Warren beats Mooney by nine

The Raiders prevailed, 63-54, despite a poor performance at the foul line.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
WARREN -- Warren Harding High girls basketball coach David Jenkins missed both games against Cardinal Mooney last season with the flu.
On Tuesday, it struck again.
"I was throwing up on Tuesday," Jenkins said. "But I was going to force myself to be there this time."
He didn't need to. Before Thursday's game, he felt fine.
After Thursday's game, he felt even better.
Sophomore guard Janine McDonald scored a career-high 20 points as the Raiders overcame a poor free throw shooting night to earn their first win of the season, 63-54.
"It feels good," Jenkins said. "It's nice to get the monkey off my back."
Followed coach's advice
McDonald, a transfer from Sharon, missed 11/2 weeks of practice due to illness and is still picking up Harding's system. She was tentative in the Raiders' first two games, and Jenkins told her she needed to shoot more.
"I don't think I'll have to tell her anymore," he said with a laugh.
Added Mooney coach Jack Bermann: "She surprised us."
McDonald also had seven rebounds and three steals for Harding (1-2), which shot just 3-of-17 at the free throw line.
"Believe me, we've practiced our free throw shooting," Jenkins said. "We're just not making them yet."
Senior Jaleena Davis had 12 points and six rebounds and junior Desirae Jenkins had nine points and five steals for the Raiders. LaBrea Crawford added nine rebounds.
Cards' top scorer
Mooney junior Amber Bodrick scored a career-high 29 points to go along with five rebounds.
"She had a monster game," Bermann said. "We were waiting for her to have a breakout game. She played excellent."
Bodrick was also 16-of-20 at the free throw line as the Cardinals made 25-of-37 foul shots to keep the game close.
"That girl is tough," Jenkins said of Bodrick. "She was aggressive, she wanted the ball and she got it."
Senior Gina Brunetti -- Mooney's lone returning starter -- had 11 points, nine rebounds and five assists for the Cardinals (1-3). Sophomore Colleen Zajac added 15 rebounds.
"We're playing hard," Bermann, in his first year after replacing Roy Nard, said. "We're playing a lot of sophomores and juniors who were on [junior varsity] last season. Even before Roy left, he knew that it would be brutal with our schedule and all the young kids.
"We just have to stay focused and keep playing hard. Once we get down the road, we'll come around."
scalzo@vindy.com