Rachel Brenner led the way with a double-double in the win, scoring 13 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Emma Marino was the game’s high scorer with 14 points despite fouling out in the third quarter. Desirae Kerr had a team-high 13 rebounds while she and McKenna Phelps both finished with three assists.

“Being in foul trouble early, the team was able to come together and gut out a win,” said WCCS coach Robert Marrone, whose team is now 7-2 overall and a perfect 5-0 in NPCC games.

Marino scored all 14 of her points in the first and third quarters while it was Brenner who shouldered the load in the second and fourth. Kerr — one of the team’s two seniors along with Emma Marino — finished her final home game with four points as Phelps and Lindsey Carpenter rounded out the scoring with two each.

The Lady Lions are now facing a long wait before returning to action Febuary 6 at Erie First Christian Academy.

“We’ll try to play a lot of game-type situations and put them in that mentality, but it’s always tough because you know the people you’re playing against,” Marrone said.

“It’s a lot different when you see somebody two times a year. We have to try to recreate that game atmosphere.”

Maria Rose and Chanda Carson paced Erie Bethel with six points each.

BETHEL (21): M. Rose 2 1-4 6, Carson 2 2-2 6, Wilcott 2 0-1 4, S. Rose 2 0-0 4, Watson 0 1-2 1.

WCCS (35): E. Marino 6 1-1 14, Kerr 2 0-0 4, Brenner 6 1-1 13, Phelps 1 0-2 2, Baker 0 0-0 0, Sabella 0 0-0 0, A. Marino 0 0-0 0, Carpenter 1 0-0 2.

WCCS senior Desirae Kerr (13) dribbles while under heavy pressure during Thursday’s win over Erie Bethel.

Bethel       5   5   6   5 — 21

WCCS       10   6   10   9 — 35

3-pointers: Rose (B) 1, E. Marino (W) 1.

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COCHRANTON 59

EISENHOWER 25

Eisenhower came up short in a Region 3 battle with Cochranton, falling to the Lady Cardinals by a final score of 59-25 Thursday at Eisenhower High School.

Alyssa Dickson poured in 23 points for league-leading Cochranton, which improves to 11-2 overall and 7-0 in Region 3.

“They move the ball very well and our defense was slow to react to their ball movement,” said Ike coach Mike Logue. “That’s something we need to do a better job of as a group. We have individuals that do a good job, but as a team we have to do better.”

Kirsten Baran had eight points and five rebounds for the Lady Knights while Delaney Nizzi and Emiley Wheeler finished with three steals each.

Eisenhower (5-9, 3-4) hosts Maplewood on Monday.

The Lady Knights were also defeated in the JV game, 30-10. Shelby Kuzminski was the high scorer with three points.

– – –

COCHRANTON (59): McBriar 4 0-0 8, Mackel 2 0-1 4, Hall 1 0-1 2, Egley 4 0-0 8, Freyermuth 3 1-3 7, Dickson 10 2-2 23, Martinek 3 1-2 7.

EISENHOWER (25): Zortman 1 3-4 5, Nizzi 2 0-0 4, Wheeler 0 0-2 0, Mineweaser 1 0-2 2, McKown 2 0-0 4, Courtney 1 0-0 2, Giannini 0 0-2 0, Baran 2 4-6 8, Frederick 0 0-0 0, Smelko 0 0-0 0, Spicer 0 0-0 0, Garris 0 0-0 0.

Cochranton     14 13 15 15 — 59

Eisenhower       4   9   7   5 — 25

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YOUNGSVILLE 28

UNION CITY 13

UNION CITY — Youngsville came out on top in a defense battle Thursday at Union City, defeating the host Lady Bears by a final score of 28-13.

Kathy Sveda led Youngsville with 10 points while Caitlin Craig added eight points and seven rebounds. Defensively, the Lady Eagles got five blocked shots from Julia Bailey and a total of 11 steals led by Alison Ishman’s three and two each from Craig and Aspen Flinn.

Ishman also scored four points while Bailey, Hannah Bulard and Paige Mineweaser added two each.