Crestview avenges lone loss

Lisbon saw its championship hopes take a serious hit.
By John Butera
Vindicator Correspondent
COLUMBIANA -- The Crestview High girls basketball team jumped out an 11-0 lead Monday night, then added a fine run to start the second half as the Rebels turned back Lisbon 45-35 in a key Tri-County League matchup.
Crestview (13-1, 7-1) used a balanced attack to outscore Lisbon in every quarter as the Rebels avenged their only loss of the year and stayed tied with Columbiana atop the league standings.
Lisbon (10-3, 5-3) saw its championship hopes take a serious hit.
"We got off very slowly when we lost to Lisbon down there," said Crestview's Tanja Simione. "And even though we came back, we were exhausted.
"Tonight we jumped on them right away and never looked back."
Lisbon coach Jamie Entrikin said the Blue Devils didn't adjust quickly enough.
Too deep a hole
"We just dug ourselves too deep of a hole," Entrikin said.
Elyse Mongillo, who held Lisbon scoring ace Erica Sims to just two field goals and 11 points, had five of Crestview's first 11 points while Chelsie McCall added four as the Rebels held the Blue Devils scoreless until Emily Smith connected at 2:07 to make it 11-2.
"I just tried to run her and not let her touch the ball," said Mongillo of her defense of Sims. Mongillo finished with nine points, 12 rebounds and five assists while McCall added 10.
"We were ahead," said McCall, "but I was still worried that they would come back."
They did come back, several times, but Crestview always had an answer.
Sims' free throw made it 13-10 midway though the second quarter, but Crestview scored four straight to make it 17-10 with 2:37 left.
Freshman Chelsea Bowker played like a seasoned veteran, leading her team with 12 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists.
Leading 21-14 at halftime, Crestview used a 9-1 run to take control. Lisbon started the game 0 for 13 and went 0 for 9 to start the second half.
Sims wouldn't quit, making a field goal in the final seconds of the third quarter and scoring four quick points to start the fourth to cut the deficit to five, 31-26, with just over six minutes left.
But Bowker came up huge on the next two possessions and Julie Simmons added a basket at 2:41 to make it 39-30.
Hungry
"We used the same game plan as last game," said Simione. "Tonight, though, the kids couldn't wait to get out of the locker room to start the second half. They wanted to come out and take care of business."
Lisbon's Smith took scoring honors with 13, including three 3-point baskets.
"It's going to be tough to contend for the league now," said Entrikin. "But I still think we have a good young team that is only going to get better."