The Mustangs (1-0) held the Eagles (0-1) scoreless for 5:44 of game time to blow the game open. Julia Balaski scored seven of her game-high 16 points in the third quarter.

“I’m not disappointed at all,” first year Youngsville coach Vicky Montecalvo said. “Our defense was awesome. We played man to man, had great help and rotation. It was just turnovers and not going to the ball.”

Neither team was able to get much going out of the gate and the game was scoreless until Darby Miller hit a pair of free throws 3:31 in. Sadie Hoffman blocked a shot defensively, then put in a layup on the other end to pull the Eagles even at 6-6. Balaski and Peyton Miller each had a basket in the final 36 seconds to give the Mustangs a 10-6 lead after one quarter.

“We played with a good team through the first quarter,” Montecalvo said.

Youngsville’s Sadie Hoffman prepares to shoot during the first half of a game against Mercer in the Sheffield Sports Boosters Tip-Off Tournament at Sheffield High School, Friday, Dec. 6, 2019.

Mercer began pulling away in the second and held a 17-8 lead midway through the period. Chole Senz put back an offensive rebound, then hit a layup to cut the deficit to 19-12 with 1:30 to go in the half.

The Eagles wouldn’t score again until Madison Stevenson hit a free throw with 2:46 to go in the third.

“There’s just a huge combination of newness,” Montecalvo said. “This is my first year, and every coach is different. The girls have adapted well though.”

In addition to Balaski, Darby Miller was also in double figures with 11 points.

Hoffman led the Eagles with nine points. Senz added six and Mallory Sherrard five.

Sheffield’s Lexi Goldthewaite (13) tries to split a pair of Port Allegany defenders during the first half of their game in the Sheffield Sports Boosters Tip-Off Tournament at Sheffield High Schoo

Youngsville takes on Sheffield in the consolation game today at 3 p.m., while Mercer faces Port Allegany in the championship at 6 p.m.

——

Mercer (54)

Balaski 6-4-0-16, D. Miller 4-3-11, Fedorchak 3-0-6, Godfrey 3-0-6, P. Miller 2-0-4, McCracken 2-0-4, Baker 1-0-2, Fisher 1-0-2, Grossman 1-0-2, Morneweck 0-1-1, Total 23-8-54.

Youngsville (27)

Sheffield’s Mitch McNeal puts up a jump shot over a North Clarion defender during the first half of their game in the Sheffield Sports Boosters Tip-Off Tournament at Sheffield High School, Friday, Dec. 6, 2019. The Wolverines fell, 69-20.

Hoffman 4-1-9, Senz 3-0-6, Sherrard 2-1-5, Weissinger 1-0-2, Olewine 1-0-2, Rafalski 1-0-2, Stevenson 0-1-1, Total 12-3-27

By quarters

Mercer 10 13 15 16 – 54

Youngsville 6 6 3 12 – 27

3-point FGs: Mercer-None. Youngsville-None.

——

GIRLS: PORT ALLEGANY 74, SHEFFIELD 17

Port Allegany used a smothering press defense to hold Sheffield scoreless until midway through the fourth quarter en route to a 74-17 win at the Sheffield Sports Boosters Tip-Off Tournament Friday.

The Gators’ (1-0) press was so effective, the Wolverines (0-1) were held to only a pair of shots in the first quarter. With 4:15 to play in the half, Marissa Grubbs made the first of two free throws to get Sheffield on the board. Ashley Frederick put back the miss on the second attempt for the Wolverines’ first field goal of the game.

Cailey Barnett led all scorers with 33 points. Shannon Curfman added 16 for the Gators.

Alyssa Dunham had four points while Grubbs and Allison Schmader each had three points for Sheffield.

Port Allegany will take on Mercer today for the championship while Sheffield squares off against Youngsville in the consolation game.

——

Port Allegany (74)

Barnett 12-3-4-33, Curfman 6-4-6-16, Archer 3-0-0-7, Garzel 3-0-0-7, Daniels 2-0-0-4, Causer 1-1-2-3, Total 27-8-12-74

Sheffield (17)

Dunham 2-0-0-4, Grubbs 1-1-2-3, Schmader 1-1-2-3, Lauffenberger 1-0-4-2, Goldthewaite 1-0-0-2, Frederick 1-0-0-2, Gregerson 0-1-2-1, Total 7-3-10-17

By quarters

Port Allegany 17 23 19 15 – 74

Sheffield 0 4 5 8 – 17

3-point FGs: Port Allegany (6)-Barnett 4, Archer, Garzel. Sheffield-None.

——

BOYS: PORT ALLEGANY 72, JAMESTOWN 49

Port Allegany’s boys got a pair of big games and pulled away late for a 72-49 win over Jamestown in the Sheffield Sports Boosters Tip-Off Tournament Friday.

Howie Stuckey had 33 points and Jordan Card had 26 to pace the Gators. Darian Keyser had a big night for the Muskies with 26 points.

The Gators (1-0) led just 35-28 at the half, but outscored the Muskies by 15 in the second half for the lopsided win.

Port Allegany faces North Clarion in the championship game tonight, while Jamestown will take on Sheffield in the consolation game.

——

Port Allegany (72)

Stuckey 12-3-4-33, Card 11-0-0-26, Edgell 3-0-0-6, B. Moses 2-0-1-4, Amell 1-0-0-3, C. Moses 0-0-2-0, Cramer 0-0-2-0, Guilds 0-0-2-0, Total 29-3-11-72

Jamestown (49)

D. Keyser 11-1-2-26, C. Keyser 5-1-6-11, S. McElhinny 2-2-2-8, P. McElhinny 1-0-0-3, Hill 0-1-3-1, Parks 0-0-2-0, Total 19-5-15-49

By quarters

Port Allegany 13 22 16 21 – 72

Jamestown 16 12 10 11 – 49

3-point FGs: Port Allegany (11)-Stuckey 6, Card 4, Amell. Jamestown (6)-D. Keyser 3, S. McElhinny 2, P. McElhinny.

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