ILVGH: Big Shots and Big Games

Monday, 1/19:

It isn’t often a team can go scoreless in a first quarter and win, but Bangor did exactly that in defeating Pen Argyl 23-13. The Green Knights led 5-0 after one and 11-7 at the half. The Slaters held the Knights to two second half points from Ashlynn Oessenick on free throws. Kaylynn Figurski finished the night with ten points, seven of those in the fourth quarter. Jackelin Miller hit one of Bangor’s two treys on the evening. The win was the third in four games for Bangor.
Tamaqua denied Blue Mountain a victory that would have gone a long way to helping the Eagles make the district playoffs, surviving a 38-34 overtime contest. Millie Black and Lauren Ligenza both put up a double double–Ligenza 13 points and 11 boards, Black 15 points and 12 rebounds. Ligenza scored all six points in the extra session to propel the Blue Raiders to the win. Karley Koch led the Eagles with 14 points and Callie Peel had 11. Tamaqua was 12/27 from the charity striple, while Blue Mountain was only 2/6.
Pine Grove notched a spot in the district playoffs with a 52-45 win over Panther Valley. Seven fourth quarter points from Meadow Umbenhauer gave her 14 for the game, matching the output of Hollynn Sampson. Sophomore Lainey Fidler was the third Cardinal in double digits with 11 points. For the Panthers, Ace Aponte scored 20, but it wasn’t enough to get her team over the hump. Pine Grove shot 9/19 on free throws, while the Panthers attempted only eight. Morgan Orsulak hit six times from the field for 12 points in the loss.

Tuesday, 1/20:

Make it seven in a row for the Notre Dame Green Pond Crusaders, 49-27 victors over Jim Thorpe. The Crusaders forced the issue inside, going to the foul line 26 times, converting 16 times. Ava Hobbie scored 11 of her game high 12 points in the first half. Brenna Hammerstone scored all ten of hers as well in the first sixteen minutes. NDGP dropped 28 points in the second quarter to put this one out of reach early, leading 35-11 at the break. The win was #996 for the Crusaders, who hope to celebrate their 1,000th before the regular season is complete.
WIlson Area delayed Southern Lehigh’s green highlight in the power rankings for at least one more game, escaping with a 42-41 win over the Spartans. Julie Bonham knocked down eight baskets for 18 points, matching the performance from Southern Lehigh’s Eliana Marques. Her sister Tessa scored eight and Anna Schmitt contributed seven. Both teams missed three of four fourth quarter free throws. The Spartans scored 20 in the first quarter but squandered the early nine point lead, ending a three game winning streak. The Warriors won their third straight and improved to 11-5.
Emmaus built two double digit leads at Rockne Hall against Central Catholic, but the Vikettes made it a ballgame late and nearly got the fourth quarter lead. The Hornets held on for a 44-35 win, scoring twice in the final seconds to pad the final score. Gabby DeVita led her squad with 15 points, followed by Gracie Ervin with 12. As the Vikettes made their comeback attempt, Shamiya Roberts broke away with 16 points, joined by 12 from Morgan Seagreaves. In the final minutes, the Vikettes picked off a pass and Morgan Seagreaves raced down the court, but DeVita caught up to her and knocked the ball away. Emmaus got the ball back twice in the final 15 seconds and scored two layups. Find more on this game, including interviews and game videos on our X: @LSVSports
Two more of the best players in the valley were on full display as Bethlehem Catholic moved past Liberty 65-51. Both Ava Kopetskie and Aliyah Brame accounted for 26 points. Brame hit five times from downtown, as the Golden Hawks scored nine times from beyond the arc. Beca took a 23-7 first quarter lead, allowing them plenty of cushion for the remainder of the game. The Hurricanes will need two more victories to qualify for districts. Bethlehem Catholic has another busy weekend, facing off at Nazareth and at Lancaster Catholic on Friday and Saturday respectively.
Pocono Mountain West picked up its fifth victory of the year and remains alive to clinch a district playoff berth, edging East Stroudsburg South 34-31. Emma Campussano led the Panthers with 12 points Michaela Smith scored all six of her points in the second quarter.
Easton dominated Northampton 58-28 in a mercy rule contest. Melina Cole’s 18 led all scorers, while Nat Amato hit four times from deep to compile a 12 point effort. Elena Brunetti and Gabby Wismer both added eight. The Red Rovers have now won ten in a row and are 14-2 overall, maintaining the top spot in the EPC and 6A power rankings.
The one-two punch of Alexa Davis and Karly Leszcynski put up eight triples and combined for 34 points in Nazareth’s 62-40 crushing of Freedom. This marked the eighth straight win for the Blue Eagles, who are trying to keep pace for a top four seed in districts. In the loss, Sara Kokolus had another great game, putting up 12 points for the Patriots.
Dieruff made it six out of their last seven, rebounding from a loss to Parkland by rolling by Whitehall 55-26. Jayla Rosario had another impressive game, scoring 20, including 8/10 from the foul line. Milly Matos provided 11 points off the bench, 9 of which came from behind the 3-point line. The Huskies moved to 13-5 and conclude their year with contests against Central Catholic, Emmaus, Allen and Parkland. Two or three wins could put them in a first round home district playoff game.
A 22-0 third quarter put the exclamation point in Parkland’s 48-12 conquest of William Allen. Ten different Trojans scored, led by 12 from Isabella Hallal. Parkland got 27 points off the bench, flexing their ever-present depth one more time. Parkland and Emmaus remain neck-and-neck for the two seed in districts.
A 19-14 fourth quarter helped Stroudsburg edge Pocono Mountain East 54-53. Fourteen in the second half from Teagan Strunk, as part of her 22 point night, helped the Mounties get it done in regulation. Despite their 6-11 record, Stroudsburg could still pull off an above .500 conference record to make the district tournament and it could come down to a game against PM West to decide who keeps going and who’s season comes to a close.

