Bethel Park beats Lebo ladies, 49-40
Shannon Conely drives past Maura Wallace on her way to the basket during Bethel Park’s 49-40 victory against Mt. Lebanon. Conely led all scorers with 22 points.
Kaitlyn Chess (No. 34) looks to score against Diandra Conwell during Bethel Park’s 46-34 victory against Upper St. Clair. Chess scored seven points as did Shannon Conely but the Hawks were led by Justina Mascaro’s 15 tallies. Conwell fired in eight points in the loss.
On a somber night in Bethel Park, hours after the community laid to rest one of its youngest citizens, the Black Hawks gathered themselves for a key Section 4-AAAA girls’ basketball game.
While the Lady Hawks posted a 49-40 victory against Mt. Lebanon, they focused little on how the triumph catapulted them to the top of the division. Their thoughts were with Joey Fabus, who passed away Jan. 21 after an eight-month battle with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG). Fabus was buried Jan. 26, the morning of BP’s big game.
“Personally for me it was a very sad day,” said Jonna Burke, who is not only the head coach but a mother as well. “You couldn’t help but think about that little boy.
“Our girls played with heavy hearts because they had gotten to know him and the family through a fundraiser we did in the fall to help them. This was one of our big games but [Joey’s death and funeral] certainly puts things into perspective. This isn’t as important as our kids.”
Because Burke and her basketball family feel strongly about their community kids and DIPG, they organized a fundraising effort that involves all of their section rivals. On Feb. 2, all the girls’ basketball teams in Section 4 will don specially designed T-shirts during warm-ups to demonstrate solidarity for the Fabus family and raise awareness for DIPG. Dyed in each school’s colors, the shirts sport a graphic depicting a capital letter C with lines going through it with the words “end childhood cancer DIPG.org.”
“We want to raise awareness and as much money as we can because the bills this family are facing are astronomical,” said Burke.
Phenomenal has been the outpouring for Fabus and his family. Prior to tip-off, a moment of silence was held for Joey, who became one of the youngest officers on the BPPD force, fulfilling a life-long dream for the 8-year-old boy.
After a quiet first frame, where they trailed Lebo, 14-13, the Lady Hawks found their courage and their game by altering their attack. They made a defensive adjustment and neutralized Lebo’s strength.
“They are so good at penetrating. We had to switch to zone,” explained Burke. “It seemed to do the trick for us.”
Offensively, Shannon Conely proved effective for the Lady Hawks. She fired in 22 points to lead all scorers.
“Shannon played a tough, tough game,” Burke said. “She had a really solid all-around game. We needed that from her and all the girls if we are to continue being successful.” Justina Mascaro followed Conely with 12 tallies and Paige Kochka-Puskar provided seven markers, including a critical 3-point field goal. Kaitlyn Chess, Mia Mattes and Christina Didiano also contributed to the triumph by forcing steals and turnovers as well as providing clutch points.
For Lebo, which slipped to 7-3 in the section and 10-7 overall, Kate Sramac and Laura Wallace finished in double digits with 16 and 13 tallies.
The win was BP’s 10th in a row. The Lady Hawks improved to 9-2 in the section and 13-4 overall. In addition to their Feb. 2 game at home against Canon-McMillan, the Lady Hawks travel to Moon on Jan. 29 and Baldwin on Feb. 5 to close out league play. All are important contests, said Burke.
“A section win is a section win. No game in this league is any more important than the other. Anybody can beat anybody so they are all up for grabs.
“Our main focus is consistency and momentum. We hope to take that with us into the playoffs.”
BP avenges loss
Before battling Lebo, the Lady Hawks avenged a previous loss to Upper St. Clair, beating the Panthers, 46-34.
“I felt the key to the game was doing a better job defensively than we did the last time we played them,” said Burke.
The Lady Hawks did a particularly good job against USC in the third quarter. BP held the Panthers to a 3-pointer from Diandra Conwell. At the other end of the court, the Lady Hawks buried three long-range shots by Paige Kochka-Puskar, Shannon Conely and Mia Mattes to pull away, 30-18, to start the second half. BP led, 34-21, after three quarters.
