A big part of Elba's game plan going into Tuesday night's Section V semifinal playoff game against Romulus in Dansville was to stop point guard Mary Ellen Querrie.
That proved a tough task. Her leadership and her 19 points kept Romulus in the game up until the closing minutes.
"We had a tough time with her," said Head Coach Tom Redband.
Even so, Elba was able to regain the lead in the fourth quarter after giving it up in the third and held on to win, 58-55.
Redband said a lot of credit for the win goes to Leah Bezon. The freshman scored 18 points, which included hitting a trio of threes.
Romulus ran a press all night, which produced some turnovers, but Redband said Brynn Walczak, Isabella Riner, and Maddie Muehlig did an effective job of breaking it.
"Those three girls, specifically, did a good job," Redband said.
Walczak finished with 12 points, as did Muelig. Riner scored five.
Redband said after Romulus made its third-quarter run, "It was looking a little bleak for us," but the Lady Lancers held it together.
"Another key (to the game) for us was not getting down on ourselves," Redband said. "We had some an adversity. Romulus went on a good run and the girls stuck with it, made some big shots and didn’t give up."
Elba faces Andover on Friday at Letchworth for the Section V Class D2 championship. Game time is 6 p.m.
Pavilion also has a Section V Class D1 championship game that night at Letchworth at 8 p.m. against Wheatland.
Semifinals tonight, Notre Dame plays Red Creek in Class C1 and Oakfield-Alabama plays South Seneca in Class C2.
