach the net during the PIAA girls basketball playoff game against West Middlesex at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 8. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/8/2024)

Moniteau's Catherine Kelly drives the ball down the court during the PIAA girls basketball playoff game against West Middlesex at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 8. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/8/2024)

Moniteau's Catherine Kelly drives toward the net during the PIAA girls basketball playoff game against West Middlesex at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 8. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/8/2024)

Moniteau's Catherine Kelly attempts to steal the ball from West Middlesex during the PIAA girls basketball playoff game at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 8. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/8/2024)

Moniteau's Alexandra Pry scores during the PIAA girls basketball playoff game against West Middlesex at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 8. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/8/2024)

Moniteau's Alexandra Pry drives the ball down the court during the PIAA girls basketball playoff game against West Middlesex at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 8. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/8/2024)

Moniteau's Sophia Fleeger drives the ball down the court during the PIAA girls basketball playoff game against West Middlesex at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 8. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/8/2024)

Moniteau's Alexandra Pry attempts to reach the net during the PIAA girls basketball playoff game against West Middlesex at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 8. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/8/2024)

Moniteau's Catherine Kelly attempts to score before the buzzer ends the second quarter during the PIAA girls basketball playoff game against West Middlesex at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 8. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/8/2024)

Moniteau's Catherine Kelly hangs onto the ball after it was fumbled during the PIAA girls basketball playoff game against West Middlesex at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 8. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/8/2024)

Moniteau's Alexandra Pry passes the ball after being blocked from the net during the PIAA girls basketball playoff game against West Middlesex at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 8. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/8/2024)