Wednesday, 1/21:

Nazareth saw a 31-24 halftime lead slip away, as the Scranton Prep Classics came alive for a 54-46 win. Standout Chloe Mamera knocked down ten shots and eight of twelve free throws for a 28 point night. Karly Lezcynski had 12 points. While Carly Brown and Audrey Samsel stepped up with nine and points respectively, Alexa Davis was held to eight, just the fourth time she finished under double digits all season. Prep won the third quarter 15-3 and the second half 30-15. This marked the first Blue Eagles loss since before Christmas.
A first quarter ten point explosion from Emma Dalpe spurred Wilson Area on to a 41-8 victory over Bangor. Dalpe hit twice from distance and twice more in the paint, pushing the Warriors out to an early lead. Julie Bonham finished the night with 12 points, also knocking down two triples. Grace Hartzell-Ham added eight. The Wilson defense held Kaylynn Figurski to four points.
Hailey Jenkins turned it on full blast against Palisades, scoring 22 in Catty’s 50-16 win. Sophomore Kaylin Stewart and freshman Javaeha LaFond both hit the ten point mark. The Rough Riders have now won four in a row, currently in third place in the power ranking for class 3A.
Brielle Parliman led Lehighton with 13 points as the Indians pounded Palmerton 55-28. Her four triples were excellently timed–two to begin the game, one right before halftime, and a final one to start the third quarter. Leah Uyvari added three more treys, ending her night with 12 points. Ryleigh Trotman also reached double digits with 11. Cate Morgan led the Blue Bombers with eight points, but Palmerton struggled throughout in this one, falling behind as the Indians shot lights out. You can see more on this game, including interviews and game videos on our X: @LSVSports
Pen Argyl finally got the get-right game they needed, snapping an eight game losing streak and driving past Moravian Academy 50-12. Katie Wilgus, Leah Apostol and Gianna Martini each hit ten, ten, and eleven points respectively. Ashlyn Oessenick also added eight second half points, including two triples. The victory moved the Green Knights to 8-9.
Northwestern Lehigh had little trouble dispatching of Northern Lehigh 54-28. Natalie Conner did Natalie Conner things, scoring 21 points on seven made shots plus going 4/5 at the foul line. Freshman Charlotte Gober, younger sister of Hannah, is making her mark as of late–she put up 12 points in this one. This marked the sixth consecutive win for the Tigers, who look to fend off Lehighton for the top spot in the Colonial League tournament and in District XI 4A.
Saucon Valley put together its sixth win in seven outings, dealing a heavy blow blow to Salisbury’s district playoff hopes 45-34. Brooke Daves had 15 points and Grace Donahue had 13. Daves and Donahue each hit two treys and Siera Skoda hit five of six free throws in the fourth quarter to help ice the game. The Panthers put up a 15-2 first quarter, which proved to be ample cushioning for the rest of the contest. The win got Saucon Valley to 8-7 in league as they try to hold on to the final league playoff seed.
Pocono Mountain West picked up a must-win over rival East 43-33. The Cardinals took a 24-23 halftime lead and both teams only mustered two points in the third. The Panthers won the fourth quarter 18-7 to take home the win. led by 15 points from Emma Campusano and eleven each from Zyairrah Lanier and Jodi Bowen. Bowen scored seven of her points in the final frame. West is looking to sneak into the EPC tournament and districts, with several games remaining against Monroe county rivals.

