GIRLS BASKETBALL
McConnellsburg 36, Williamsburg 63. The Lady Spartans (12-5 overall, 4-1 ICC South) played the Williamsburg Lady Blue Pirates at home on Monday, January 27th, in a cross-conference game and fell short to strong competition.

The first quarter started out close as the Spartans’ Janiah Lowery hit a three to make it 7-6 in the first three minutes, prompting the Pirates coach to call her first time out.  Shortly after, the Pirates retook the lead and were up 13-7, then two treys later, it was 18-7 with 2:23 to go, prompting the Spartans’ first time out.  There was plenty of physical play in the first quarter, with ten fouls (five apiece) called.  The Pirates controlled possession in the last seconds to put up a buzzer-beater layup and mark the score 21-7.

In the second quarter, the Pirates added six, over the Spartans’ nine points, to walk comfortably into halftime up 20 points, leading 36-16.  The Spartans won quarter three 11-9, but in quarter four, the Pirates regained force and stormed ahead and made a 20-9 run to activate the mercy rule late in the game to the final 65-36.

Overall, the Pirates exhibited a higher shooting percentage, gained offensive rebounding advantages, allowing for repeat shots, and applied solid full-court man-on-man defense that caused abundant Spartan turnovers.  The Spartans were held many times to one shot only chances and difficulty penetrating the paint.  The Pirates also used their tall sophomore center Levada Gorsuch’s height advantage to score several easy buckets down low, many times with timed assists from point guard Leeanna Royer.  The Pirates’ scoring was led, predictably, by their top three leaders: Gorsuch (27). Royer (17), and Regan Prough (10).

Spartans’ scoring: Maggie Mellott 3 1-3 7, Serenity Rengifo 4 0-2 9, Lucy Brun 1 0-0 2, Sydney Buterbaugh 0 0-2 0, Journie Jefferson 2 1-2 7, Brookelynn Gelvin 1 1-2 3, Lowery 1 0-0 2, Genesis Clevenger 2 0-0 4, Marin DeShong 1 0-0 2. Totals: 15 3-11 36. Three-point shots: 3 (Jefferson 2, Rengifo 1). FTM %: 27%. Team totals: 28 rebounds, 1 block, 31 turnovers, 13 fouls. Additional stats: Mellott 9 rebounds, 1 block; Rengifo 5 rebounds; Brun 3 rebounds; Buterbaugh 4 rebounds; Jefferson 3 rebounds; Lowery 2 rebounds; Gelvin 1 rebound; Clevenger 1 rebound.

Pirates’ scoring:   Anastasia Ranalli 3 1-2 7, Prough 4 0-0 10, Royer 6 3-6 17, Gorsuch 12 3-4 27, Lillian Kagarise 2 1-1 3, Raina Alexander 1 0-0 2, Totals 28 8-13 63.  3-point shots: 4 (Prough 2, Royer 2).  FTM%: 61.5%.  Team totals:  25 rebounds, 7 turnovers, 16 fouls.
Williamsburg         21  15    9    20  —  63
McConnellsburg    7     9    11    9  —  36

Next Up:  McConnellsburg girls JV/V will host Mount Union for non-conference games on Tuesday, January 28^th at 6 PM.