RIMERSBURG, Pa. (EYT/D9) — It’s been a process, but the Union girls basketball team is starting to reap some of those rewards of sticking to the plan.
Katie Gezik scored 14 points and the Damsels used a big third quarter to pull away from Clarion-Limestone for a 40-27 win on Tuesday night.
(Pictured above, Katie Gezik)
It was the the second win in the last four games for Union after a winless start to the season under new — well, not so new, really — head coach Josh Meeker.
Meeker, who led the program to more than 200 wins over a 10 year span in his first stint, returned to the bench after a 10-year hiatus this season with a young and inexperienced roster.
Union has shown signs of late, including its win over the Lions.
Cheyenne Dowling added 10 points for the Damsels, who outscored C-L 13-7 in the third quarter to turn a tight game into a double-digit lead.
Gezik and Dowling combined for eight of those points in the third.
Alyssa Wiant led Clarion-Limestone with 14 points.
The Lions started off well, leading 10-8 after the first quarter, but went into a scoring lull with just 17 points the rest of the game — and only four in the second quarter.
Gracie Gallagher pitched in seven points for Union.
REDBANK VALLEY 75, A-C VALLEY 8
Mylee Harmon scored 23 of her game-high 31 points in the first quarter as the Bulldogs stormed out to a 32-4 lead.
Alivia Huffman added 16 points and Caylen Rearick 13 for Redbank Valley (10-1).
Mackenzie Parks led A-C Valley with six points.
KARNS CITY 54, FOREST 23
Brooklynn Taylor poured in 20 points and Chloe Fritch added 14 as the Gremlins downed the Fires.
Karns City led 20-10 at the half but surged ahead 42-18 after three quarters.
Taylor scored nine of her points in the third for the Gremlins.
Amber Guzzi scored 14 points and added five rebounds for the Fires.
KEYSTONE 41, CLARION 28
Natalie Bowser scored 18 points as the Panthers pulled away from the Bobcats with a big fourth quarter.
Sophie Babington led Clarion with eight points. Taylor Alston pitched in seven.
NORTH CLARION 53, CRANBERRY 18
Fast starts have been the hallmark for the Wolves.
It was again as North Clarion led 19-0 after the first quarter.
Emma McFarland scored 11 points and Madison McFarland added 10 to lead the Wolves.
Brooke Steinman added nine for North Clarion.
Kendell Findlay scored 10 points for Cranberry.
BOYS BASKETBALL
David Dessicino scored 10 points, but Moniteau fell at Slippery Rock to the defensively stout Rockets, 44-31.
David Martino and Aydan Jackson each scored six points for the Warriors.
John Sabo paced Slippery Rock with 17 points. Josh Book pitched in 12 and Dylan Gordon 11 for the Rockets.
WRESTLING
Heavyweight Josh Beal earned a pin in just 32 seconds as the Clarion wrestling team downed Punxsutawney, 42-29.
Beal was just one of six Bobcats to earn falls in the victory.
Jacob Henry (145), Mason Gourley (160), Logan Edmonds (215), Grayson Aaron (114) and Zane Vantassel (133) also registered pins.
Punxsutawney got wins by fall by Grant Miller (172), Landon Martz (189) and Hunter Dobson (107).
Dyson Gould earned a 19-4 technical fall for Punxsutawney at 127 pounds.
