ELLENBORO -Parkersburg Catholic came out with a purpose and unfortunately Paden City happened to be on the receiving end.
In the second of two games at the Class A, Region 1, Section 2 girls basketball tournament Monday night at Ritchie County High School, the sixth-ranked Crusaderettes scored the game's first 19 points and never looked back while defeating the Wildcats 69-21.
The Titans from Gilmer County, on the other hand, needed a full half to get its feet under them before taking care of Wirt County 58-42 in last night's opener.
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Photo by Kerry Patrick
Gilmer County’s Jamie Conrad, right, applies the defensive pressure on Wirt County’s Amanda Clark during a Class A, Region 1, Section 2 tournament game Monday night at Ritchie County High School. Gilmer County defeated Wirt County, 58-42, and in the nightcap Parkersburg Catholic defeated Paden City, 69-21.
The stage is now set for Wednesday's semifinals with a regional berth on the line for the two winners. Parkersburg Catholic (19-4) meets fourth-ranked Williamstown (17-4) in a contest scheduled for a 6 p.m. tip-off, while third-ranked St. Marys (20-2) and Gilmer County (16-7) will follow.
Parkersburg Catholic split its two meetings with the Yellowjackets, while Gilmer County lost 71-57 at St. Marys the first week of January.
"Who won the first game and who won the last game between us, that really doesn't matter," Parkersburg Catholic coach Marty Vierheller said.
Gilmer County 58,
Wirt County 42
Hannah Nichols scored 14 of her game-high 23 points to keep Wirt County (8-15) within striking distance by the end of the first half. The senior scored on a putback just before the buzzer sounded to cut the Gilmer County lead to 27-21.
In the third quarter, Gilmer County found the range from 3-point land by hitting 4-of-5 attempts from beyond the arc, including a pair from Jordan Morris as the gap reached 20 at 48-28.
Teammate Morgan Allen ignited a 13-0 run to end the period with seven of her team-high 16 points.
Overall from the field, the Titans converted nine of their first 13 opportunities as the difference reached 22 (50-28) in the opening moments of the fourth quarter.
Wirt County closed to within 17 at 55-38 before Allen assisted on a bucket by Michaela Gumm. On the ensuing possession, Allen drew a charge and with 1:51 remaining in regulation the Gilmer County starters were pulled.
Contributing 11 points and a team-high seven rebounds for the Titans was sixth-man Maggie Lilly.
Parkersburg Catholic 69, Paden City 21
Leah Hughes led the charge for Parkersburg Catholic after scoring 11 of her team-high 18 points in a first quarter which saw the Crusaderettes establish a 21-2 lead.
Teammate Maddie Roedersheimer dished out one assist and scored two of her 10 points as part of a 6-0 run to start the second quarter.
The Crusaderettes did not allow a field goal for the game's first 11 minutes.
The high-water mark of the first half occurred on Liz Ruscitto's basket, which put Parkersburg Catholic in front 36-6 with just under a minute left before intermission.
"I was real pleased with the girls right out of the chute," Vierheller said. "It would have been perhaps easy to think a little bit ahead. We have too much respect for every opponent on our schedule, and we have too much respect for (Paden City coach Kelly Sine) to be thinking about anything other than tonight's game.
"The girls executed and played pretty hard, and we had pretty decent results."
A total of three Parkersburg Catholic players scored in double figures, including Emily Koerber with 10 points. All 11 Crusaderettes who stepped onto the floor scored at least two points.
Dominique Craft led Paden City (4-20) with 10 points and eight rebounds.
