Lady Pioneers off to flying start at 3-0
West Greene’s Anna Durbin (5) scores with a one-handed shot as Yough’s Kayla Gerdich (3) defends during the Southmoreland Tip-Off Tournament on Friday. (Photo by Darnell Graham)
West Greene’s Jersey Wise (3) flies through the air to score as Yough’s Mikayla Chewning (15) defends during the Southmoreland Tip-Off Tournament on Friday. (Photo by Darnell Graham)
ALVERTON — West Greene’s girls basketball team lost a legendary senior class and has no seniors on this year’s roster, but that didn’t stop the Lady Pioneers from sprinting out to a 3-0 start.
West Greene rolled over Yough, 54-11, and Burrell, 74-47, at the 17th Southmoreland Girls Basketball Tip-Off Tournament last Friday and Saturday, then cruised by McGuffey, 62-18, on Monday.
The Lady Pioneers took control early in their season opener against the Lady Cougars.
The score was tied at 2-2 before West Greene ran off 29 consecutive points into the second quarter and led 44-4 at halftime.
The Lady Pioneeers were led by Jersey Wise with 14 points, Elizabeth Brudnock with 13 points, and Anna Durbin with 11 points.
“Wise, Brudnock, and Durbin are our big three,” said West Greene coach Jordan Watson. “Jersey controls the pace of the game, and if those three are in double figures we’ll be pretty good as long as the team plays solid defense behind them.”
Watson said he was pleased with the first game effort other than free throw shooting and rebounding.
“We were five of 14 at the line and we have got to rebound better,” he said.
Four West Greene players scored in double figures Saturday night against Burrell.
Wise led the way for the Lady Pioneers with a game-high 28 points. Brudnock (15), Katie Lampe (11), and Brooke Barner (10) also finished in double figures.
In Monday night’s win over the Lady Highlanders, West Greene sprinted out to a 25-0 lead after the first quarter and never looked back. The Lady Pioneers, who led 44-10 at halftime, were paced by Brudnock with a game-high 16 points with Barner adding 10.
Jim Downey contributed to this story.