Quaker Valley girls basketball coach Jim Dudas spoke in raspy tones following a 65-48 Section 6-AA road loss to Avonworth Thursday night.

Dudas almost lost his voice while directing his team’s defensive and offensive strategy from the sidelines while the Quakers took their shot against one of the top teams in the WPIAL.

“I was extremely pleased with the way our girls competed,” Dudas said. “They really got after it. “

Avonworth just has the better team right now,” he said. “But we’ll get better.”

The Quakers moved to fourth place in section play at 6-3 and 10-6 overall.

Don’t count the Quakers out. They remained in control of their playoff hopes with three upcoming section games against South Side Beaver on Thursday, Our Lady of Sacred Heart (Feb. 7) and Sto-Rox (Feb. 11).

Avonworth, which has clinched a WPIAL playoff berth, remained in front of the section standings at 9-0 and 16-1 overall.

Quaker Valley fell behind 15-7 in the first quarter and 34-20 at halftime.

Sophomore guard Sierra Perlik and junior guard DeAnn Ryan led Quaker Valley with 13 points each. Sophomore guard Rachel Smith added 11 points.

Catherine Costa led Avonworth with a game-high 26 points.

Quaker Valley resumes its section playoff run against visiting South Side Beaver (3-6, 6-12) on Thursday.