“The threes opened things up for us,” agreed Burke. “It was enough to get us ahead.”
The Hawks needed that advantage because USC waged a comeback. Thanks to full-court pressure, the Lady Panthers cut the margin to seven, 40-33, on a free throw from Rachel Mazzie.
Free throws from Kochka-Puskar, Justina Mascaro and Kaitlyn Chess sealed the victory for the Lady Hawks in the final 1:42 of play.
Though Mascaro led all scorers with 15 tallies, USC contained the sophomore in the first half. She scored just three points, which proved the difference in the score as BP led, 21-18, at halftime.
After USC edged ahead, 7-6, BP used the hot hand of Mattes to construct a 12-7 lead. Mattes had two threes in the second stanza and finished with nine markers. Paige Kochka-Puskar tossed in two, 3-pointers and finished with eight points. Chess and Conely each contributed seven tallies.
“Honestly, it was the girls just taking shots,” Burke said. “They had done a good job on Justina and we were fortunate the other girls stepped up and hit shots.
“I’m proud of the kids’ effort,” Burke continued. “They fought and clawed. I’m pleased with them collectively. Everybody responded and chipped in.”
A bright spot for USC was Liv McClelland. The freshman scored a team-high nine points. Conwell followed with eight markers. Mazzie and Madison Serio finished with six and four points respectively.
In follow-up action, Mazzie recorded her 1,000th career point as USC dispatched West Allegheny, 61-33. Mazzie finished with 19 markers while Olivia Hutton and Ally Steve pitched in 12 and 11 points.
With the win, the Lady Panthers improved to 7-4 in the section and 11-6 overall.
Parker tops 1,000
Danielle Parker surpassed the 1,000-point milestone in her basketball career during Canon-McMillan’s victory against Moon, 45-32. The senior forward fired in 17 points in the triumph.
Parker is noted for more than just scoring. She averages 11.3 rebounds per game and she converts 77 percent of her free throws.
“Danielle has the ability to make a three or score inside,” added head coach Frank Zebrasky. “Plus, she possesses above-average ball-handling skills.
“Danielle is a quality athlete, teammate and team leader but she achieves equally academically. She hopes to pursue a job in the medical profession and play college basketball.”
Schools, however, will have to wait for Cheyenne Trest. The sophomore tossed in 13 points in the win against the Tigers. She also led with 11 markers in a loss to Trinity, 49-44. In that defeat, Parker finished with 10 tallies.
Cheyenne Trest scored 13 points for the Big Macs. Trest was tops with 20 tallies but that was not enough as Canon-Mac fell to Baldwin, 57-51, in follow-up action. Parker tossed in 11 points and pulled down 13 rebounds for the Lady Macs, who slipped to 5-6 in the divison and 10-7 overall.
In other Section 4 action, Peters Township defeated Moon, 71-42. Alyssa Konopka (25), Madison Kerr (22) and Cameron Morgan (10) scored in double figures for the Indians.
AAA action
Chartiers Valley lost its first game in Section 5, dropping a 41-33 decision to Quaker Valley. In the loss, Melissa Rickens tossed in 10 tallies.
The Colts rebounded from the defeat to beat Montour, 58-34. Rickens pumped in 12 points while Nicole Olkosky tacked on 10 tallies.
South Fayette defeated Trinity, 68-44. Carlee Kilgus (18), Autumn Mozick (18) and Sam Kosmacki (12) finished in double figures for the Lady Lions.
Keystone Oaks beat Montour, 39-31. Lexy Mercuri led the Golden Eagles with eight points.
AA
Seton-La Salle breezed past Burgettstown, 72-33.
In double digits for the Rebels were: Morgan Henderson (16), Julie DeKlaven (14) and Nicolete Newman (11).
Bishop Canevin beat Brentwood, 64-50. Gina Vallecorsa tossed in 19 points while Sarah Green finished with 11 markers.
In follow-up action, the Crusaders dispatched Chartiers-Houston, 55-37. While Vallecorso tossed in 12 tallies, Lauren Gamble and Erin Joyce fired in 16 and 14 markers.