Trending
By Ron Musselman
For The Mirror
HOLLIDAYSBURG -- The Hollidaysburg girls basketball team kept its perfect record intact Wednesday night, cruising to a 57-32 victory over Central in a Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference game.
Bella Vent scored a game-high 15 points, Lauren Stevenson netted 14 and Clare Padamosnky added 11 off the bench as the Lady Tigers improved to 10-0, including 8-0 in the LHAC.
Stevenson set the tone early, scoring 11 of Hollidaysburg's first 17 points in the opening quarter, including three 3-pointers. She added a fourth trey in the third quarter.
"(Stevenson) hit three 3s right off the bat and it puts us in a big hole early," Central coach Blake Over said. "We never recovered."
Vent scored 13 of her points in the second and third quarters and the Lady Tigers eventually forced a running clock by virtue of a 30-point margin.
Padamonsky connected on 6 of 7 free throws, a field goal and a 3.
"It's an all-around effort with this team, whether it's Stevenson, Vent, Padamonsky or someone else," Hollidaysburg coach Deanna Jubeck said. "All of these kids can step up and score.
"Stevenson has really picked it up as our point guard. She's a very strong leader. She's doing what we've asked her to do, from hitting her shots and making sure she sees the court well in order to get her assists."
Stevenson and Vent did not play in the fourth quarter as the Lady Tigers emptied their bench. Jubeck played 17 players in the rout, which dropped Central to 6-6 overall, 4-4 in the LHAC.
Hollidaysburg held the Lady Red Dragons to just five points in the second quarter and four in the third. The Lady Tigers also connected on 15 of 17 free throws.
"When you play a team like Hollidaysburg, you've got to play your best basketball for 32 minutes," Over said. "And if you don't, you're in trouble.
"Hollidaysburg is definitely not a joke. They'll be tested in the Laurel Highlands because there are a lot of good teams in the conference, but they're as good as it gets."
Morgan Knepp scored 13 points for Central, which has dropped two in a row.
"I thought Morgan stepped up, took the ball to the basket and really provided a lot of our scoring," Over said. "This team battles. They can be competitive with teams, but our shots aren't falling. Even so, we don't give up and I like that."
Hollidaysburg is outscoriing its 10 opponents by a 57.5-29.3 margin.
"Our sights aren't just set on our schedule," Jubeck said. "We've got to continue to improve so we are ready for March."
Hollidaysburg travels to Bellefonte Friday while Central returns home to play Huntingdon.
CENTRAL (32): Diehl 0 0-0 0, Dickson 0 0-0 0, A. Imes 1 0-0 2, Knepp 5 3-6 13, Ellis 2 0-0 4, L. Imes 1 2-4 4, Benton 1 0-0 2, Poet 2 2-6 7, Boyles 0 0-1 0. Totals -- 12 7-17 32.
HOLLIDAYSBURG (57): DiPangrazio 0 0-0 0, Shoemaker 3 2-2 8, Yohn 0 0-0 0, Stevenson 5 0-0 14, Vent 5 5-6 15, Padamonsky 2 6-7 11, Sidney 1 0-0 2, Weimert 0 2-2 2, Steiner 0 0-0 0, Lear 1 0-0 3, Gearhart 1 0-0 2, Quigley 0 0-0 0, Mitchell 0 0-0 0, Minnoia 0 0-0 0, Garman 0 0-0 0, Heim 0 0-0 0, Creamer 0 0-0 0 . Totals -- 18 15-18 57.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Central…………………………… 10 5 4 12 - 32
Hollidaysburg…………………. 21 12 16 8 - 57
3-point field goals: Central 1 (Poet), Hollidaysburg 6 (Sevenson 4, Lear, Padamonsky).
Records: Central (6-6, 4-4 LHAC), Hollidaysburg (10-0, 8-0 LHAC).
Officials: Don Moss, Anthony Woynovich, Steven Yesenosky.
JV: Hollidaysburg, 47-24. High scorers: Sidney, H, 17, points, C, Poet, 7.