CURWENSVILLE – Pressure defense and a dominating performance under the baskets by Elk County Catholic doomed the cold-shooting Curwensville Area High School girls basketball team to a 61-18 defeat in its Allegheny Mountain League opener on the Patton Hall hardwood Friday night.
\”We definitely played a quality opponent, but we just weren\’t mentally prepared to play, for whatever reason,\” coach Vic Gearhart said after the Lady Tide\’s third loss in four days.
\”Our minds weren\’t on this game. That was obvious from the opening tip, and it just got worse.\”
Two free throws by Tess Bloom one minute into the fourth quarter were Curwensville\’s only points in the second half.
Bloom had scored 10 points in the first half, which ended with Elk County Catholic on top 31-16.
The Lady Crusaders, returning four of the top eight players from the 2006-07 squad that beat the Lady Tide in the AML championship game for the second year in a row, hounded the Lady Tide all over the court from the outset.
Their man-to-man press through three quarters was responsible for the majority of Curwensville\’s 28 turnovers, which led to numerous lay-ups or peep shots.
Coach Ken Pistner, who starts four juniors and a sophomore, switched to a zone defense for the fourth quarter and then sent his reserves on to the floor for the final seven minutes.
ECC, a 54-29 winner over AML North Division rival Johnsonburg in its opener Wednesday, shot only 35.6 percent (26-for-73) but piled up a 38-18 advantage in rebounds, many resulting in second and third shots.
Kirsti Pistner scored a game-high 17 points and Emily Detsch tallied 11 for ECC, which is coming off a 22-7 and a third-place finish in the District 9 Class A Playoffs. All five of the Lady Crusaders\’ regular season losses were to Class AAA teams in the District 9 League.
\”They have a tradition that\’s been there for years, and the feeder system,\” Gearhart said. \”Their jayvee team was as good as most varsity teams we played last year, so they\’ve got some depth. They\’re going to be a good squad.
\”It looks like Punxsutawney is down this year, so I think Elk\’s going to be the team to beat in the District 9 League. And, certainly, they\’re going to be the team in the upper division (of the AML).\”
As for the Lady Tide, Gearhart realizes December is going to be a struggle.
\”We knew we were going to take our lumps, and we\’re in the toughest part of our schedule right now,\” he said. \”We\’re going through growing pains, and we\’re just going to have to make adjustments. It\’s like on-the-job training.\”
He feels a post-game sit-down with the Lady Tide, which hit only six of 34 shots for 17.7 percent, will get his team on track.
\”We had a long talk about some problems and issues,\” he explained. \”I think it did a lot of good. We have a better understanding of what our goals for the season are going to be.
\”Hopefully, we will come out with a better attitude next week and see where it goes.\”
Curwensville\’s lone game next week will be Tuesday at Harmony in Moshannon Valley League action.
The junior varsity game was won 35-10 by Elk County Catholic, which was led by Karly Carnovale\’s nine points. Kate Norris was high for Curwensville with four points.
ELK COUNTY CATHOLIC — 61
Kaitlyn Geci 4 0-0 8, Bre Grimone 2 4-4 9, Kirsti Pistner 8 1-1 17, Emily Detsch 5 1-2 11, Abby Salter 1 0-0 2, Sandy Levenduski 1 0-0 2, Alyssa Hunter 2 1-2 5, Katie Cavalline 0 0-0 0, Allie Dellaquilla 0 0-0 0, Sammi Schlimm 1 0-0 2, Nikki Gaton 1 0-0 2, Karly Carnovale 1 0-0 3, Molly Dallasen 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 26 7-9 61.
CURWENSVILLE — 18
Hannah Walls 0 0-0 0, Tess Bloom 3 6-6 12, Mindy Desmett 1 0-0 2, Alesia Bressler 0 0-0 0, Holly Fink 2 0-0 4, Jenessa Stiles 0 0-0 0, Jenae Stiles 0 0-0 0, Sarah Robb 0 0-0 0, Shayla Buzard 0 0-0 0, Ashley Bracken 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 6 6-7 18.
Score by Quarters:
Elk County Catholic 14 17 19 11 – 61
Curwensville 8 8 0 2 – 18
Three-Point Field Goals: Elk County Catholic 2 (Grimone, Carnovale).
Officials: Bud Brennen, Chris Schneider.
