Bethlehem Catholic’s girls basketball team stayed true to its word, to get better as the season progresses, and by just three points, lost to undefeated Easton, 55-52, on Jan. 27 at Bethlehem Catholic.

Their last meeting on Dec. 16 resulted in a 29-point trouncing by the Red Rovers.

“I was proud of the effort tonight. Gotta give Easton credit, but our girls...We’re scrapping, we’re clawing, and that’s the style of basketball we play. It was a one-possession game all the way to the end, and that’s all you can ask for,” said Becahi coach Jose Medina.

Kendra Rigo’s game-high 20 points led the offense for the Golden Hawks, often positioned underneath the basket where teammates found the senior forward time after time.

Becahi guard Ella Bincarosky pulled the Hawks to within one point with a 3-pointer, and at halftime, Becahi trailed, 27-26.

After Easton put up five points to open the third quarter, Beca guard Mirynet Colon, who was making her return to play after being sidelined since the beginning of the season with an injury, was primed to shoot a 3, but saw Rigo underneath the basket at the last minute for two points.

Anye’ Staton knocked down a 3 from the top of the key for the Red Rovers, extending their lead to six points, but Becahi forward Aliyah Brame responded with a 3 for the Hawks.

Staton scored twice more but then lost the handle on the ball, and Becahi guard Cici Hernandez came up with the ball and the points for a 41-36 score at the end of the third quarter, Easton still leading.

“We talked about forcing turnovers to create offense on the other side. We tried to eliminate their ballhandlers by picking them up full court and trying to get them moving side-to-side. “ said Colon. “This being my first game back, the intensity was high, and I had high hopes for myself. It’s a great time for me to come back.”

Becahi clamped down on defense for the final eight minutes, including a huge block by Rigo, picked up by Yarian Fernandez and returned to Rigo for two points.

Rigo tallied four more points, but the Red Rovers hit two 3s, one from Kourin Carew and another from Mallory Elias.

With less than two minutes remaining, Coach Medina spoke to his team.

“When a shot goes up, let’s rebound the ball, and limit them to one possession,” he told them.

With 21 seconds left, Hernandez’s 3 made the score 51-49, Easton, but Evalyse Cole sank two free throws for the Red Rovers, and Megan Elias made one.

Hernandez ended the game with a 3 at the buzzer.

“Our girls gave us everything they had. Easton’s size got us down the stretch, but we’ll make adjustments, and we’ll be better moving forward,” Medina said. “It would be nice to see them again and play them a third time.”

Throughout the contest, Medina rotated several players off the bench.

“We’re playing chess so it kept us in the game, the girls did a good job staying ready, and we just played to our strengths and tried to capitalize on that,” he said.

A last-minute addition to Becahi’s schedule was a second meeting with Parkland this past Saturday when the Hawks downed the Trojans for the second time this season, 50-48.

Fernandez made the game-winning free throws with less than one second left for the road victory.

Becahi’s next contest is scheduled for Friday night when the Hawks will host Dieruff.