HARRISBURG - For the Eugene Lady Eagles, the third time was the charm.
After coming up short in back-to-back sectional matchups, Eugene was able to clear the hurdle Wednesday night with a 55-39 victory against the Harrisburg Lady Bulldogs in the Class 2 sectional round.
This marks the first time in program history the Lady Eagles have reached the state quarterfinals. Eugene (15-6) will play at 1 p.m. Saturday at Scotland County (21-5), which won its sectional matchup 48-45 on Wednesday at New Haven.
Eugene fell behind early against Harrisburg, as Baylie Combs of the Lady Bulldogs knocked down a 3-pointer to make the score 8-4. As it turns out, that four-point deficit would be the largest of the game for the Lady Eagles.
Ashlynn Kliethermes made a 3 with less than a minute to go in the quarter to put Eugene on top, and Reagan Blain added a basket to give the Lady Eagles a 13-10 lead after one quarter.
Eugene then scored 10 unanswered points to start the second quarter. Kayla Bond hit a 3 to cap a 19-2 run, making the score 23-10 in favor of the Lady Eagles.
Eugene made five 3s in the second quarter. Maggie Stieferman made a pair, while Kaydi Alderman also made a 3. Olivia Angerer's 3 gave the Lady Eagles a 32-18 halftime advantage.
Both teams combined for just three field goals in the third quarter. Angerer scored five of Eugene's seven points, including a shot just before the buzzer, to keep the Lady Eagles ahead by double digits, 39-24.
Harrisburg closed the gap to nine points in the fourth quarter, but Eugene found its way to the free-throw line frequently. The Lady Eagles shot 8-of-10 from the line in the final six minutes.
Bond scored a pair of baskets off passes from Alderman, and Alderman made 4-of-4 free throws to push the lead to 53-39 in the closing minutes.
Bond finished with a game-high 16 pionts to lead Eugene, scoring nine points in the fourth quarter. Angerer also reached double figures for the Lady Eagles with 12 points.
Kliethermes, Stieferman and Alderman each added seven points, and Blain rounded out the scoring for Eugene with six points.
Combs scored 15 points to lead Harrisburg, while Brecca Thornhill chipped in 11 points.
Harrisburg, which won the District 7 championship, finishes the season with a 13-16 record.