Alyssa Long’s free throws are the difference as the Springfield Delco girls beat Great Valley for 5A title

There will be no running in practice on Monday for Springfield-Delco senior guard Alyssa Long.

The Cougars practice free throws every day in practice, and if they miss they run. Well, Long didn’t miss on Saturday.

In the District 1 Class 5A championship game at Temple University’s Liacouras Center, Long scored all eight of Springfield’s points in the final quarter from the free-throw line and led her team past Great Valley, 29-27, for the second district crown in school history.

With the win, the Cougars (23-5), who went into the tournament as the top seed, earned the top spot from District 1 and will open the PIAA Class 5A state tournament near home on Friday against Lower Dauphin, the eighth-place team from District 3.

The No. 3 seed Patriots (23-5) will also open the tournament near home against West York, the fourth-place team from District 3, on Friday.

In spite of turning the ball over 14 times in the first three quarters, Great Valley hung in there and held a 16-15 lead with 3 minutes, 31 seconds left in the third. But Springfield came back late in the quarter to take the lead for good.

Senior Jordan Postiglione connected on a drive to the basket with 3:09 remaining, and junior Alexa Abbonizio turned the momentum with a free throw and a three-pointer from the right side at the buzzer to give the Cougars a 21-16 advantage.

It was then up to Long.

“I’m hot and cold at the foul line,” Long said. “Usually I don’t shoot that well. But I’m happy that today was my day at the line because we needed that. I was thinking legs, fingertips and up.”

Long converted 11 consecutive free throws after missing her first attempt in the first quarter. She finished with a game-high 14 points.

The seniors on this season’s team won the school’s first district title as freshmen, so this one was special.

“To come back three years later to win it again is really special with this group of girls,” Long said. "We just get along so well. I think our chemistry just really willed us to get here. I’m just really excited and happy with the win.”

And happy not to run on Monday.

Great Valley 5 9 2 11 - 27

Springfield (D) 6 8 7 8 - 29

GV: Tessa Liberatoscioli 10, Emily DuPont 9, Gracen Curley 4, Emma DeRobertis 2, Gia Sioutis 2.

SD: Alyssa Long 14, Alexa Abbonizio 9, Jordan Postiglione 5, Mia Valerio 1.