PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. – Punxsutawney built a double-digit second-half lead and then had to hold off visiting Marion Center for a 45-42 win in the opening round of the Carl Truance Classic at Punxsutawney.
The Lady Chucks led by 16, 39-23, late in the third quarter before the Stingers had a chance to tie the game with a wide-open 3-pointer from Lydia Miller with five seconds left that was just a little too strong.
Rewatch the game
A 14-0 run got Marion Center back in the game with Alivia Ruddock’s putback with 3:38 to play getting the Stingers within two, 39-37.
But Riley Doverspike scored in transition four seconds later to push the lead back to four, 41-37, before Miller had a steal and a basket with 1:31 to go to make it 41-39.
Avery Powell, though, nailed a jumper from around the foul line with 1:14 left to put the Lady Chucks up four, 43-39, and then Powell hit one of two free throws with 52.3 seconds to play to make it a five-point lead, 44-39.
Miller, though, buried a triple with 21.1 left to get Marion Center back within two, 44-42.
Powell then made one of two charity shots with 15.1 seconds left to push the lead to 45-42, but Marion Center got a clean look from Miller at the top of the key with five seconds left that was just a bit strong. The rebound went out of bounds to Punxsutawney, and the Lady Chucks were able to run out the clock on the inbounds pass.
Emily McMahan had a big night for Punxsutawney with a game-high 17 points on five 3-pointers, while Powell added 14 points and nine rebounds.
Danielle Griebel dished out eight assists, added eight rebounds, and scored two points for the Lady Chucks.
Lydia Miller led Marion Center with 15 points, including seven in the fourth quarter, while her younger sister, Macie Miller, added eight points, and Natalie Black scored nine.
Punxsutawney will face Hazelton in the championship game Friday, while Marion Center takes on Redbank Valley in the consolation contest Friday.
WEST MIDDLESEX 22, MERCER 20
HERMITAGE, Pa. – Emma Mild beat the buzzer, and West Middlesex beat Mercer, 22-20 for the Hickory Christmas Tournament title.
West Middlesex had the ball with the game tied at 20 with 11 seconds to play. Mild had the ball up top, got a screen, and hit a jumper just inside the 3-point line as time expired.
See the game-winner here:
Here is a much better video of Emma Mild’s buzzer beater to win the Sally Ward Classic!! @WMASD_Athletics @WMGBB pic.twitter.com/Ovuh5KUmgV
— Bob Greenburg (@BobGreenburg) December 29, 2023
It was Mild’s only basket of the game. Lily Kildoo had six points, while Caitlin Stephens and Brooke Blaze had five points each for West Middlesex (6-1).
Mercer (5-3) led 11-10 at halftime and West Middlesex led 18-14 after the third quarter.
Pressly Washil had seven points for Mercer.
KARNS CITY 43, LAKEVIEW 40
STONEBORO, Pa. – In a game that was tight throughout, Brooklyn Taylor scored 15 points to lead Karns City to a 43-40 win over Lakeview in the Lakeview Holiday Classic.
The game was tied 12-12 after the first quarter and Lakeview (4-4) led 24-23 at halftime before Karns City (6-3) rallied to take a 33-30 lead after the third quarter.
Taylor knocked down four 3’s and also pulled down four rebounds for Karns City.
Naomi Venesky was also in double figures scoring for Karns City with 13 points while pulling down five rebounds and Chloe Fritch added nine points.
Leigha Marsteller had 15 points and four rebounds to lead Lakeview, while Emma Marsteller had 11 points and Kyndra Seddon 10 points and five rebounds.
YOUNGSVILLE 41, JAMESTOWN 40
ERIE, Pa. – Riley Robinault scored eight of her 24 points in the fourth quarter to lead Youngsville to a 41-40 win over Jamestown in the Iroquois Christmas Tournament.
The game was tied at 30 going to the fourth quarter, but a pair of buckets by Robinault to start the quarter gave Youngsville (4-4) a lead it wouldn’t relinquish.
Kaylee Bevevino also scored her only basket of the game in the fourth quarter for Youngsville.
Zaylee Cressley was also in double figures for Youngsville, scoring nine of her 11 points in the first half.
Alayna Cadman led Jamestown (2-3) with 19 points, 13 of which came in the second half. Ivy Riley was also in double figures for the Muskies with 13 points.
SLIPPERY ROCK 42, SAEGERTOWN 36, overtime
STONEBORO, Pa. – Tied at 33 at the end of regulation, Slippery Rock outscored Saegertown 9-3 in overtime to earn a 42-36 win in the Lakeview Christmas Classic.
Madison Romanovich and CJ Sabo scored four points each in overtime for Slippery Rock (3-6).
