Lady Patriots in logjam atop WVC Division 1 Lady Warriors pick up a conference win By JACK SMILES
jsmiles@psdispatch.com
With two wins this week, a 2point thriller, 49-47,over Dallas at home on Monday and a 26point win over Tunkhannock in Tunkhannock on Thursday, the Lady Patriots are one of five teams with 3-1 records in the Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 two weeks into the schedule. In Monday’s game the Lady Mounts, who came in 2-0, were hot shooting from the outside in the first half, when they led by as many as 14 and then 10, 33-23, at the break. In the second half PA played much better, and a different, defense and the Lady Mounts scored only six in the third. “We changed up the defense during halftime, coach Kathy Healey said. “We took away outside, pressuring them on the perimeter. They were hitting a lot of outside shots in beginning.
The girls are smart. We try different defenses and they enjoy mixing it up.” The defense worked and the LPs applied the pressure without fouling. Dallas got to the line for only six attempts, making three. That was as many as PA made in 17 attempts. Though the foul shooting could be better overall, Healey said the 3-of-17 was an aberration not a trend. They did improve in Thursday’s game hitting 9-of-17 against Tunkhannock. The LPs only loss was to Hazleton, who lost to Dallas, indicating how super competitive the division is. Coughlin (0-4) is the only team having a down season. Even Tunkhannock (1-3) can be tough. They shoot well especially at home. They hit eight threes against PA Thursday. “Every game is crucial,” Healey said. “Anybody could beat anybody on any give day. The league is wide open.” Against Dallas Mia Hop-
kins,15; Liz Waleski and Eastin Ashby, 12 each, and Allie Barber, 10 scored all 49 of PA’s points Dallas hit eight threes, seven in the first half. PA made two, both by Waleski. PA 78, Tunkhannock 52
SUNDAY DISPATCH, SUNDAY, JANUARY 13, 2013
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Hopkins scored a game-high 21 points for the Patriots Thursday in Tunkhannock. Waleski scored 18; Allie Barber, 17 and Eastin Ashby, 12. Maegan Wrubel led Tunkhannock with 15 points with four threes. Jackie Rabender, 6; and Jamie Chisdock, 2 also scored for PA. Lake Lehman 55, WA 28
. Lake-Lehman used two big runs – 10-0 to start the game and 18-6 in the third -- Thursday in Exeter in a D-2 game. The Warriors got close twice,15-13 late in the second quarter and 27-22 on a jumper by Ashley Blannett in the third. Serra Degnan led the WA scoring with 8, hitting two threes. Abby Thornton scored 5; Nicole Wright, 6 and Nicole Turner, 4 with one three. The Warriors hit only 3-of-12 free throws. Cayle Spencer, a sophomore, scored 26 for LL.
Wyoming Area’s Audrey Hiedacavage, left, goes up for two as Lake-Lehman’s Cayle Spencer defends Thursday night in Exeter.
Standings
Division 1....WVC ....Overall Pittston Area 3-1.............11-1 Hazleton ..........3-1 .......... 7-3 Dallas ............3-1 ............ 6-2 Valley West ........3-1 ........8-4 Crestwood .........3-1 .........7-4 Berwick ...........1-3 ...........7-5 Tunkhannock....... 0-4.......5-7 Coughlin ..........0-4..........0-12
Division 2....WVC....Overall Nanticoke ..........3-0..........7-5 Lake Lehman .......2-1.......6-4 Holy Redeemer .....2-1 .....5-4 Wyoming Area .....1-2 .....3-8 Meyers ............ 1-2 ............5-5
WA 47, Hanover Area 35
Wyoming Area used a 14-4 second quarter to take control in a crossover game on Monday at D3 Hanover. Degnan went 13-of-14 from the foul line on her way to a game-high19 points WA. Thornton scored 13. Emily Wolfgang scored 6; and Nicole Turner, 7. The win was the Warriors first in WVC games. They are 1-2. This week
Monday WA at Meyers PA at Crestwood Thursday Valley West at PA Holy Redeemer at WA
BILL TARUTIS
WA’s Abby Thornton drives the baseline ahead of Lake-Lehman’s Emily Sutton.
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Nicole Turner shoots an open jump shot against Lake-Lehman on Thursday night.