It's Warren County's version of Duke vs. North Carolina.
Youngsville vs. Eisenhower - The Backyard Brawl.
Thursday's round went to the Lady Knights who warmed up at the right time, holding off the cold-shooting Lady Eagles for a 35-28 victory at Eisenhower High School.
Article Photos
Times Observer photo by Allen Seybert
Looking up
Eisenhower’s Alyssa Peterson, right, keeps her eyes on the bucket as Youngsville’s Kennedy Cratty (34) and Lindsey Lyon defend during a Region 3 girls basketball game Thursday at Eisenhower High School. The Knights beat the Eagles, 35-28.
"All year, we've been telling the girls to not panic," said Eisenhower coach Mike Logue. "Just keep playing hard and good things will happen. Tonight, we played very calm and were able to hang around and make some shots down the stretch. We got hot at the right time."
The win pushes Eisenhower to 5-14 on the season while Youngsville falls to 9-9. Both teams are 2-8 in Region 3.
Both student sections were packed on Thursday and it was the Lady Knights who gave their fans reason to cheer early on. Eisenhower put together a 6-0 run in the opening three minutes of the game, putting Youngsville on its heels.
The Lady Eagles bounced back nicely by scoring the final six points of the quarter to make it 6-6 after one. Looking for a spark at the midway mark of the first quarter, Eagles coach Allison Kitchel called on freshman Kennedy Cratty. Cratty entered the game and quickly sank a pair of shots, allowing the Eagles to close the gap.
The Eagles extended the run into the second quarter, leading by four points with 5:00 left in the half. However, after nearly eight minutes without a point, Eisenhower was able to keep the visitors from getting too far in front.
After ending the scoring drought, Danielle Bradish converted a three-point play that put the Knights on top, 12-11. The seesaw action continued for the remainder of the half and Youngsville took a 16-15 lead into the break.
In contrast to the second quarter, it was the Knights who came out hot in the third. The Eagles were held without a field goal for the first four minutes of the half as Eisenhower pulled ahead, 21-17. A 3-pointer by Kari Santo and a putback by Holly Chapman highlighted the run.
The game of runs continued in the final half of the third quarter as the Eagles ended the stanza on a 5-0 run to lead 22-21 after three. A pair of free throws by Katie Gustafson started the run that also included a field goal from Katie Chuzie and a free throw from Lindsey Lyon.
The fourth quarter was the Knights' time.
Just seconds into the quarter, Kristen Williams sank a jumper to put the Knights on top for good. On several occasions, the Knights would push the lead to three only to watch the Eagles close the gap back to a single point. A shot by Chuzie with 2:57 left in the game made it 29-28 Eisenhower.
That would be the last time Youngsville would score.
Williams hit two free throws, Lyssa Knapp converted a layup and Halie VanOrd also hit a pair of freebies, allowing the Knights to close the game on a 6-0 run and walk away with the 35-28 victory.
Knapp led the winners with eight points, VanOrd finished with seven points, Williams had five and Santo, Alyssa Peterson and Chapman all had four each. Chuzie and Cratty had nine points apiece while Gustafson and Lyon chipped in four each.
Poor shooting plagued the Eagles all evening. Unofficially, Youngsville was 8-of-55 (14.5 percent) from the field.
Both teams return to the court Monday. Eisenhower hosts Conneaut Valley while Youngsville welcomes Conneaut Lake.
The Lady Eagles were able to win the junior varsity game, 37-28. Identical twins Karissa Cratty and Kennedy Cratty scored an identical nine points each. Kearsten Maine scored 12 points to lead the Knights.
YOUNGSVILLE (28): Amber Fox 1 0-0 2, Jessica Jameson 0 0-0 0, Katie Chuzie 2 5-6 9, Katie Gustafson 1 2-2 4, Kennedy Cratty 3 3-6 9, Karissa Cratty 0 0-0 0, Lindsey Lyon 1 2-8 4, Totals: 8 12-22 28
EISENHOWER (35): Kari Santo 1 1-4 4, Halie VanOrd 2 3-4 7, Haylie Birt 0 0-0 0, Dakota Williams 0 0-0 0, Kristen Williams 1 3-8 5, Alyssa Peterson 2 0-0 4, Holly Chapman 2 0-0 4, Lyssa Knapp 4 0-0 8, Danielle Bradish 1 1-1 3, Totals: 13 8-17 35
Youngsville 6 10 6 6 - 28
Eisenhower 6 9 6 14 - 35
3-pointers: Y- None; E- Santo
Junior varsity game
YOUNGSVILLE (37): Katie Gustafson 2 2-2 6, Julie Jameson 1 2-4 4, Piper Olsen 0 2-2 2, Karissa Cratty 4 1-2 9, Cierra Ohl 3 1-2 7, Jessica Jameson 0 0-0 0, Kennedy Cratty 2 5-5 9, Totals: 12 13-17 37
EISENHOWER (28): Haylie Birt 2 0-2 5, Dakota Williams 1 0-0 2, Kearsten Maine 5 2-2 12, Sierra Lange 0 0-0 0, Meghan Hagberg 0 0-2 0, Bailey Burch 0 1-4 1, Cassidy Edwards 1 0-0 2, Chelsea Parmenter 0 0-0 0, Danielle Bradish 2 0-0 6, Jackie Talasky 0 0-0 0, Aysia Peters 0 0-0 0, Kourtney Knapp 0 0-0 0, Totals: 11 3-10 28
Youngsville 7 15 5 10 - 37
Eisenhower 2 6 11 9 - 28
3-pointers: Y- None; E- Bradish 2, Birt
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Mercyhurst Prep 54, Warren 39
ERIE - Warren couldn't keep Mercyhurst Prep down for long.
