SVC GIRLS BASKETBALL Youth aid in Irish victory

Courtney Davidson and Christina Cook combined for 29 points as Ursuline defeated Fitch, 76-26.
By CHUCK HOUSTEAU
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
AUSTINTOWN -- The Ursuline High girls basketball team still is trying to forge an identity in the early season, with only two starters back from last year's Division III regional tournament qualifying team.
After Thursday night's 76-26 defeat of Steel Valley Conference rival Austintown Fitch, three things are clear about this year's Irish (2-0): They are young, athletic and they are going to score a lot of points.
Against Fitch (1-4), five Ursuline players scored in double figures to lead the offensive explosion, as the Irish jumped out to a 24-4 first quarter lead and never looked back.
Junior Courtney Davidson and senior Christina Cook are two of the top returning players along with senior Amber Miller, but the rest of the team has little varsity experience.
The leaders
Davidson, the leading scorer for the Irish the last two seasons, scored 15 points and grabbed a team-high nine rebounds. Cook added 14 points.
The Irish also got 12 points from freshman Tyra Grant and 10 points from freshman Vannessa Dickson, and first-year junior starter Rebecca Slattery chipped in with 10 points. Sophomore Cierra Bennett scored seven points and grabbed six rebounds.
"We're young in terms of varsity experience," said Ursuline coach Sean Durkin. "But the young players have really stepped it up.
"We're real athletic and we know that we are going to get up and down the floor. We played real well tonight for only our second game, and coming off a 10-day layoff. We are pretty proud of the way we played."
Rebounds, control
Durkin was pleased with all aspects of the game as Ursuline pulled down an impressive 48 rebounds and only turned the ball over eight times.
"We have a lot better balance this year than in the past," Durkin said. "A lot more people are contributing and that's good for us. We've tended to be a little one dimensional in the past."
The Irish played a harassing, full-court defense that pressured a young Fitch team into 12 first quarter turnovers, and 31 for the game.
"[Ursuline] has a great program," said first-year Falcon coach Dave Ward. "We were up against a pretty hefty challenge. We are inexperienced but we are getting better every day."
High-scoring unit
Ursuline's balanced attack put up over 70 points for the second straight game. The Irish scored 72 in their opener against Rayen.
Davidson not only led the team in scoring and rebounding, but she put on a show.
Her athletic moves and passing skills led to nine assists for her teammates.
"I don't know what [Davidson's] scoring will be this year. She'll still have her games where she'll score a lot," Durkin said. "But this was the type of game where she'll shine. We have people with her that can run the floor and finish and she's very unselfish. She'd rather pass than shoot."
The Irish outscored the Falcons in every quarter, and pulled quickly away to the easy victory.
Junior Danielle Storey led Fitch with eight points, while freshman Krista Mayes pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds.