Staff photo / Brian Yauger Ursuline’s Lily Scott drives to the basket during the first half of Saturday’s contest against Harding.

WARREN — Saturday’s tilt between Harding and Ursuline had all the makings of a postseason showdown — a close game packed full of runs, intensity and a pair of energized fanbases.

When the dust finally settled only the Raiders were left standing, fending off the Irish 53-46.

“This is the type of game you want to be in,” Harding coach Frank Caputo said. “They’re a great, well-coached team, a great, great team overall. They’re very physical and we matched what they did and we did very well. I’m very proud of these girls.”

Coming off a pair of games in which they were outscored a combined 110-36, the Raiders needed to refocus. A pair of losses like that could have easily derailed the young Harding squad, but they strung a few good practices together and gutted out a tough game.

“Well, we started off strong enough, but we got into a little funk. We couldn’t put the ball in the bucket. Wide open buckets, couldn’t make them,” Caputo said. “We had two great days of practice and a little heart-to-heart on a Monday, and got the girls refocused after the Fitch game. They did a great job the last couple of days in practice and it showed today.”

Boasting a lineup of four sophomores and a freshman, the Raiders held strong when other teams may have melted down. In a hotly contested game, Harding stayed level-headed.

“They did a great job of just keeping themselves in the game,” Caputo said. “Our big thing has been togetherness and that’s (what we got today). They had each other’s backs and they kept everybody level.

“We had a few turnovers at the end there and we gave him a couple of easy shots, but they were just focused on what they wanted to get done. And they understood what our concept was, and they executed.”

The loss drops Ursuline to 6-6 on the year, snapping a three-game win streak by the Irish.

First-year coach LaVell Turnage mentioned a lesson that learned from his mom after the game. You either win or you learn.

“I’m just trying to take it game-by-game, practice-by-practice,” Turnage said. “The biggest thing is we’ve got a young group, but at the same time we’re growing constantly each and every day. I’m proud of the girls.”

Lily Scott, who was shut down by Harding for much of the first half, broke through in the second, scoring 11 of her 14 points after halftime.

“She’s the best point guard in the area,” Turnage said. “I’m not just saying that. Offensively, defensively, she knows what it takes to win the game. She has that dog in her, so at times I just let her run free. She’s smart enough to know how to pick her spots and will kick the ball instead to players to help them be successful.”

Ursuline looks to rebound against Salem on Monday.

The Raiders (6-5) have a week on the road, taking on Cleveland Heights Beaumont School

“I just want us to do what we’ve been doing,” Caputo said. “Play with effort and just keep playing hard. I just want to see the smiles on their faces.”

byauger@tribtoday.com