The gap has closed - but not enough.
Eisenhower didn't manhandle county rival Youngsville as it has in recent seasons, but the Lady Knights still had more than enough to pick up a win, defeating the Eagles, 30-7, Thursday at Eisenhower High School.
The visitors had trouble finding the basket all evening thanks to a stifling Eisenhower defense. Youngsville finished with just one field goal and that shot didn't come until 1:30 was left in the third quarter. To make matters worse, it was the last point Youngsville would score.
Article Photos
Times Observer photo by Josh Cotton
Around the end
Alexis Morrison drives past a Calvary Baptist defender on Thursday at the Tidioute Community Charter School. The Bulldogs got their first win of the season in convincing fashion.
"I told the girls to be proud of their accomplishment tonight because holding an opponent under double digits isn't something that happens every day," said Eisenhower coach Dave Allenson. "Our pressure on the ball was very good tonight."
While Allenson was pleased with his team's defensive performance, he was less than thrilled with the offensive effort.
"We didn't run our offense very well at all tonight. We need to work on that," he said.
Thursday's game was never really in question. The hosts jumped out to an 8-1 lead after the first quarter and stretched the lead to 18-3 at the break.
The second half was more of the same as the Eagles struggled to get open looks. Lindsey Lyon scored on a putback with 1:30 left in the third stanza, but Youngsville's first field goal of the night would also be its last point of the evening.
Lauren Sherry paced the Ike victory with eight points and Taylor Ward added six points. Lyssa Knapp scored five points as did Lauren Blanco and Kari Santo before leaving with an apparent injury.
Youngsville got four points from Lyon and one each from Amber Fox, Katelyn Maille and Vicky Hagg.
Eisenhower (4-4) returns to action Monday, hosting Conneaut Valley. Youngsville (2-6) hosts Conneaut Lake that same evening.
Youngsville did earn a win in the junior varsity game, 33-15. Hagg scored 13 points to lead the Eagles and Cierra Ohl added 11 points. Santo scored six points in defeat for Eisenhower.
YOUNGSVILLE (7): Katie Gustafson 0 0-0 0, Kelsey Anderson 0 0-0 0, Katelyn Maille 0 1-2 1, Katie Chuzie 0 0-0 0, Jessica Jameson 0 0-0 0, Amber Fox 0 1-1 1, Lindsey Lyon 1 2-6 4, Cierra Ohl 0 0-0 0, Vicky Hagg 0 1-2 1, Elise Dunn 0 0-0 0, Jenna Bower 0 0-0 0, Totals: 1 5-11 7
EISENHOWER (30): Lyssa Knapp 2 1-2 5, Lauren Blanco 1 2-2 4, Halie VanOrd 0 0-0 0, Alyssa Peterson 0 0-0 0, Ally Blanco 1 0-2 3, Taylor Ward 3 0-0 6, Lauren Sherry 4 0-0 8, Kari Santo 1 2-2 4, Totals: 12 5-8 30
Youngsville 1 2 4 0 - 7
Eisenhower 8 10 5 7 - 30
3-pointers: Y-None; E-A. Blanco
Junior varsity game
YOUNGSVILLE (33): Katie Gustafson 0 0-0 0, Kelsey Anderson 0 0-0 0, Cierra Ohl 5 1-3 11, Jenna Bower 1 0-0 2, Elise Dunn 3 1-1 7, Vicky Hagg 6 1-2 13, Jorie Clark 0 0-0 0, Totals: 15 3-5 33
EISENHOWER (15): Courtney Flynn 0 0-0 0, Emmaleigh Hishman 0 0-0 0, Bailey Burch 0 0-0 0, Kiersten Maine 1 0-0 3, Chelsea Parmenter 1 0-0 2, Ashley Barnett 0 0-0 0, Brooke Stanton 1 2-3 4, Kari Santo 2 1-2 6, Totals: 5 3-5 15
Youngsville 8 11 8 6 - 33
Eisenhower 5 5 2 3 - 15
3-pointers: Y-None; E- Maine, Santo
---
West Forest 50, Sheffield 30
WEST HICKORY - Days after winning its first game of the season, the Sheffield girls basketball team was unable to keep the momentum going in a 50-30 loss at West Forest Thursday.
West Forest, the District 9 Class A runners-up and a PIAA Sweet Sixteen team from a season ago, improved to 4-3 with the win while the Lady Wolverines fell to 1-6.
After falling behind 16-0 in the first quarter, Sheffield did all it could to claw its way back into the game. The visitors actually outscored the Lady Indians in the third stanza, getting within 11 at 35-24, but they would get no closer as West Forest closed the game on a 15-6 run.
