PHILIPSBURG — Most valuable player Naomi Crispin scored 41 points over the two games, including 22 in the finals as unbeaten St. Joseph’s downed Philipsburg-Osceola, 77-27, in the championship game of the Taylor Harpster Memorial Tournament on Saturday, Dec. 30.
The WolfPack’s Aubrey Yartz and P-O’s Lily Warlow joined Crispin on the all-tournament team. Yartz fired in 16 points in the tourney final and had 29 points in St. Joseph’s two wins, bringing the team’s overall record to 9-0.
St. Joseph’s beat Moshannon Valley 59-17 in the opening round on Friday, Dec. 29.
Warlow scored 13 points in the championship game for the host Lady Mounties, who picked up their first win of the year in seven tipoffs when they turned back Curwensville in the opening round of the event, 56-31, on Dec. 29.
Lauren Himes added 14 of her 19 points in the first quarter of the WolfPack’s title game win. St. Joseph’s raced out to a 28-4 lead over the Lady Mounties and never looked back.
Crispin scored all of her points over the first three frames. Jacee Cunningham and Monika Peters each chipped in with 6 points for St. Joseph’s.
Maddy Malinich and Khendyl Sharrer finished with 5 points apiece for P-O.
Cunningham complemented Crispin and Yartz with 13 points in St. Joseph’s victory against Mo Valley. The WolfPack scored 22 points in both the first and third periods.
Ella Berg fronted the Damsels with 7 points en route to a spot on the all-tournament team.
Warlow fired in 26 points and Sharrer 12 in the Lady Mounties’ triumph over Curwensville. Philipsburg-Osceola forged a 19-point advantage through three quarters of the victory.
Curwensville’s Addison Warren wound up with 9 points.
State College
STATE COLLEGE — Carley Donnell and Lydia Tate made it onto the all-tournament team for the Lady Little Lions after State College won its own Holiday Hardwood Tournament with wins over Freire Charter and Shaler.
State ended the tournament with a 6-3 mark.
Donnell scored 4 of her 10 points in the fourth quarter as the Lady Little Lions held off Shaler, 44-37, in a defensive struggle in the tournament final on Dec. 29.
State College held Shaler to just 8 points over the final eight minutes, clinging to a 5-point lead through three periods.
Jess Hawbaker’s 11 points led the Lady Little Lions. Diana Tsarnakova scored 7, while Tate and Sienna Wilson each finished with 5.
Shaler’s Bailey Perez topped all scorers with 13 points. The Lady Little Lions and Lady Titans combined for 32 points in the first quarter, with State College holding a 2-point lead before the pace shifted away from offense.
Wilson fired in 17 and Donnell 12 to lead the way as State College punched its ticket to the finals with a 59-21 rout of Freire on Thursday, Dec. 28.
Tate came through with 9 points. She and Donnell combined for 11 in the first quarter, keying the Lady Little Lions as they ran out to a 16-4 lead.
Freire’s Destiny Davis scored 10 points.
Bald Eagle Area
MORRISDALE — Gabby Perry took home the defensive MVP award as Bald Eagle Area allowed just 10 second-half points to take down the host team, 43-29, in the championship game of the West Branch Tournament on Dec. 29.
The Lady Eagles squashed Harmony 45-5 on the opening round on Dec. 28. BEA exited the tourney with a 4-5 mark.
Sybil Thompson scored 15 points and Addisyn Burns tacked on 13 in the tournament final for Bald Eagle. The Lady Eagles held a slim 4-point lead over West Branch at halftime before creating separation over the final 16 minutes.
Olivia Boone added 6 points and Taylor Habovick 5. West Branch received 9 points from Sarah Guglieleni.
The Lady Eagles didn’t allow a point in the second half against Harmony on opening night. BEA only had an 8-3 lead after one quarter before making the contest one-sided.
Boone led the way offensively with 12 points. Habovick and Thompson each tallied 11.
Jayden Fry scored 4 of Harmony’s 5 points.
Bellefonte
MIFFLINTOWN — Ava Shearer poured in 32 points, and Juniata had 48 points at the half in a 75-34 home victory over Bellefonte on Dec. 28
The Lady Raiders are still looking for their first win in seven outings heading into the New Year. Juniata raised its mark to 8-3.
Maria Cotter paced the Lady Raiders with 13 points. Bellefonte scored 11 points in each of the first and fourth quarters but found itself down 31 at halftime.
