By: Joe Cicchino - Sports Information Assistant

FORT WASHINGTON -- Jaye Haynes ’20 had been in this situation before. With 11.6 seconds left on the clock, Germantown Academy found themselves down by one point to Abington Friends School with a trip to the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association Championship on the line.

The Patriots broke their huddle and got in position to inbound the ball. However, another GA timeout was called as soon as the ball went into play. Head Coach Sherri Retif had seen how AFS was pressuring and changed the set play. Moments later, they walked back onto the floor looking to take the lead.

Haynes received the ball, took one dribble to her right and exploded to the left, blowing past two AFS defenders on her way to the hoop. The ball hit iron twice before falling through.

“I’m just so happy, probably ecstatic right now,” Haynes said. “I just thought to myself that I’d been here before. Whether it was AAU or freshman year against Episcopal, I’ve been here. Nothing you can do but keep calm and keep your composure.”

AFS’ last second heave from half court fell short, and GA won the game, 56-55.

“I thought [Maddie] Vizza came out on fire,” Retif said. “Focused, making great passes. Elle [Stauffer] hit some big shots for us down the stretch. Overall, I think it was a team effort and we don’t have to depend on one person. They make great decisions out there.”

The Patriots started the game with a three from Vizza. On their next possession, Rachel Balzer ’19 buried a three. The teams went back and forth, with Abington Friends taking the lead briefly with three minutes to go in the first quarter. GA tied it before Stauffer hit a shot to give the Patriots a 17-15 lead.

In the second GA asserted themselves, going on a 12-0 run that lasted almost four minutes. They led 37-26 at the half, but saw that lead disappear in the second half. The Patriots did not score until the 3:46 mark of the third, and totaled just eight points in the quarter.

“It is a game of runs,” Haynes said. “We know what we’re doing. All we could do is keep ourselves together and believe in ourselves.”

“We were just letting them get to the goal too much,” Retif said. “They’re quick and they’re athletic. They were finishing. We were just half a step behind on the help.”

GA went into the final quarter with a 45-36 lead. Abington Friends opened the quarter with a 10-2 run, cutting that lead to just two points. With less than a minute remaining, that lead was cut to one before it evaporated entirely. However, GA had an answer.

“When they came out and picked up with so much pressure, I thought let’s call a timeout and run a different set,” Retif said. “We changed it. Haynes has done that a couple times before.”

GA now finds themselves in familiar territory. Since 2014, the Patriots have made it to the PAISAA Championship three times, all of those contests coming against Shipley School. On Feb. 22, they will be yet again facing off with the Gators for the title. Haynes said that she is ready for the game, and that the team’s experience should help.

“[We have to] play together,” Haynes said. “Just don’t look at it as something too big. I think [experience] will play a big part. We know what we want and we’ve been here before. I think we’re ready to go.”

GA takes on Shipley at Jefferson University at 5:00 p.m. The winner of the contest will be the 2019 PAISAA Champion.

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