By Chris Rossetti, D9Sports.com
KNOX — Reilly Herzing scored eight of her 12 points after halftime to help White to a 72-63 win over Red in the 17th annual Clarion County YMCA Sportsmanship I District 9 Girls Basketball All-Star game at Keystone High School Saturday afternoon.
The Elk County Catholic senior finished with a double-double, collecting 12 rebounds as well, and was named the Sportsperson of the Game for her efforts.
The game was tied at 31 at the half before White frustrated Red with a zone defense in the second half.
Johnsonburg’s Nicole Myers also scored eight second-half points and finished with eight points, six rebounds and three steals.
Karns City’s Mackenzie Craig, who was named the game’s Most Valuable Player, had 14 points and eight rebounds to pace the Red squad. Her five points right out the gate helped Red take an early 11-2 lead.
But White, behind the play of Moniteau’s Alazia Greaves, fought back in the second part of the first half and tied the game by the half. Greaves scored 12 of her game-high 15 points before halftime.
It was really a team-wide effort for White with four players reaching double figures.
Tiffany Bair of Otto-Eldred chipped in 10 points, four rebounds and two assists with Moniteau’s Kristina DeMatteis also scoring 10 points to go with seven rebounds and three assists. North Clarion’s Cassie Wagner was strong on the glass, grabbing 11 rebounds.
Alyssa Gibson joined her Karns City teammate Craig in double figures for the Red team with 11 points while also grabbing three rebounds. Cameron County’s Madison Harrier chipped in nine points, six rebounds and two assists, and DuBois Central Catholic’s Riley Assalone had eight points and five rebounds.
Hannah Dixon of Curwensville scored two points for the Red team.
WHITE — 72
Tiffany Bair (Otto-Eldred) 4 0-0 10, Michaela Higgins (North Clarion) 1 0-0 3, Nicole Myers (Johnsonburg) 3 1-2 8, Kristina DeMatteis (Moniteau) 5 0-2 10, Autumn Buchsenschutz (Port Allegany) 1 0-0 3, Alazia Greaves (Moniteau) 6 2-6 15, Gracie Hamilton (Northern Potter) 2 0-0 5, Cassie Wagner (North Clarion) 0 1-4 1, Reilly Herzing (Elk County Catholic) 6 0-2 12, Cassidy Cunningham (Elk County Catholic) 2 0-0 5. Totals 30 4-16 72.
RED — 63
Alyssa Gibson (Karns City) 4 0-0 11, Lexey Shick (Union) 3 0-0 6, Maddie Guisto (Cameron County) 2 1-2 5, Madison Harrier (Cameron County) 4 1-2 9, Riley Assalone (DuBois Central Catholic) 4 0-2 8, Hannah Dixon (Curwensville) 1 0-0 2, Camryn Cummings (Kane) 1 0-0 2, Rachelle Armanini (St. Marys) 3 0-0 6, Mackenzie Craig (Karns City) 6 0-0 14. Totals 28 2-6 63.
Three-Point Field Goals – White 7 (Bair 2, Higgins, Myers, Greaves, Hamilton, Cunningham, Buchsenschutz); Red 5 (Gibson 3, Craig 2)
Score by Quarters
White 15 16 21 20 – 72
Red 21 10 17 15 – 63