By Jeff Richards
GIRLS BASKETBALL
McConnellsburg 53, Fannett-Metal 34. On Wednesday, January 22nd, the Lady Spartans traveled to Fannett-Metal to compete against the Lady Tigers in the first of two season conference games. The Spartans secured victory by winning each quarter and steadily increasing their lead, culminating in a second consecutive win. This marked their ninth double-digit victory and eighth with a margin exceeding 15 points.
The Spartans commenced the game by scoring six unanswered points, employing full-court man-to-man pressure from the onset. With three minutes remaining in the first quarter, Fannett-Metal battled back to tie the game at 6-6. By the end of the quarter, the Spartans had regained a slight advantage, leading 11-9. In the second quarter, the Spartans scored 13 points from four players, with Serenity Rengifo contributing seven points. Kylie Arnold of Fannett-Metal led her team with six points, ultimately totaling 14 points for the game. By halftime, the Spartans extended their lead to nine points, standing at 24-15.
During the third quarter, the Spartans nearly doubled the Tigers’ score (17 to 9). A buzzer-beater three-pointer from Sydney Buterbaugh increased the lead to 17 points, bringing the score to 41-24. The final quarter saw the Spartans outscoring the Tigers 12 to 10, concluding the game where thirteen Spartan team players saw minutes and contributed to the win.
The Spartans (11-4 overall, 3-1 ICC South) were led by junior guard Serenity Rengifo, who delivered an impressive 30-point performance. She unofficially set new records for the most points scored by a player in a single game this season, her personal season high, and career high. Maggie Mellott led all players in rebounding with 16 combined offensive and defensive rebounds.
Spartans’ scoring: Maggie Mellott 3 1-8 7, Serenity Rengifo 13 1-3 30, Lucy Brun 1 0-0 2, Sydney Buterbaugh 2 0-0 4, Journie Jefferson 3 0-2 6, Brookelynn Gelvin 1 0-0 2, Marin DeShong 1 0-2 2. Totals: 24 2-15 53. Three-point shots: 3 (Rengifo 3). Free throw percentage: 13%. Team totals included 40 rebounds, 4 blocks, 17 turnovers, and 9 fouls. Additional stats: Mellott 16 rebounds, 2 blocks; Rengifo 6 rebounds; Brun 4 rebounds; Buterbaugh 1 rebound, 2 blocks; Jefferson 2 rebounds; Brookelynn Gelvin 7 rebounds; Clara Lopez 1 rebound; DeShong 1 rebound; Genesis Clevenger 2 rebounds.
Tigers’ scoring: Lilian Daniel 1 0-0 3, Krystalyn Hasenbulher 5 0-3 10, Caylee Helman 2 0-4 5, Kylie Arnold 7 0-2 14, Toree Hoffman 1 0-0 2, Totals 16 0-9 34. 3-point shots = 2 (Daniel 1, Helman 1). Tigers’ totals: 17 rebounds, 3 blocks, 13 turnovers, fouls 10, FTM% 0%.
McConnellsburg 11 13 17 12 — 53
Fannett-Metal 9 6 9 10 — 34
Next Up: McConnellsburg girls varsity will host county rival Forbes Road for the first of two season Inter-County Conference games on Thursday, January 23rd at 715 PM.
JH: MHS 21, F-M 32