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Lowellville tops McDonald to stay perfect in league play
Gallery
By John Kovach
The young Rockets, who start three freshmen, built a 37-19 halftime lead and then rolled to a 65-41 victory against the Blue Devils.
LOWELLVILLE — It will be interesting to see just how good the young Lowellville High girls basketball team becomes by the end of the season — and in the years ahead.
The Rockets, who start three freshmen, showed that already they have become an excellent team as they rolled past McDonald, 65-41, on Thursday to continue undefeated in the Inter Tri-County League Tier Two.
In fact, Lowellville is far better than when the Rockets defeated the Blue Devils earlier in the season.
“Every day we get better and better,” said Lowellville coach Tony Matisi, whose Rockets built a 37-19 halftime lead. “We work hard in practice. I couldn’t tell you how much better we are playing.”
The Rockets displayed a well-balanced scoring attack and outstanding defense.
Coach Rob Hilbun of McDonald (11-5, 8-4) agreed with Matisi that Lowellville (13-3, 11-0) is a fast-improving team.
“We lost to them by five at our place [earlier in the season],” Hilbun said. “They definitely are better.
“They are so much more under control. They play well as a team, underneath and on the outside. And they are quick. They are playing phenomenal basketball,” Hilbun said.
Lowellville’s three starting freshmen combined for 43 points.
Emily Carlson, a 5-foot-2 freshman, scored a game-high 18 points, including three 3-point goals, to lead the sharp-shooting Rockets, who made 27-for-45 from the field.
Jamie Hynes, a 5-6 junior, and Ashley Moore, a 5-4 freshman, each chipped in with 14 points while Taylor Hvizdak, a 5-3 freshman, added 13 with eight rebounds.
And Chelsea Marrie, a 5-8 senior, did a commendable job on defense containing McDonald’s ace, Joh’Vonnie Mosley, a 5-6 junior, who nevertheless came up with team-bests of 15 points and eight rebounds.
Lowellville also controlled the boards, 30-15, while McDonald was cold from the field (15-for-42), including 2-for-13 from 3-point range.
“We are aggressive and always going to the hoop. Everyone could handle the ball,” said Matisi, whose players know how to run their plays to the hoop and score. “There is a rhyme and reason for every play.”
And his players also know how to run the court. “We have been stressing transition,” Matisi said.
The coach also lauded Marrie.
“She did a great job on defense on Mosley,” he said.
Hilbun said that Lowellville “is so quick” and that “they penetrate to the hoop. We tried to stop that but we were getting a little tired.”
And on offense “they were pressing [us].”
McDonald managed to make game of it early with several leads in the opening period, taking its last advantage at 14-13 early in the second quarter, after which Lowellville led the rest of the way.
Carlson had six points in the first quarter and Moore eight in the second, while Hvisdak hit back-to-back goals to give the Rockets a 39-19 lead early in the third.
Then Marrie scored all six of her points in the third period as the Rockets carried a 51-25 advantage into the final period.
kovach@vindy.com