Thursday, 1/22:

Blue Mountain picked up an important Schuylkill League victory, 44-35 over Panther Valley, keeping playoff hopes alive in class 4A. Hailey Place set a tone with an early 3-ball and 14 points overall. Delaney Walborn had 11 points, hitting from beyond the arc three times. Mila Fleagle scored nine. Down the stretch, the Eagles made 11 of 14 free throws. Morgan Orsulak was held to ten points for the Panthers. With the loss, Panther Valley is officially eliminated from postseason contention.
Executive Education rolled past Lehigh Valley Academy Charter 67-44. Ashley Hunter-Ali was a force, hitting eight times form the field for 16 points. Sophomore Khloe Madison knocked down two 3’s in the first half as part of a 12 point outing. Kendall Medina hit six of her seven free throw opportunities in a 13 point night. The win puts the Raptors two away from clinching a district playoff berth.
Pine Grove pushed Tamaqua to the limit in overtime, but the Blue Raiders emerged with a 36-29 victory for their third straight. Both Leah Black and Lauren Ligenza scored a double double. (Black 11 pts/10 rb), (Ligenza 10 pts/12 rb). Millie Black pulled down 11 rebounds and had 5 steals. Tamaqua was 11/22 at the foul line, while Pine Grove was 0/2. Meadow Umbenhauer led Pine Grove with 13 points. In the loss, Pine Grove hit seven 3-pointers.

Friday, 1/23:

Central Catholic picked up a key victory over Dieruff, 52-42. The surging Vikettes have won four of their last five and have been finding some more offense from Skylar Taylor and Shamiya Roberts. The two combined for 30 points. This one was close at the break, as Central led 26-23 before pulling away late. Jayla Rosario knocked down four treys and Aniya Holder had two more. Rosario finished with 14 and Justyce McChristian reached ten in the defeat. Each team now faces a stiff test in their next contest, as Central gets Parkland and the Huskies face Emmaus.
Bethlehem Catholic got all it could handle from Nazareth, narrowly clipping the Blue Eagles 40-36. Kam Gallis returned from injury and scored five points in her first outing in several weeks. Aliyah Brame led the Hawks with 11 and Leah Ault had ten more. Brooklyn Lewis scored seven of her eight in the first quarter. Alexa Davis was the leading scorer for Nazareth with seven, as it was a balanced effort from Nazareth. Karly Leszcynski was limited to a fourth quarter 3-pointer. The Blue Eagles remain in line for a top 4 seed in districts and have challenged themselves significantly with Scranton Prep and Beca.
Pocono Mountain West kept the Timberwolves of ES North winless, outscoring them 61-22. This time, it was Alexa Campusano with the big output, scoring 17 points, while her sister Emma had 15. The teams combined to go 6/24 from the foul line, but the Panthers hit 27 times from the field. This marked the fourth win in five tries for the Panthers who are making a desperate playoff push for districts, now sitting at 7-11.
Stroudsburg got past East Stroudsburg South 45-35 behind 25 points from Adriana Borzio. She it all three of her team’s 3-pointers and was 6/11 from the foul line.
Easton notched its 11th straight victory, blowing by Freedom 62-30. Four Red Rovers reached double figures in Melina Cole(17), Gabby Wismer(12), Ava Muhammed(11), and Elena Brunetti(10). