Warren's girls basketball team limited visiting Titusville to just six points in each half as the Dragons ran past the Rockets for a 59-12 victory Tuesday at Warren Area High School.
"We were able to get the transition game going in the second quarter and really pushed the ball well," said Warren coach Lisa Ruhlman.
Warren's (3-0) press defense proved too much for Titusville to handle as the Dragons raced out to an 11-0 lead early in the first quarter. The Rockets didn't net their first bucket until the 3-minute mark of the quarter and Warren led 17-4 after one period of play.
Article Photos
Times Observer photo by Allen Seybert
Emotional win
WCCS assistant girls coach Monica Kerr greets her players after an emotional 29-27 victory over Meadville Calvary Baptist Tuesday at WCCS. The win ended a long 16-game losing streak for the Lions that dated back to the 2009-10 season.
The Dragons really ramped up the defense in the second quarter, turning a number of steals into easy points to open the quarter with a 24-0 run. Titusville managed only a single field goal in the quarter and Warren went into the locker room with a 47-6 advantage and the "running clock" rule in effect.
Titusville would have been shut out in the third quarter if not for a foul at the buzzer. The Rockets hit only one of the two free throws, but the game was well in hand for the Dragons as they led 57-7 heading into the final stanza.
Warren limited Titusville to just two field goals in the fourth even though the starters were on the bench for the entire quarter.
"Everyone got a lot of good minutes tonight," Ruhlman said. "We were able to run some of our set plays in the second half."
Emily Sherman led all scorers with 14 points and had a team-high eight rebounds. Jaimie Eaton added 11 points and Kristie Reynolds had nine points and five steals.
Warren won the JV game 55-23. Meghan Loutzenhiser had 14 points, Amy Castagnino added 13 and Brittni Merenick netted 11 for the Dragons.
TITUSVILLE (12): Kriner 1 3-4 5; Mabugu 1 0-0 2; F. Champion 1 0-0 2; Drusko 1 0-0 2; Harger 0 1-2 1; Scott 0 0-0 0; G. Champion 0 0-0 0; Edwards 0 0-0 0; Moore 0 0-0 0; Jacobs 0 0-0 0; Foltz 0 0-0 0; Hernandez 0 0-0 0; Galmish 0 0-0 0; Popham 0 0-0 0; Totals 4 4-6 12.
WARREN (59): Emily Sherman 6-2-3-14; Jaimie Eaton 5-0-0-11; Kristie Reynolds 4-0-0-9; Kristin Hultquist 2-4-5-8; Sabrina Anderson 3-0-0-6; Brittni Merenick 1-3-4-5; Taylor Mineweaser 0-2-3-2; Meghan Loutzenhiser 1-0-0-2; Alexa Bupp 1-0-0-2; Nerissa McIntyre 0-0-0-0; Amy Castagnino 0-0-0-0; McKenzie Merenick 0-0-0-0; Sam Bevevino 0-0-0-0; Totals 23 11-15 59.
Titusville 4 2 1 5 -12
Warren 17 30 10 2 -59
3-pointers: T-None. W-Reynolds, Eaton.
Junior varsity game
TITUSVILLE (23): Jacobs 3 0-1 6; Galmish 2 0-0 5; Harger 2 1-2 5; Moore 0 3-4 3; Hernandez 1 0-0 2; Popham 1 0-0 2; Edwards 0 0-0 0; Myers 0 0-0 0; Foltz 0 0-0 0; Totals 9 4-7 23.
WARREN (55): Meghan Loutzenhiser 5 4-4 14; Amy Castagnino 5 3-5 13; Brittni Merenick 5 1-3 11; Nerissa McIntyre 2 2-3 6; McKenzie Merenick 2 0-0 5; Lexi Ednie 1 0-0 2; Brittany Massa 1 0-0 2; Ashlee McClure 0 1-2 1; Megan Smoulder 0 1-2 1; Totals 21 12-19 55.
3-pointers: T -Galmish. W-M. Merenick.
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Youngsville 60, Rocky Grove 44
Youngsville won a hard-fought game against Rocky Grove Tuesday night at Youngsville High School to improve to 2-1.
"We missed too many easy shots tonight and had no help defense at some points, but we still managed to come away with a win," said Youngsville coach Allison Kitchel. "When we were patient on offense, we got good looks."
The game was close in the first quarter as the Lady Eagles struggled to find their rhythm. In the second quarter, the home team extended their lead with steady defense.
Rocky Grove ran a zone which the Eagles attacked effectively by getting the ball inside to their forwards. The score at half time stood at 29-20.
Rocky Grove turned to a full court press in the second half trying to turn the momentum. The Eagles moved the ball down the court effectively and then found their open players under the basket for good looks at the basket. After four quarters the Eagles ended up on top 60-44.
High scorers for the Eagles were Lindsey Lyon with 18 points and Kennedy Cratty with 12 points.
Next for the Eagles will be a tough test at Linesville Friday night.
YOUNGSVILLE (60): Katie Gustafson 3 1-2 7, Julie Jameson 0 0-0 0, Piper Olsen 0 0-0 0, Karissa Cratty 0 0-0 0, Jorie Clark 0 2-2 2, Cierra Ohl 0 0-0 0, Katie Chuzie 3 1-2 7, Jess Jameson 3 0-0 6, Kennedy Cratty 6 0-0 12, Amber Fox 1 4-4 6, Lindsey Lyon 8 2-8 18, Totals: 24 10-18 60
ROCKY GROVE (44): A. Nerlich 3 2-4 8, H. Nerlich 0 0-2 0, Bell 2 2-3 6, Schiffer 3 1-2 7, Leply 5 1-4 11, Bevier 1 9-12 11, Totals: 14 15-27 44
Youngsville 14 15 15 16 -60
Rocky Grove 10 10 12 12 -44
3-Pointers: Y-None; R-None.
Junior varsity game
YOUNGSVILLE (47): Julie Jameson 6 0-0 14, Piper Olsen 0 0-0 0, Karissa Cratty 6 5-6 18, Jorie Clark 1 3-4 5, CC OHL 3 1-4 7, Jess Jameson 1 0-0 3, Totals: 17 9-14 47
ROCKY GROVE (11): Frankenberger 0 1-2 1, Corson 0 0-0 0, Rembald 1 2-2 3, Holden 1 0-0 2, Swatzler 0 1-2 1, Lepley 1 1-1 3, Totals: 3 5-7 11
Youngsville 8 11 9 19 -47
Rocky Grove 0 5 5 1 -11
3-Pointers: Y-Julie Jameson 2, Larissa Cratty 1, Jess Jameson 1; R-None
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WCCS 29, Meadville 27
It's been a long time coming for the Warren County Christian School girls basketball team.
The Lady Lions showed tremendous improvement in the season's first two games and, on Tuesday, broke through, ending a 16-game losing streak with a 29-27 victory over Meadville Calvary Baptist.
"They have just come so far," said WCCS girls coach Rae Parmeter. "It's like a totally different team out there this year despite many of the girls are the same. They are beginning to play instinctive basketball which is what we've been looking for all along. They have just worked so hard."
Meadville Calvary Baptist actually led the entire first-half, holding a six-point edge after one quarter and a 16-12 lead at halftime. The Lady Lions (1-2) would respond in the third quarter by taking over the game with a commanding 12-1 run.
Dymphee Zortman and Alyssa Kerr scored the majority of the points during the run that saw WCCS turn a four-point deficit into a 24-17 lead.
Kerr finished with a team-best 13 points and 12 rebounds. Zortman added eight points, eight steals and three rebounds. Kim Drake was all over the boards with 11 rebounds.
WCCS is now off until January 3 when it hosts Jamestown Bethel.
CALVARY BAPTIST (27): Copeland 2 0-0 5, Smith 2 1-1 5, Pjecha 5 4-6 14, Bowden 0 1-2 1, Lewandowski 1 0-0 2, Totals: 10 6-9 27
WCCS (29): Kim Drake 1 0-0 2, Christina Girard 0 0-0 0, Rachel Wilkins 2 0-0 4, Dymphee Zortman 4 0-0 8, Alyssa Kerr 6 1-4 13, Jessica Lauffenburger 1 0-0 2, Totals: 14 1-4 29
Calvary Baptist 12 4 1 10 - 27
WCCS 6 6 12 5 - 29
3-pointers: C- Copeland; W- None