Cinderella story continues for Laurel Highlands in Semifinal Comeback

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The eighth seeded Laurel Highlands Mustangs kept their dream run in the postseason alive, erasing a halftime double-digit deficit and defeating No. 4 Thomas Jefferson, 44-42, Tuesday night at Woodland Hills High School. The Mustangs will be heading to their first WPIAL championship since 1972.

Points came few and far between in the first half for the Mustangs as Thomas Jefferson’s defense was superb holding Laurel Highlands to three points in the first quarter and eight points for the entire half. They led 21-8 heading into the locker room.

The second half was a much different story as the Mustangs jumped out on a 17-4 run in the first four minutes of the fourth quarter cutting the lead to 28-25. Thomas Jefferson kept composure and took a 32-27 lead heading into the final stanza. Rodney Gallagher had 10 points in the quarter. With 3:50 remaining in the game, Thomas Jefferson led 42-34. They would not score the rest of the game and Laurel Highlands was able to come back and win the game 44-42.

Gallagher led all scorers with 20 points.

Laurel Highlands improves to 16-8 overall. Up next for the Mustangs will be the third-seeded Mars Fighting Planets in the WPIAL Championship Game Friday night at 9 p.m. at the Petersen Event Center.

Thomas Jefferson falls to 16-8 overall. Even though their WPIAL run is over the Jaguars have qualified for the state playoffs. The PIAA First Round will be on Friday, March 6.