Hannah Vile continues to improve on the offensive end and she led Sheffield with 10 points Thursday. Juli Ely and Kristie Steffan added six points each Abby Labesky finished with five markers.
Sheffield dropped the junior varsity game, 25-17. Kerrin Swartz led the Lady Wolverines with seven points.
Sheffield returns to action Saturday, visiting Elk County Catholic.
SHEFFIELD (30): Hannah Vile 2 6-10 10, Kristie Steffan 2 1-1 6, Abby Labesky 2 1-2 5, Ashley Davidson 1 1-2 3, Juli Ely 3 0-0 6, Totals: 10 9-16 30
WEST FOREST (50): Greathouse 6 2-2 15, Dubrawka 3 1-4 7, Clark 3 2-2 8, Schwab 2 2-4 6, Bemis 3 0-0 6, Wallace 4 0-0 8, Totals: 21 7-12 50
Sheffield 5 6 13 6 - 30
West Forest 16 8 11 15 - 50
3-pointers: S-Steffan; W- Greathouse
Junior varsity game
SHEFFIELD (17): Brittany Summers 0 1-2 1, Hanna Fitch 0 0-0 0, Sammi Pollock 0 0-0 0, Mariah Edwards 0 0-0 0, Carly Pierce 0 0-0 0, Hannah Vile 1 0-0 2, Lacy Bjorkquist 2 0-0 4, Ashley Davidson 0 0-0 0, Abby Labesky 1 1-2 3, Kerrin Swartz 3 1-2 7, Totals: 7 3-6 17
WEST FOREST (25): Wallace 2 3-4 7, Wagner 4 2-6 10, Eli 1 0-0 2, Johnson 2 0-2 4, Hillard 0 0-1 0, Bennis 1 0-0 2, Totals: 10 5-13 25
Sheffield 3 5 7 2 - 17
West Forest 9 0 9 7 - 25
3-pointers: None
---
TCCS 36, Calvary Baptist 9
The Tidioute Lady Bulldogs got their first victory of the season in a 36-9 win over Meadville Calvary Baptist Christian Academy Thursday at Tidioute Charter.
Tidioute jumped out to a 14-0 lead after one quarter and extended the lead to 26-0 at the break. The Bulldogs would outscore the Thunder 10-9 the remainder of the way to cruise to the easy victory.
Alexis Morrison finished with a team-high 11 points. Loralee Lindemuth had eight points in the victory and Cassie York chipped in with six.
"(We) played hard and I'm happy with the way we played," said Tidioute coach Craig Parrett.
Tidioute is now 1-7 on the season and will travel to Iroquois on Saturday night.
CALVARY BAPTIST (9): Eichler 0 0-0 0, Bashar 1 0-0 2, Matteson 0 0-0 0, Carleigh Copeland 0 0-0 0, Seeley 1 0-0 2, Powell 0 0-0 0, Cassidy Copeland 2 1-2 5. Totals: 4 1-4 9.
TIDIOUTE (36): Cassie York 3 0-0 6, Jen Buckley 1 0-0 2, Robbi Kitelinger 1 0-0 2, Loralee Lindemuth 4 0-2 8, Lacy Kitelinger 1 0-0 2, Nicole Condron 0 1-2 1, Lacy Wolford 2 0-0 4, Alexis Morrison 5 1-2 11, Sam Johnson 0 0-0 0, Hayley Moore 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17 2-6 36.
Calvary Baptist 0 0 4 5 - 9
Tidioute 14 12 3 7 - 36
3-pointers: None.
---
Junior varsity game
Warren 45, McDowell 34
MILLCREEK - Alexa Bupp had 16 points in Warren's 45-34 junior varsity girls win Thursday.
Junior varsity game
McDOWELL (34): DeMarco 0 0-2 0, Fish 0 0-0 0, Fromknecht 0 1-2 1, Pardimi 0 1-2 1, Piendel 0 0-0 0, Sterling 3 3-5 9, Stewart 4 0-2 8, Swain 0 0-0 0, Washek 2 2-4 6, Wickham 0 0-0 0, Willis 2 1-2 5, Zech 2 0-0 4. Totals 13 8-19 34.
WARREN (45): Kaitlin Ishman 3 2-2 9, Sam Bevevino 0 0-0 0, Paige Rimer 0 0-0 0, Nerissa McIntyre 2 0-0 4, McKenzie Merenick 4 0-0 8, Alexa Bupp 5 4-5 16, Brittni Merenick 1 0-2 2, Lauren Frazier 1 4-4 6. Totals 16 10-13 45.
McDowell 9 7 14 4 - 34
Warren 12 7 18 8 - 45
3-pointer: M-none; W-Ishman, Bupp 2.