Mooney stays alive in SVC

By JOHN KOVACH

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — The statistics were telling in the East-Cardinal Mooney girls high school basketball game Thursday night at the Cardinals’ gym.

The Panthers made only 18-for-68 (26.5 percent) of their shots from the field, including a very meager 2-for-25 (8 percent) from 3-point range.

The Cardinals, meanwhile, made a much-better 23-for-48 (47.9 percent) from the field, including 4-for-8 (50 percent) from 3-point range.

The result: Mooney, after holding only a 38-34 lead after three quarters, outscored the Panthers by 19-11 in the final quarter to surge to a 57-45 victory and stay contention for the Steel Valley Conference championship.

Dayna Daltorio, a 5-foot-8 senior guard, fired in 17 points, including four 3-point goals, while Sarah Pelini added 13 points with 14 rebounds and five assists to spearhead the Cardinals (10-8, 3-1 SVC).

Brittney Taylor, a 5-foot-9 senior guard, sparked East with 22 points, including 12 in the first half, thanks to her nifty drives to the hoop and inside jump shots, although she, like her teammates, struggled at times trying to find the hoop.

Coach Tanisha Franklin of East (7-11, 2-2 SVC) said Mooney’s defense was the big reason that her team shot so poorly.

“We missed a lot of shots from the outside. If we had made some of those shots, we would have been in the game,” said Franklin. “We were able to get the shots, but [Mooney’s] defense was very good against us. Even when we had the shots, they were difficult to make.”

So, “Give them credit. Their defense contested every shot.”

Coach Jack Bermann of Mooney said his defense was “contesting all [East’s] shots. We knew that Alexandra Hines is a great shooter from the outside and Brittney Taylor can penetrate. If you give them the open looks they can bury you. “

But he said that last Saturday in Mooney’s game against Walsh Jesuit, that “we were tied 12-12 at the half [after] we had contested every shot. Then we lost [because we stopped contesting shots]. I told our defense that to be in the SVC game for the SVC title, that you have to contest shots the entire game.”

Franklin also conceded that, “[Mooney] controlled the boards [32-28]. They did an excellent job boxing us out.”

The Cardinals’ offense also did a great job passing the ball around and looking for the open player. They made outstanding plays and seven players got into the scoring act.

“On offense today, we made our shots and made the extra play and made plays,” said Bermann. “We also had a good effort. Everyone has their own skills and its nice when they use them.”

And also on defense, “We broke their pressure and scored off it.”

Edna Robinson and Katie Hughes each added eight points for Mooney.

Alexandra Hines contributed eight points for East, including two 3-point goals, while Reshayla Taylor finished with seven and Chelsea Bennett six with eight rebounds and Monet Oliver seven steals.

East pulled to within 44-39 in the fourth quarter on Reshayla Taylor’s goal and foul shot. But Daltorio scored six of Mooney’s next eight points on a trey and goal and foul shot to help the Cardinals pull away.

Daltorio was complemented by Robinson, who contributed four points in the last quarter, including a pair of foul shots that gave Mooney a 56-43 lead.

kovach@vindy.com