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Superb start paces Raiders to strong win over Falcons
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Fitch’s Maura Bianco (24) and and Cassie Custer, right, try to shut down Harding’s Audreyanna Baldridge (23) during the first half of a basketball game Monday at Austintown Fitch High School. The Raiders dominated the Falcons, 72-42.
Seniors Briana McCurdy and Anita Brown account for 75 percent of Harding’s offense
By Brandon Judeh
Austintown
A 20-0 run to start Monday’s game propelled the Warren Harding girls basketball team to a 72-42 win over Fitch.
It took 9:15 for the Falcons (4-3) to score their first point, which was off of a free throw.
Thanks in large part to the Raiders’ intense defensive attack, it took 10:01 to score their first basket.
The Raiders (5-3) were led by seniors Briana McCurdy and Anita Brown who accounted for 75 percent of their offense. McCurdy had a game-high 29 points while Brown chipped in with 25 points and 10 rebounds all while playing with a hurt middle finger.
McCurdy nearly had a triple double as she added seven steals, eight rebounds and four assists.
Raiders coach P.J. Notar says that McCurdy and Brown are strong candidates for player of the year.
“I feel McCurdy is the best point guard in both counties and she proved that tonight,” Notar said. “Anita, I feel, is one of the best players as well.”
After shutting out Fitch 18-0 in the first quarter, Harding added an early bucket in the second to cap off the run that Notar says set the tone for the game.
“We know that Fitch is a good ball club and we wanted to come out and set the tempo early,” Notar said.
Fitch was able to make a nice run in the second quarter, but the Raiders were able to take a comfortable 32-11 lead into halftime.
The Raiders (5-3) didn’t let up in the third quarter as they continued to apply pressure on the defensive end and cause the Falcons to commit several turnovers that led to easy baskets.
“We like to grab rebounds and push the ball up the court so we can score fast and play great defense and cause turnovers,” McCurdy said.
Though the game was out of reach by the fourth quarter, the Falcons kept playing hard and hit a couple big 3-pointers. Having solid games for the Falcons were Brenda Thompson with 11 points and nine rebounds while Megan Sefcik scored seven.
The Raiders have won five consecutive games after a 0-3 start, catching fire at a critical point in the young season.
“Our team is playing well, Maya Bell plays great defense and rebounds the ball well and Rai’Ale Chatmon does a little bit of everything from rebounding to scoring and playing great defense,” Notar said. “She really helps set the tempo.”
Brown credits Harding’s great play and teamwork to playing with McCurdy and other players for several years.
“Winning five in a row feels a whole lot better than the feeling we had starting out 0-3,” Brown said. “Out team is playing great together and McCurdy and I have been playing together since sixth grade. We just have this amazing connection out on the court.”