Lady Raiders cruise to 62-36 win at Frazier
Waynesburg Central鈥檚 Clara Paige Miller (33) shoots over the defense of the Lady Commodores鈥� Kaelyn Shaporka (10) and McKenzie Miller (5) in the first quarter of Friday鈥檚 non-section game at Frazier. (Photo by Jim Downey)
Jim Downey | 缅北禁地
The Lady Commodores鈥� Kaelyn Shaporka (10) pulls up for a shot over Waynesburg Central鈥檚 Josie Horne (20) during the third quarter of Friday鈥檚 non-section game at Frazier.
Waynesburg Central鈥檚 Kaley Rohanna (15) scans the court for a teammate after dribbling through the defense of the Lady Commodores鈥� Molly Youch (14) and Taylor Hazelbaker (15) in the first quarter of Friday鈥檚 non-section game at Frazier. (Photo by Jim Downey)
Jim Downey | 缅北禁地
The Lady Commodores鈥� Delaney Warnick (21) crosses over her dribble to get around Waynesburg Central鈥檚 Emma Kindervator in the second quarter of Friday鈥檚 non-section game at Frazier.
Jim Downey | 缅北禁地
The Lady Commodores鈥� Molly Youch drives past Waynesburg Central鈥檚 Nina Sarra (5) as the Lady Raiders鈥� Clara Paige Miller (33) slides over to defend in the third quarter of Friday鈥檚 non-section game at Frazier.
Waynesburg Central鈥檚 Clara Paige Miller (33) drives to the basket as the Lady Commodores鈥� McKenzie Miller (5) defends during the third quarter of Friday鈥檚 non-section game at Frazier. (Photo by Jim Downey)
Jim Downey | 缅北禁地
Jim Downey | 缅北禁地
Waynesburg Central鈥檚 Clara Paige Miller (33) gets a step on the Lady Commodores鈥� McKenzie Miller as she drives the lane in the first quarter of Friday鈥檚 non-section game at Frazier.
Jim Downey | 缅北禁地
Jim Downey | 缅北禁地
The Lady Commodores鈥� Kaelyn Shaporka (10) hustles back to cut off Waynesburg Central鈥檚 Nina Sarra (3) during the first quarter of Friday鈥檚 non-section game at Frazier.
Waynesburg Central鈥檚 Brenna Benke (21) controls her dribble as she drives around the Lady Commodores鈥� Molly Youch (14) on her way to the basket in the first quarter of Friday鈥檚 non-section game at Frazier. (Photo by Jim Downey)
PERRYOPOLIS 鈥� The first basketball game of the season played on opening night Friday will be the last one for awhile, and Waynesburg Central started on a winning note with a 62-36 non-section road victory against Frazier.
The Lady Raiders built a lead early, holding a double-digit advantage for most of the game.
Waynesburg used full-court pressure and a successful transition game to build a 20-11 lead after the first quarter and a 35-18 advantage at the half.
Clara Paige Miller and Kaley Rohanna both scored 11 points in the first half for the Lady Raiders, and Nina Sarra added 10 with most of the points from Rohanna and Sarra coming on transition fast-break layups. Miller was a force underneath for her first-half total.
鈥淚t was a good team effort,鈥� said Waynesburg Central coach Dave Sarra. 鈥淲e had good energy and shared the ball well.
鈥淲e were able to push the ball up the floor. We were able to initiate with our fast break and move into our offense.鈥�
Sarra continued, saying, 鈥淲e have three good guards and a presence in the post. We were moving the ball, penetrating, and getting the ball into scoring areas.鈥�
Frazier coach Winston Shaulis expected Waynesburg would come out with pressure.
鈥淲e knew they would give us full-court pressure. They did when we played them last year,鈥� said Shaulis. 鈥淲e have younger and inexperienced players. They were not in the correct spots.鈥�
Kaelyn Shaporka sparked the Lady Commodores in the third quarter, scoring nine of the squad鈥檚 12 points. Waynesburg also scored 12 points to keep the advantage at 17.
Shaporka led Frazier with 17 points and 15 rebounds, although Shaulis said his senior, sometimes, took too much onto herself.
鈥淜aelyn did a little too much, at times,鈥� said Shaulis.
Shaulis said he鈥檚 relying on Shaporka and the other returning players to help out the youngsters.
鈥淭he older players have to be vocal,鈥� said Shaulis. 鈥淎ll we look to do is improve. They will improve with time.鈥�
Waynesburg closed out with a 15-6 advantage in the fourth quarter. Miller led the way with a game-high 25 points. Sarra and Rohanna added 14 apiece.
Sarra was pleased with his squad the first time out of the gate, though was a bit frustrated with a few missed opportunities.
鈥淚 was able to see a lot of kids in the game and got to evaluate them,鈥� said Sarra. 鈥淲e left about 14 points out there in the third and fourth quarters.
Now, both teams will sit and wait with the rest of the winter sports squads to see when they鈥檒l be able to take to the court again. Though, both coaches explained they鈥檙e ready to adapt to the time off the floor until the hopeful return on Jan. 4.
鈥淪o, we were fortunate to start from the beginning and set a good foundation there when we come back,鈥� explained Shaulis. 鈥淚 was happy to get the foundation in early.鈥�
鈥淐oming into the first game, everything we needed to install, we installed,鈥� said Sarra. 鈥淲e鈥檒l be doing some zooms (meetings), even if it鈥檚 conditioning. Maybe have one of the girls (will lead a conditioning exercise).聽
鈥淚鈥檓 hoping we will be able to come back. We were supposed to have seven games in before Christmas.鈥