By Jeff Richards
GIRLS BASKETBALL
McConnellsburg 43, Fannett Metal 22.  The Lady Spartans faced the Fannett-Metal Lady Tigers in the championship game of the Forbes Road Holiday Tournament Monday December 30^th and won each quarter to capture the win, the tournament title.  This win is their seventh straight, seventh of double-digit margin of victory, and third by twenty-plus.

The Spartans held an 11-point lead at the half, 27-16.  With more focus, they tightened the turnover rate and extended their lead to 16; posting 35-19 after 3.  They executed better defensively in the second half to hold the Tigers to three points each quarter.  The Spartans closed the night the victor and champion 43-22.

The Spartans (8-2 overall, 1-0 ICC South) put two players in double figures, led by Journey Jefferson with 13 points and three rebounds, and Janiah Lowery with 10 points and 4 boards.

Coach Jeff Gelvin noted, “Our girl’s first-half play was consistent with last night’s output score-wise, but we gave the ball up too many times and had some trouble handling the ball, and we missed some easy buckets to really open up the game early.  In the second half, play was better as our defense and the Tigers’ poor shooting helped in getting our big lead.  Our shooting percentage from the foul line was much better.”

Spartans’ scoring: Maggie Mellott 3 0-0 6, Serenity Rengifo 2 1-2 6, Journie Jefferson 5 3-4 13, Brookelynn Gelvin 1 0-0 2, Kailee Gelvin 1 0-0 2, Janiah Lowery 3 2-2 10, Marin DeShong 1 0-0 2, Laynee Hendershot 0 2-2 2, Totals 16 8-10 43.

Spartan Maggie Mellott led with 13 boards with eight total players contributing to out-rebound the Tigers by one-third.

3-point shots — 3 (Lowery 2, Rengifo 1).  Spartans’ totals:  39 rebounds, turnovers 25, blocks 1, steals 3, fouls 12, FTM% 80%.

Maggie Mellott was selected as MVP, with Brookelynn Gelvin also to the All-Tournament Team.

Tigers’ scoring: S. Wolf 3 1-0 6, K. Arnold 2 1-2 5, T. Hoffman 1 5-9 7, C. Helman 1 0-0 2, O. Waite 1 0-0 2, Totals 8 6-12 22.

3-point shots — 0. Tigers’ totals:  rebounds 26, turnovers 23, blocks 1, fouls 11, FTM% 50%.

Scoring by Quarters:

Fannett Metal            6   10    3    3  —   22
McConnellsburg      14   13    8    8  —   43
Next Up:  McConnellsburg JV/V will travel to Claysburg-Kimmel for a cross conference game on Thursday, January 2^nd at 6 PM.