Minus her sidekick, there were times on Friday night when Alyssa Austin tried to do everything by herself. There were other times when she felt all alone.

Or at least lonely.

With fellow star Ariel Jones on the bench and unavailable, Austin took on an even greater responsibility for the Cedar Crest girls’ basketball team, during their PIAA Class AAAA opener at Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School. But Austin could only do so much, as the Falcons endured a 65-42 season-ending setback to Central Bucks South.

Austin tallied all 12 of Cedar Crest’s first-quarter points, and the Falcons hung tough with the third-place finisher out of District One for the contest’s first 13 minutes. But Austin picked up her third foul with about three minutes left in the first half, and was forced to join Jones on the pines.

After that, it was pretty much all downhill for the Falcons. Austin did return for the second half and did not pick up another foul, but Cedar Crest could not muster a run at Central Bucks West.

For her part, Austin, a 6-1 junior post player, finished the game with 19 points, six blocks and five rebounds. Austin enjoyed a marvelous 11th-grade campaign, after elevating her game last year as a sophomore.

– Jeff Falk