The Lady Dragons jumped out to an 8-2 lead three minutes into the game before state-ranked Mercyhurst Prep "tightened up its defense after that," said Warren coach Lisa Ruhlman.
Warren led 11-8 after one quarter, but trailed 23-16 by halftime, and 40-23 after three quarters.
"They just came out a little laid back, and we came ready to play," said Ruhlman. "I think (we're) working hard. You can't fault them for a lack of effort."
Warren (12-7 overall and 6-5 and in fouth place in Region 6) has played five difficult games in a row, and lost three in a row. Mercyhurst is 19-0 and 11-0 and in first place in the region.
Jaimie Eaton again led Warren in scoring with 15 points, Sabrina Anderson had 10 rebounds, and Emily Sherman eight rebounds and four steals.
WARREN (39): Kristie Reynolds 0 0-0 0, Jaimie Eaton 6 1-2 15, Sabrina Anderson 4 0-1 9, Kristin Hultquist 0 1-2 1, Alexa Bupp 3 0-0 8, Emily Sherman 1 4-4 6, Sam Bevevino 0 0-0 0, Taylor Mineweaser 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 6-9 39.
MERCYHURST PREP (54): Wilwohl 6 1-2 16, Berchtold 6 1-1 13, D. Robbins 4 0-0 8, Chrzanowski 1 0-0 2, Popoff 1 0-0 2, Woll 1 0-0 2, A. Robbins 4 0-0 11. Totals 23 2-3 54.
Warren 11 5 7 16 - 39
Mercyhurst Prep 8 15 17 14 - 54
3-pointers: W-Eaton 2, Anderson, Bupp 2; M-Wilwohl 3, A. Robbins 3.
Junior varsity game
WARREN (17): Ashlee McClure 1 0-0 2, Megan Smoulder 1 0-2 2, Amy Castagnino 3 2-4 9, McKenzie Merenick 1 0-0 2, Lexi Ednie 1 0-0 2, Brittany Massa 0 0-0 0. Totals 7 2-6 17.
MERCYHURST PREP (49): Przepierski 1 0-0 2, Simpson 2 0-0 4, Zimmer 4 0-0 9, Steiner 2 0-0 4, Konkol 3 0-0 6, Shopene 4 0-6 8, Wright 2 0-0 6, Kinecki 4 2-2 10. Totals 22 2-8 49.
Warren 2 4 6 5 - 17
Mercyhurst Prep 11 16 7 15
3-pointers: W-Castagnino; M-Zimmer, Wright 2.
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Brockway 51, Sheffield 31
BROCKWAY - Sheffield finishes 3-19 after a road loss on Thursday.
"We started a little flat," said Sheffield first-year coach Jeff Labesky, whose Lady Wolverines trailed 12-4 after one quarter and 31-9 at the half.
Labesky said Sheffield didn't shoot well, which has hampered the Wolverines all season, "especially in the first half," he said.
That said, Sheffield did get impressive efforts from underclassmen, including 14 rebounds from Hannah Vile, and four assists from Anna Baldensperger - in her most extensive varsity action of the season. Freshman Jen Isenberg led Sheffield with 10 points.
Sheffield graduates two seniors from this year's team.
Brockway is 8-11 overall.
SHEFFIELD (31): Hannah Vile 1 1-4 3, Anna Baldensperger 1 0-0 3, Sami Pollock 1 0-2 3, Ashley Davidson 1 0-0 3, Abby Labesky 0 5-8 5, Juli Ely 2 0-4 4, Jen Isenberg 4 0-2 10. Totals 10 6-18 31.
BROCKWAY (51): Crawford 4 0-0 11, Broski 2 0-1 4, Vokes 3 0-1 6, Guilyard 6 0-5 13, Moyer 1 2-3 4, Wright 3 0-0 6, Esposito 1 2-2 4, Moore 1 0-0 2, Crowley 0 1-2 1. Totals 21 5-14 51.
Sheffield 4 5 14 8 - 31
Brockway 12 19 10 10 - 51
3-pointers: S-Baldensperger, Pollock, Davidson, Isenberg 2; B-Crawford 3, Gailyard.
Junior varsity game
SHEFFIELD (19): Jade Moore 4 0-2 11, Anna Baldensperger 2 0-0 6, Tierra Hanson 1 1-2 3. Totals 7 1-4 19.
BROCKWAY (44): Cappetta 5 1-4 12, Phillips 3 1-3 7, Moore 2 1-2 5, Esposito 8 0-1 16, Jones 0 2-4 2, Gold 1 0-0 2. Totals 19 5-14 44.
Sheffield 8 3 6 2 - 19
Brockway 14 9 9 10 - 44
3-pointers: S-Moore 3, Baldensperger 2; B-Cappetta.