Romanovich finished with 14 points and Sabo 12 for the Rockets, who led 18-17 at halftime.
Lyndzee Amory led Saegertown (5-4) with 16 points, while Layilah Drakes had 10.
RIDGWAY 48, ST. MARYS 44
ST. MARYS, Pa. – Jenna Kasmierski poured in 22 points to lead Ridgway to a 48-44 win over St. Marys in the Elk County Holiday Tournament at St. Marys.
Kasmierski also had seven rebounds and five blocks. Gabby Amacher had seven points and six assists.
Maura Caskey and Jayssa Snelick scored 39 of St. Marys’ 44 points. Caskey had 21 points, while Snelick had 18.
OIL CITY 38, CRANBERRY 35
SENECA, Pa. – Oil City went on a 16-8 run in the second quarter to build a 19-12 halftime lead and held off Cranberry, 38-35, in the consolation game of the Cranberry Christmas Tournament.
Sophia Garmong scored six points in the second quarter for Oil City (4-5) and finished with 15 points.
Peyton Liederbach also scored 15 points for Oil City, including an 11-of-14 effort from the charity stripe.
Avery Coe led Cranberry with 13 points.
MT. LEBANON 63, MCDOWELL 44
GIBSONIA, Pa. – Payton and Riley Collins scored 16 points each to lead Mt. Lebanon to a 63-44 win over McDowell in the Pine-Richland Christmas Tournament.
Mt. Lebanon led 29-20 at halftime en route to the win.
Amiaya Nelson led McDowell (1-6) with 19 points, while Mikaela Bennett added nine.
CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS 51, BRASHEAR 23
FARRELL, Pa. – Sydney Zilhaver led three Cambridge Springs players in double figures with 16 points in a 51-23 win over Brashear in the Farrell Christmas Tournament.
Brooke Eldred scored 10 of her 12 points in the second half for Cambridge Springs (4-5), while Payton Leandro had 11 tallies.
Arianna Sherrick had 11 points for Brashear.
CLARION 49, CAMERON COUNTY 24
EMPORIUM, Pa. – Clarion outscored homestanding Cameron County 19-2 in the fourth quarter on its way to a 49-24 victory.
The Lady Cats led by eight, 30-22, after three quarters. Taylor Alston and Sophie Babington scored 14 of Clarion’s 19 points in the final eight minutes.
Alston scored six of her team-high 11 points in the frame, while Babington scored eight of her 10 points.
Marley Kline added nine points in the win.
Trinity Earle had a game-high 13 points for Cameron County.
NORTHERN POTTER 43, WILLIAMSON 34
TIOGA, Pa. – No first-quarter points proved to be no problem as Northern Potter came back to defeat Williamson, 43-34.
Williamson outscored NoPo, 7-0, in the first quarter. The Panthers responded to the first-quarter shutout by scoring 16 points in the second. They added 19 more in the fourth quarter to put the game away.
Emma Haynes led the second-quarter charge by scoring eight of her team-high 13 points. Kayden Brown scored nine of her 11 points in the fourth quarter. Molly Cady had a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Taylor Rae Jones had a game-high 21 points for Williamson.
NORTHWESTERN 67, PISGAH (Ala.) 59
SEIVERVILLE, Tenn. – McKayla Presser-Palmer had a huge game with 37 points as Northwestern evened its record at 1-1 at the Tennessee Winter Shootout with a 67-59 win over Pisgah (Ala.).
Presser-Palmer was 11-of-12 from the charity stripe for Northwestern (6-2), scoring 16 of her points in the fourth quarter.
Chloe Yazembiak scored five of her 17 points in the fourth quarter as well for Northwestern, which led 45-42 after the third.
Paisley Patalas had 25 tallies for Pisgah.
COCHRANTON 57, SHARPSVILLE 40
GREENVILLE, Pa. – Shelby McBryar connected for 15 points as Cochranton earned a 57-40 win over Sharpsville in the Greenville Christmas Classic.
Macie Williams also had 13 points Eve Pfeiffer had 12 points in the win for Cochranton (5-4).
Macie Steiner had a big game for Sharpsville (2-6) with 29 points to go along with 10 rebounds.
SENECA 43, GENERAL MCLANE 38
FAIRVIEW, Pa. – Emma Bliel led a balanced Seneca effort with 11 points in a 43-38 win over General McLane at the Fairview Christmas Classic.
Down 26-26 at the half, Seneca (6-2) went on a 13-8 run in the third quarter to take the lead.
Abby Hinds added nine points for Seneca and Lexi Kibbe eight.
Libby Opp connected for a game-high 17 points for GM (3-6).
