Posted By BERND FRANKE/Tribune Staff

Baskets were as difficult to make on the court as they were as scarce on the scoreboard in a 34-32 nailbiter won by the visiting Blue Bears.

Both single A teams were eager to rebound from lopsided losses in qualifying-round action at the four-day, 16-team senior high school tournament, and neither squad left anything on the floor in an elimination game that featured all-out hustle.

“This was a tough game to play. They really brought it today,” Port High player of the game Jenny Chase said of the Eagles who, like the Bears, wanted to advance to this afternoon’s consolation semifinals at Notre Dame.

It was the first victory of the year for a rebuilding Port High squad that has yet to find its groove offensively. Chase, who scored five points in yesterday afternoon’s renewal of a regional rivalry, said the sudden-death nature of the game enhanced the satisfaction of winning.   “It’s win or you’re out, so this was a really great win for us,” the Grade 11 student added.

While the Bears were blown out 57-7 by quad A Denis Morris in their opening-round game Wednesday, any lingering effects of that loss were gone by the time Port High returned to the court at Eastdale, according to Chase.   “Today was a new day, we didn’t think about yesterday. We went into this game with an open mind.”

Like everybody in the half-filled gym, Bears head coach Barclay Walker was into the back-and-forth game until the final whistle ended the drama with a two-point, come-from-behind victory for his team.   “That’s my nailbiter for the day!” he said after Port High swung the ball around long enough in the final minute to leave Eastdale but two seconds to tie the score.

Walker said he was impressed with how his team played on offence. “We have a problem on offence, so the fact we put 30 points up is tremendous,” he said.   “The girls are still learning the right time to shoot and the right time to pass. Right now, that’s what we’re trying to build on with the girls.”

With the victory, the Bears advance to play E.L. Crossley in a consolation semifinal that tips off at 3:30 p.m. today at Dillon Hall. In their only other meeting of the year, the double A Cyclone topped Port High 59-9 in the season opener.

Kathleen MacIntosh and Kylie Bell netted 14 and eight points, respectively, for Port High.