"I've never had to do that before," Kelley said. "But she's the engine to this machine. If she's not working, you're afraid that the other four parts won't go on well without her."
If Benjamin - who finished 5-for-8 from downtown and had 17 points - is the engine, then Sarah Yocum is the fuel. The 5-foot-6 forward put the clamps on Boonsboro's Liz Smith in the third quarter and had the highlight play of Catoctin's 13-0 run midway through the third.
She outpositioned Smith and Robin Curley for back-to-back offensive rebounds and put in the third try for a basket that had Kelley and the Catoctin bench waving every towel they could find.
"I think I was just embarrassed that I missed the first two," said Yocum, who finished with 10 boards. "Rebounding might not get all the credit, but sometimes that's what can make or break the game for you. And tonight, we did that."
Boonsboro fought back behind Smith, whose height slowly wore Yocum and a host of defenders down. Her two free throws with 2:05 to play made it a 56-49 game, but Danielle Atkins responded with Catoctin's ninth and final 3 on the next trip down.
"They hit a LOT of 3s," Boonsboro coach Bernie Semler said with a shrug. "I've probably seen them 4-5 times, and they haven't done that all year. But we defended in a zone, and someone has to get open. And they made all the shots."
Although the final score didn't reflect the closeness of the team's two games in the regular season - both had a 1-point decision - the chances of someone leaving the building early were slim.
Until the bomb squad showed up.
Catoctin 62, Boonsboro 53
BOONSBORO (53)
Smith 23, Harris 4, Whipp 8, Reeder 7, Curley 5, Main 4, Myers 2. Totals 22-54 8-13 53.
CATOCTIN (62)
Benjamin 17, Yocum 6, Atkins 14, Eyler 11, M. Williams 4, Gladhill 8, Portner 2. Totals 22-62 9-14 62.
Boonsboro198620-53
Catoctin15141815-62
Three-point goals - Boonsboro 1 (Reeder), Catoctin 9 (Benjamin 5, Atkins 2, Gladhill 2).