HARBOR CREEK 55, FRANKLIN 35
SENECA, Pa. – Brooke Przybylski scored 19 of her 28 points in the second half to help Harbor Creek beat Franklin, 55-34 for the Cranberry Christmas Tournament title.
Leading 28-21 at halftime, Harbor Creek (7-1) outscored Franklin (6-3) 27-14 in the second half to snap the Knights’ six-game winning streak.
Talon King also had 18 tallies for Harbor Creek in the win.
Jenn Blum paced Franklin with 11 points.
FAIRVIEW 49, UNION CITY 27
FAIRVIEW, Pa. – Paige Garrity led three Fairview players in double figures with 18 points in a 49-27 win over Union City in the Fairview Christmas Classic.
Fairview (5-2) led 24-11 at halftime on its way to the win.
Garrity’s 18 points came on six 3’s, while Bre Heidt had 12 points and Ella Pizzo 10.
Brooke VanTassel led Union City (2-7) with 11 points.
MONITEAU 59, NORTHGATE 12
WEST SUNBURY, Pa. – Moniteau’s defense limited Northgate to just one point in the first and fourth quarters, combined, as the Warriors rolled to a 59-12 win at the Moniteau Holiday Tournament.
While the defense was stifling, the offense exploded for 20 points in the first quarter and 19 in the second. Eight different players scored in the win.
Catherine Kelly led the way with 19 points, while Kendall Sankey had a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds to go along with four blocks. Abbey Jewart had five points and four assists.
Cassidy Auth had six of Northgate’s 12 points.
EISENHOWER 75, PANAMA CENTRAL (N.Y.) 37
JAMESTOWN, N.Y. – Leading 32-22 at halftime, Eisenhower outscored Panama Central (N.Y.) 43-15 in the second half to earn a 75-37 win in the JCC Christmas Classic.
Clara Steinberg had another big game for Eisenhower (4-3), scoring a game-high 28 points while also dishing out nine assists and notching five steals.
Lainey Font also had a big game offensively for Eisenhower with 21 points while matching Steinberg with five steals. Samantha Childs was also in double figures with 11 points and Laney Belcher added nine.
Kylie Magan had 12 points for Panama and Kierra Loberg finished with 10.
CATHEDRAL PREP 60, FOXBOROUGH (Mass.) 47
KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Jayden McBride and Addie Biel had big games offensively as Cathedral Prep snapped defending Massachusetts state champion Foxborough’s 24-game winning streak with a 60-47 win at the KSA Tournament.
McBride and Biel finished with 20 points each for the Ramblers (6-1), who led 34-26 at halftime en route to the win.
Kailey Sullivan led Foxborough with 18 points.
With the win, Prep advances to play Glen Rose (Texas) in the KSA Tournament title game on Friday.
GREENVILLE 55, UNION/A-C VALLEY 27
GREENVILLE, Pa. – Preslie Kirila scored 16 points as Greenville powered past Union/A-C Valley, 55-27 in the Greenville Christmas Classic.
Kirila scored 11 of her points in the first half for Greenville (5-4), while Jose Hart scored 12 points and Peyton Davis and Lexi Busch added eight each.
Kya Wetzel had 18 points for Union/A-C Valley (1-6), and was 5-of-10 from the field and 8-of-9 from the charity stripe.
Maddy Dehart had nine rebounds and two steals and Breanna Schmidt added eight boards.
Diehart 9 rebounds,
KANE 44, KEYSTONE 38
KANE, Pa. – Keystone made a fourth-quarter push, but Kane nearly matched the output as the Wolves topped the Panthers, 44-38, at the Kane Holiday Tournament.
Kane led 28-19 heading to the fourth quarter. Keystone’s offense erupted for 19 points in the final eight minutes, but the Wolves scored 16 of their own to get the win.
Maya Smith led the Wolves with 17 points. Hailey Hillman added 12 points.
Ashlee Albright paced Keystone with 12 points.
Kane will meet North Clarion in the championship game, while Keystone will take on Bradford in the consolation game.
FORT LEBOEUF 53, PORTERSVILLE CHRISTIAN 48
FAIRVIEW, Pa. – Jillian Soder connected for 21 points as Fort LeBoeuf beat Portersville Christian, 53-48 in the Fairview Christmas Classic for its first win of the season.
Haylee Will added 11 points in the win for Fort LeBoeuf (1-6).
LINCOLN PARK 80, WILMINGTON 53
NEW CASTLE, Pa. – Jla Kizwart erupted for 39 points as Lincoln Park beat Wilmington, 80-53 at the Mohawk Christmas Tournament.
Mya Skya also had 20 points in the win for the Leopards.
