Dana Cahill delivered the three key plays down the stretch Tuesday to help Upper Perkiomen's girls basketball team snap a 19-game losing streak. The junior's hustle secured a 39-36 victory over Pope John Paul II in the Pioneer Athletic Conference.

Upper Perk's Dana Cahill spins away from a def- ender during Tuesday's game agains Pope John Paul II.

            Cahill delivered the decisive points with 13.3 seconds remaining. She then forced two turnovers to preserve the Indians' first victory since a season-opening win in the Tulpehocken Tip-Off Tournament nearly two months ago.  "Dana has a really good nose for the basketball," head coach Shelli Petsch said.

            Erin States finished with a game-high 19 points and pulled down 13 rebounds. The junior center scored nine of them in the fourth quarter to help the Tribe (2-19 overall, 1-11 PAC) rally from a pair of five-point deficits.

            "This win should really bring us together as a team," said Cahill, a Pennsburg resident.

            Natalie Kearney finished with nine points before fouling out with 2:39 remaining in the final quarter. Joe Benensky, Abby Davidheiser and Abby Pfander each added three points for the Indians, whose only previous victory came over Tulpehocken (40-34) on Dec. 2. Pfander added five rebounds and two assists.

            Petsch described the game as her team's performance of the season. She said the players displayed the ability to unify on the floor.  "The girls showed they believe in each other and have the heart to win," the coach said.

            Rylee Derecola registered a team-high 15 points for the visiting Panthers. She converted three 3-pointers from the right wing during the fourth quarter, the final one put the Panthers ahead 36-31 with 3:03 remaining.

            However, the Tribe scored the final five points to post their first conference win of the season. Kearney started the rally by hitting a 3-pointer from the top of the key. States' short jumper, off a pass from Pfander, forced a 36-36 tie with 1:03 remaining.

            On its next possession, Cahill delivered her only basket of the game. Her layup off a miss by States put her team ahead 38-36.

            Cahill quickly forced a steal on the inbound pass along the left sideline. She got the ball to States, who got to the foul line. 

            According to Petsch, Cahill's desire created the turnover. "Dana timed her jump perfectly for the ball," the coach said of Cahill, the team's top bench player. 

            States hit the first of two free throws to extend the lead to three. However, Pope John Paul II pulled down the rebound on the second one with 1.4 seconds remaining.  Cahill then intercepted the ensuing inbound pass at midcourt to secure the victory. The play set off a loud celebration on the floor by the Indians.

             The Tribe, which will conclude its season Thursday at home against Pottstown, led 13-8 at the end of the first quarter. Kearney delivered four points.

            However, the Panthers mounted an 11-2 run in the second quarter. Six points by Aubrey Delpha put them ahead 19-15 at halftime.

            On Thursday, Jan. 26, the Indians lost 41-15 to Pottsgrove in a conference game. Kearney scored a team-high five points.

            Pfander finished with four points for the visiting Tribe, which trailed 10-4 after one quarter, 25-5 at halftime and 36-10 after the third quarter.

            Davidheiser delivered a 3-point goal in the third quarter. States did not play.

            The coach challenged her team to play as a group following the loss. Petsch said she threw them out of the locker room.  "I lit them up pretty good," she said. "I saw too many individuals on the floor. The last week did not go well."