Fourth-Quarter Grit: Holy Cross Turns Up the Heat to Punch Ticket to Semis
By: Justin Bradley | SportzWire | February 17, 2026 | Photo courtesy Justin Focus
On Tuesday night in a District 2 Class 2A quarterfinal at Holy Cross, the No. 3 Lady Crusaders leaned on composure and defense down the stretch to defeat Forest City, 36-24, in a game that was anything but comfortable for the first 24 minutes.
At halftime, it was a razor-tight 15-14 contest. After three quarters, the scoreboard still refused to give either side breathing room. Forest City battled on every possession, matching energy and physicality in a playoff atmosphere that felt heavier with every trip down the floor.
But tough teams respond when the moment demands it.
Holy Cross outscored the Lady Foresters 14-2 in the fourth quarter, turning a deadlocked battle into a decisive finish.
Lila Kolcharno and Ava Schmidt each poured in 10 points to lead the Crusaders. Schmidt was steady at the line, finishing 6-for-10 from the stripe, while Kolcharno knocked down two triples and went a perfect 4-for-4 on free throws. McKinley Griffiths added seven points, and Mollie Urban chipped in five in a balanced effort that emphasized patience over panic.
On the other side, Aundrea Pevec led Forest City with 10 points, keeping the Lady Foresters within striking distance all night. Claire Lombardi added six, and Michaela Zaveri hit a three as Forest City continued to scrap and compete possession after possession.
But in the final frame, Holy Cross’ defense tightened. Rebounds were secured. Free throws were converted. Momentum shifted.
The Lady Crusaders (13-10) now move on to the District 2 semifinals, where they will face defending district champion Mountain View on Friday at 7 p.m. in Kingsley, a showdown that promises another playoff test.
Hats off to Forest City for a hard-fought performance. In playoff basketball, toughness travels and both teams showed plenty of it.
Next stop: Kingsley.
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