RURAL VALLEY, Pa. (EYT/D9) — Chloe Fritch was just happy to be back out on the basketball court again.
After missing four games because of a concussion, the sophomore guard on the Karns City girls basketball team was eager to play and help her team after being sidelined for two big games against North Clarion and Redbank Valley last week.
Fritch picked up right where she left off before the concussion, scoring 18 points — 13 coming in the pivotal second half — to help the Gremlins come away with a 58-55 road victory over West Shamokin on Tuesday night.
(Pictured above, Karns City celebrates with a team photo after a road win over West Shamokin)
“I felt so good to be back out with the girls,” Fritch said.
Fritch turned in the pivotal play when she was fouled on a basket with 6.4 seconds remaining and sank the free throw for the three-point win.
Karns City trailed 31-27 at the half, but took 42-40 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Brooklyn Taylor hit two big 3-pointers in the frame. Fritch also scored five points.
In the fourth, Fritch scored eight points and Taylor hit three key free throws to help the Gremlins secure the victory.
Taylor added 14. Savanna Prescott chipped in nine and Emma Dailey eight for Karns City (12-7).
(Chloe Fritch)
Fritch was a little fatigued early in the game because of the layoff, but said “then the adrenalin kicked in.”
Fritch suffered her concussion at North Clarion on Jan. 18 when she hit in the head. She stayed in the game and scored 28 points in the loss.
During Karns City’s next game against Union two days later, Fritch suffered from a headache and dizziness. She scored seven points in the first half, but sat the final two-plus quarters.
“I had small, little headaches (after the North Clarion game), but I didn’t think anything of it because I figured, ‘Well, I just got hit in the head. It’s nothing serious,'” Fritch said. “When we played the Union game, my body was just letting me know because I tried to shoot two foul shots and I almost airballed them. I just didn’t feel good. My headaches got worse after that and I got super dizzy. I knew that wasn’t good.”
A doctor then diagnosed her with a concussion.
Luckily for Fritch, it didn’t take long for her symptoms to subside and she was cleared to return for the game against West Shamokin.
“I missed it,” Fritch said. “You don’t realize how much you like it until you can’t do it. I missed it a lot and I’m excited to be back out there with my teammates.”
FOREST 42, ROCKY GROVE 24
Amber Guzzi scored 11 points and also had seven rebounds and four steals in the Fires’ win.
Kaylie Rooke continued to put up big numbers for Forest with eight points, 12 boards, three steals and four assists.
The Fires got off to a big start, outscoring Rocky Grove 12-0 in the first quarter.
CRANBERRY 55, A-C VALLEY 31
Kendell Findlay scored 24 points as the Berries downed the Falcons.
Findlay scored 18 of those points in the first half as Cranberry led 31-23. The Berries held the Falcons to just eight second-half points to pull away.
Mariah Wessell added nine points for Cranberry.
Maddy Dehart scored 13 points and also had 10 rebounds for A-C Valley.
Mackenzie Parks chipped in eight points and nine boards for the Falcons.
MONITEAU 62, SLIPPERY ROCK 36
Catherine Kelly scored 18 points and Kendall Sankey chipped in 10 as the Warriors cruised to a win over the Rockets.
Sankey also had six rebounds, four assists and three steals for Moniteau (18-3).
Kelly had three assists, two steals and four boards.
Davina Pry came close to a double-double with nine points and eight rebounds for the Warriors.
Madison Romanovich led Slippery Rock with 15 points.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Jordan Hesdon poured in 26 points as Clarion-Limestone jumped out to a 38-17 lead at the half on the way to a 60-29 win over Moniteau.
Rylie Klingensmith added 12 points for the Lions (19-1).
Colton Thomas led Moniteau with nine points.
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