Yo. Christian coasts past Chaney

The Eagles (14-1) jumped out to an early lead and were never threatened.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- An experienced and talented Youngstown Christian High girls basketball team that knows how to capitalize on the fast break and play pressure defense, proved to be just too much for a still-developing Chaney High squad to cope with Monday night at the Cowgirls' gym.
"Our team runs the floor," said Youngstown Christian coach Dennis Malaska, whose Eagles shot out to a 27-8 lead late in the opening period, then held off a last-quarter Chaney comeback before surging away to a 70-45 victory. "We work on the transition and press every practice. That's where we generate all of our offense."
Kara Cooper, a 5-foot-6 sophomore guard, scored 23 points while Rachel Coristin, a 6-0 senior center, contributed 18 with 11 rebounds to lead Youngstown Christian (14-1), while Danielle Pecchia added nine points and Victoria Bankhead nine rebounds with six points.
"Cooper and Coristin have been leaders all year," said Malaska, a former Chaney coach in his third season with Youngstown Christian, who emphasized that his team loves to fast break and press.
"We press well and go after the rebounds and play the floor well. We are looking for the open player."
Chaney comeback fizzles
Coach Dennis Miller of Chaney (4-11) said that his team was unable to sustain its comeback that brought the Cowgirls from a 49-23 deficit to within 57-45, before Youngstown Christian rallied and scored the final 13 points, six of them from Danielle Pecchia, four coming off back-to-back steals and drives to the hoop.
"We took a couple of shots that wouldn't drop and they seemed to come up with the loose ball," said Miller. "Their pressure defense prevented us from scoring more and we weren't patient enough [on offense]. We always seemed to have breakdowns somewhere."
Kayla Griffin a 5-9 junior center, scored 16 points to lead Chaney, nine of them coming during the Cowgirls' second-half charge back into the game; while Brittainny Cobb, a 5-9 senior forward, added 10 points and eight rebounds. Jasmyn Hopkins chipped in with nine rebounds.
"The team has been showing improvement. It just doesn't show," said Miller. "Cobb is a unique player. She has a big body. I like her [shooting] stroke from the outside." And, "Griffin showed a lot of senior leadership."
A fast-breaking team
Malaska said that Coristin, Pecchia and Cooper trigger Youngstown Christian's fast break.
"Usually Coristin rebounds and outlets the pass to Danielle Pecchia or Cooper and that helps to get our fast break going," said Malaska, noting that Pecchia and Coristin also key the half-court offense.
"Danielle Pecchia does a good job of running our half-court offense and gets our offense started." And, "Rachel [Coristin] scores quite a bit off our half-court offense with her jumper from the corner."
Malaska said that Pecchia and Coristin have bounced back from last season when they both were sidelined with knee injuries.
Their comeback, plus an overall experienced squad, have contributed to the team's success.
Malaska pointed out that most of his players have been with him all three years, and that only Cooper and Bankhead have not been because they were in eighth grade when he began coaching at the school.
kovach@vindy.com