Jumpers — Big Red’s Lucy Saccoccia takes a jump shot past Indian Creek’s Riley Sadler, McKenna Scott and Cam Ketron, while Steubenville’s Nyla McShann positions herself for a possible rebound. . – Andrew Grimm
STEUBENVILLE — Several factors were key to the Big Red women’s basketball team’s rise entering the holiday season — Nyla McShann’s all-around play has helped her grow into an even more dominant force, and the people around her My teammates continue to grow.
Both games were played on Monday night, with the Big Red scoring an impressive 61-34 victory over visiting Indian Creek. This is their fourth straight win, and they will be heading into the Christmas break with a record of 5 wins and 3 losses.
“I’m proud of the kids and how hard they played.” Big Red head coach Angie Forte said. “They stayed together and didn’t give up. At half-time we talked about not being complacent, not getting complacent and continuing to push in the second half, and they did that. I’m glad to have a day off.”
McShann, an All-Ohio selection a year ago, scored another 24 points on Monday and continues to be a rebounding force, scoring more than 20 points in every game during the winning streak. But now she’s dishing out assists and becoming a force on the defensive end.
Behind her, six other players scored baskets for the Big Red. Phoenix Fleming returned to double figures with 10 points, Lucy Saccoccia had eight points, Gabby Vane sank three triples for nine points and Bailey Beal sank a pair from range for six points.
“We talked with Nyla about exactly that: getting the ball to your teammates and trusting your teammates.” Forte said. “If she doubles up, (we tell her) to look for open guys, and she’s done a great job of making that adjustment to her game and adding assists to the package. She’s going to score, she’s going to rebound, but now she can see the floor and distribute the ball, so she’s more versatile.
“It’s also big that we have kids coming into practice and trying to make extra shots. When she’s kicking out, they can knock those shots down (in games).” It’s a total package, a total team effort, everyone stepping up. ”
Forte’s offense is coming together, but the defense is bringing it as well. It was the third of five wins for the Big Red and the second time in the last three games that the Big Red has held off an opponent under 40.
“It started with defense.” Forte said. “We changed our defense a little bit because we were a little bit under-represented in numbers, and it worked out well. They’ve worked hard to adjust and I’m proud of them.”
Steubenville, which led 11-5 at the end of the first quarter Monday, stood out for Creek (5-5) after going on a 15-2 run in the second quarter to lead by as many as 21 points. McKenna Scott’s late three points made it 33-15. Red had a big lead at the break. Scott scored 13 of Creek’s 15 points in the first half.
After an 8-0 run by the Big Red in the third quarter, the lead grew to 28 points and Steubenville took off from there.
“A lot of the teams we’ve played in the past have had big problems, and a lot of that was probably because our defense didn’t make them uncomfortable.” Creek head coach Steve Eft said. Creek’s team lost four straight after starting the season 5-1, all strong competitors. Creek’s opponents in those games (Big Red 5-3, Wheeling Central 8-0, Wheeling Park 5-1, Union Local 9-1) are a combined 27-5. “We’re letting our teams do what they want to do. It doesn’t matter who we’re playing, if we let our teams feel comfortable shooting, they’re going to get beat.” I have to, and it starts with me.
“Angie has done a great job with the team this season and made us play really good basketball. They played a great game. I prepared my daughters for the game and put them in a better position to be successful. We have to do a better job of standing up.”
Scott led Creek with 18 points, and Cadence Walker hit two threes and scored eight points.
“We have a few days off to regroup the team, but we’ll start right back up against another good team at Dover on Saturday, so we have to get back to work.” Eft said. “We’re going to look in the mirror and think about what we want to accomplish with the rest of the season. Our goals are still a long way off, we still have a lot of season left, but we’re starting to make changes and grow a little bit in some areas. And we have to keep improving.”
to the next
Indian Creek: Will take a break to regroup before heading to Dover on Saturday afternoon.
Big Red: Closed until Friday when Catholic Central hosts the annual Watt/Neese Classic inside the Crimson Center.
Big Red 61, Indian Creek 34
IC 5-10-11-8 – 34
BR 11-22-17-10 – 61
Indian Creek (5-5): Walker 3 0-0 8; Scott 6 3-3 18; Wiley 2 0-2 5; Sadler 0 0-0 0; Clinesmith 1 0-0 3; Cozart 0 0-0 0 ;Mirror 0 0-0 0;Tiriak 0 0-0 0;Ketron 0 0-0 0;Frolchak 0 0-0 0. Total: 12, 3-5; 34.
Big Red (5-3): Saccoccia 4 0-0 8; Fleming 5 0-1 10; Vein 3 0-0 9; McShann 11 2-4 24; Beer 2 0-0 6; Green 1 0-0 2; Bickerstaff 1 0-0 2;Scully 0 0-0 0;Lewis 0 0-0 0;Uare 0 0-0 0;Montgomery 0 0-0 0. Total: 27, 2-5; 61.
3 points: Indian Creek 7 (Scott 3, Walker 2, Wiley, Clinesmith). Big Red 5 (3 Veins, 2 Beers)
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