MUNCY — When what was once a 14-point fourth-quarter lead dwindled to three late in the fourth quarter, Wyoming Seminary didn’t panic.

When leading scorer Ella Stambaugh fouled out with 2:39 left in the game and the Blue Knights were holding on to that three-point lead, the mood never changed.

There were no rushed shots or forced passes. Just a calm, cool and collected Ellie Kersey kept the basketball in her hands looking for the best possible shot for any of her teammates.

As it turned out, Kersey found the opening, drove to the basket and made what is arguably the most important two points of this Wyoming Seminary season leading the Blue Knights to a 32-27 victory over Muncy on Friday night in the opening round of the Class AA state playoffs.

Seminary will move on to Tuesday night’s second round where it will face Marian Catholic at a site and time to be announced. Muncy, the District 4 champs, end the season 22-5.

“I think the most important part about that shot is it put us up by two possessions,” said Ellie Kersey, who finished with nine points. “We got the defensive stops we needed. That was more important.”

It was Wyoming Seminary’s effort on the defensive end of the floor that was the one constant the entire game. The Blue Knights led 17-13 at the end of the first half and held the Indians to three points in the third quarter. Wyoming Seminary led 25-16 going to the fourth quarter. Stambaugh scored the first five points of the fourth quarter to up the lead to 30-16 with 6:50 left.

With the Blue Knights leading 30-17 with 5:48 left in the game, Muncy made its push. The Indians scored 10 unanswered points to close within three points with 3:06 remaining. Not too long after, Stambaugh, who scored 21 points in the game fouled out with 2:39 left and the Blue Knights still clinging to the one-possession lead.

The fourth quarter stretch was a reminder of a little more than a week ago in the District 2 final when the Blue Knights led by 10 points heading to the fourth quarter only to come up short against Mountain View.

If it was used as a motivating factor, consider it a lesson learned. The Blue Knights clamped down on the defensive end and did not allow another point over the final 3:06 of the game.

Kersey scored on a drive to the basket with 1:22 on the clock to make it a five-point lead. Muncy attempted three 3-pointers in the final minute but came up short each time.

“They were obviously on a big run and we needed Ellie’s basket,” said Wyoming Seminary coach C.J. Kersey. “She did a nice job taking the ball to the hoop and got a big finish as well. Muncy went on a nice run and we hung in there.”

Wyoming Seminary is now 18-7 on the season and is in the midst of its third appearance in the state tournament and first since 1999. This is the second time in school history the Blue Knights are playing in the second round. The Blue Knights have never advanced past the second round.

“The loss at the arena was disappointing,” Ellie Kersey said. “We kept our heads up. We knew that we had the state tournament. I think the disappointment made for more excitement for the state tournament. We faced adversity. It made us stronger for this game.”