Altoona’s Jaiden Krull Shows Heart in Playoff Loss
Altoona’s girls basketball team may have seen their season come to an end in a heartbreaking 44-43 loss to Chartiers Valley in the first round of the PIAA Class 6A playoffs, but senior Jaiden Krull showed the heart of a lion in her performance on Friday night.
Krull, who had to be helped off the floor just 47 seconds into the game with an ankle injury, returned to lead all scorers with 23 points. Despite the injury, she nearly captained an 18-point second-half comeback that fell just short at the buzzer.
“It’s pretty bad. It’s throbbing,” Krull said. “I was not going to not play. I wanted this so bad. I put everything I had on the court tonight.”
Altoona coach Chris Fleegle praised Krull’s toughness and determination, stating, “That ankle would have had to be broken for her not to play the rest of that game today.”
The Lady Lions fought back from a 18-point deficit in the third quarter, outscoring Chartiers Valley 16-0 during a span of 11 minutes and 53 seconds. Despite the loss, Fleegle expressed pride in his team’s effort and the support they received from the hometown crowd.
Chartiers Valley, led by Lilah Turnbull’s 18 points, will advance to face WPIAL champion Norwin in the second round. Meanwhile, Krull and her fellow seniors Isabella Knorr and Jersey Hollabaugh wrapped up their final season with a District 6 title, a win in the District 6-8-10 subregional, and a 20-5 record.
“I’m proud of my team that we were able to come back and cut into that lead,” Krull said. “These girls have always had my back and always encouraged me. I am going to miss them.”
Despite the loss, Altoona’s performance and Krull’s resilience left a lasting impression on both fans and opponents alike.