Lia Krarup had another big game for Wilmington (5-2) with 23 points, including six 3’s.
GROVE CITY 62, LAUREL 43
NEW CASTLE, Pa. – Maddie Osborn and Izzie Gamble combined for 46 points as Grove City beat Laurel, 62-43 in the Laurel Christmas Classic.
Osborn knocked down four triples and finished with 24 points for Grove City (6-4) and Gamble scored 13 of her 22 points in the second half.
Shyann Tindall had 18 points for Laurel.
NESHANNOCK 60, HICKORY 33
HERMITAGE, Pa. – Peyton Newman scored 17 points as Neshannock beat Hickory, 60-33 in the consolation game of the Hickory Christmas Tournament.
Jaiden Nagy was also in double figures for Neshannock with 14 points.
Mariah Swanson led Hickory (3-7) with 13 points, while Kimora Roberts added eight.
ROCKY GROVE 41, IROQUOIS 26
ERIE, Pa. – Rae Montgomery finished with eight points as Rocky Grove beat Iroquois, 41-26 in the Iroquois Christmas Tournament.
Zoe Cresswell added seven points in the win for the Orioles (4-4).
Karina Reichard had nine points for Iroquois (0-8).
NORTH CLARION 56, BRADFORD 38
KANE, Pa. – Lily Homan was an assist away from a triple-double settling for a 27-point, 10-steal, 9-assist night in North Clarion’s 56-38 win over Bradford in the opening round of the Kane Holiday Tournament.
Ainsley Hartle added 12 points and six rebounds for the She-Wolves who also got 10 points and six steals from Akeela Greenawalt and six points and nine rebounds from Brookie Steinman.
Kalie Dixon scored 17 points for Bradford.
North Clarion will face Kane in Friday’s title game, while Bradford takes on Keystone in the consolation contest.
HAZELTON 69, REDBANK VALLEY 39
PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. – Freshman Kaitlyn Bindas scored a game-high 21 points, as Hazelton ended Redbank Valley’s 21-game regular-season win streak with a 69-39 Mercy Rule victory in the opening round of the Carl Truance Classic at Punxsutawney.
Rewatch the game
Fellow freshman Sophia Benyo added 10 points for the young Lady Cougars who also got eight points apiece from sophomores Kayla Lagowy and Alexis Reimold and seven apiece from Olivia Williams and Sophia Shults.
Izzy Bond paced Redbank Valley with 11 points, while Hadlee Hagan added six points.
Hazelton limited Redbank Valley’s leading scorer, Mylee Harmon, who entered the game averaging 22.6 ppg, to a season-low five tallies. It was the fewest points scored by Harmon in 31 games. Moniteau held her to give points on Dec. 16, 2022.
Hazelton will face Punxsutawney in the championship game Friday, while Redbank Valley will take on Marion Center in the consolation contest.
OTTO-ELDRED 42, SMETHPORT 37
SMETHPORT, Pa. – A 10-3 second-quarter advantage helped visiting Otto-Eldred overcome an early deficit and pick up a 42-37 NTL road win over Smethport.
The Lady Terrors trailed 15-13 at the end of the first quarter, but Addie Bell scored half of Otto-Eldred’s 10 second-quarter points to help it open up a 23-18 halftime lead.
Smethport got within four, 31-27, going to the fourth quarter. But, Otto-Eldred held on for the win.
Bell and Carrie Drummond each had nine points to lead the Lady Terrors with Bell adding seven rebounds and four assists.
Rayel Hakes added eight points and six boards in the win with Ayla Van Scoter also scoring eight points to go with five rebounds and two assists. Kate Rhinehart chipped in six points and seven rebounds.
Jaidyn Goodman had a career-high 17 points to go with nine rebounds for Smethport, while Elizabeth Hungiville added another double-double with 12 points and 15 rebounds. Hungiville also chipped in four steals and three assists.
Peyton Neff dished out five helpers for the Lady Hubbers and scored three points.
ELK COUNTY CATHOLIC 72, JOHNSONBURG 12
ST. MARYS, Pa. – Lucy Klawuhn hit seven 3-pointers on her way to a game-high 25 points, as Elk County Catholic destroyed Johnsonburg, 72-12, in the opening round of the Elk County Holiday Tournament at St. Marys.
Sydney Alexander also nailed four 3-pointers on her way to 12 points for the Lady Crusaders, while Sami Straub added 10 points.
Also for ECC, Emily Mourer and Mya Pistner each scored eight points.
Maria Casilio and Cadence Brechtel each scored three points for Johnsonburg.
ECC will face Ridgway in the title game Friday, while Johnsonburg takes on St. Marys in the consolation contest.
