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By JOHN ERZAR jerzar@leader.net
Friday, January 28, 2000 Page: 6B
PITTSTON – In Seton Catholic’s small gym, where seating is limited to one
side and a loose ball once rolled into the men’s restroom, the Bishop Hafey
Vikings appeared desperate for a big performance.
They never got it.
Instead, a lot of little but timely ones did the job as Hafey rallied to
defeat Seton 54-46 in a Wyoming Valley Conference Division III girls
basketball game Thursday night.
Senior Melissa Savage led the way with 14 points, followed by Erica Canzler
with 12 and Denna Olexa with 11 as Hafey shook off poor first-half shooting.
“We haven’t been on the court for two days because of the snow,” said
Hafey coach Adrienne Mangler, whose team improved to 2-0 in the second-half
season. “I’m hoping that had something to do with it.”
Maybe. Maybe not.
After all, the teams played to overtime in the first-half season, with
Seton winning 58-56.
Then again, the Vikings didn’t get their usual steady offensive production
until the final two quarters.
Instead, Seton’s Maria Zangardi scored 14 points in the first half, and she
and Alison Durako opened the third quarter with baskets to increase the
Eagles’ lead to 30-21.
But, as young teams do occasionally, Seton couldn’t hold on. Savage hit
consecutive jumpers as the Vikings ended the quarter with a 17-5 run.
“Defensively, we didn’t stop them in the second half,” said Seton coach
Kathy Healey, who starts two sophomores and two freshmen. “And we made a
couple bad decisions with the ball.
“We need everybody to step up. We can’t have just one or two of our
players do it.”
Seton (0-2) managed to regain the lead, 43-42, with 4:38 to play, but Hafey
started getting those timely performances. Ann Reichert hit a three-pointer,
accounting for all but two of her points this season, and Olexa followed with
an outside jumper.
“I was very concerned about our shooting in the first half,” Mangler
said. “We found some people that were hitting and some people found their
spots as the game progressed. But our man defense kept us in the game.”
The Vikings then went into a four-corners offense, killing a min ute of the
clock before Olexa scored inside. Seton attempted to rally by fouling and
sending the Vikings to the free-throw line in the final minutes, but a steal
by Janell Hopeck and an offensive rebound by Krysten Gasper thwarted the
strategy.
Bishop Hoban 43 Wyoming Seminary 25
KINGSTON – Chelsey Ostrowsky scored 17 points, including the 1,000th of her
career, as Bishop Hoban stayed unbeaten with a victory over Wyoming Seminary.
Sheridan Fischi added nine for the Argents. Megan Brumagim and Morgan Carey
led Seminary with six each. GAR 65 Northwest Area 45
WILKES-BARRE – Sara Chmieleski led GAR with 22 points as it defeated
Northwest and Cheri Magda scored 13 points.
Northwest was led by Tara Ulitchney with 14 points, including four
three-point field goals. Wyoming Valley West 55 Hanover Area 39
HANOVER TWP. – Jamie Kauczka led Valley West with 20 points as it defeated
Hanover Area. Andrea DeMaranville scored 15 points while Robyn Duda added 10
for the Spartans.
Hanover was led by Sarah Kopko with 21 points, including three three-point
field goals.
Tunkhannock 63 Dallas 56
DALLAS – Elissa Kilmer scored 20 points to lead Tunkhannock over Dallas.
Sandy Grigas scored 14 points and Jenna Larsh added 11 points, while Nicole
Otten contributed 10 points for the Tigers.
Dallas was led by Jenn Noon with 19 points, including three three-point
field goals. Rachel Kukosky scored 13 points and Stephanie Simonitis added 12
points. Hazleton Area 53 Lake-Lehman 49
HAZLETON – Melissa Dymek scored a game-high 21 points to lead Hazleton Area
past Lake-Lehman.
Joy Gallagher added 16 for the Cougars, while Danielle Kern paced the Black
Knights with 17. Coughlin 58 Crestwood 51 WRIGHT TWP. – Camille Centini
scored 20 points to power Coughlin past Crestwood.
Adrienne Gaetano led the Comets with 12 points. Bishop O’Reilly 66 Meyers
58
WILKES-BARRE – Katie Guntli’s game-high 19 points helped Bishop O’Reilly
defeat Meyers.
Maria Wright and Danielle Del Priore each added 15 points for the
Queenswomen.
Jayme Antolick led the Mohawks with 17 points and Steph Andrejko added 16.
Wyoming Area 76 Pittston Area 52
WYOMING – Nikki Conway scored 34 points as Wyoming Area downed Pittston
Area.
Jessica Humko added 16 points for the Lady Warriors and Kellyann Daley
topped the Lady Patriots with 24 points, including three three-points baskets.
Scranton Prep 65 North Pocono 18
SCRANTON – Sarah Melone scored 14 points to lead Scranton Prep past North
Pocono.
Ebenezer 39 Lebanon 33
LEBANON – Melody Francis and Maria Worlinsky combined for 30 points to lead
Ebeneezer Faith Christian over Lebanon Christian.
Emily Horst led Lebanon Christian with 13. Boys Basketball Nanticoke Area
61 Hazleton Area 40
NANTICOKE – Todd Bargella scored a game-high 22 points to lead Nanticoke
Area past Hazleton Area in a key WVC crossover game.
Luke Malishchak added 18 and Jeff Bevan had 12 for the Trojans.
Jonathan Veet paced the Cougars with 20.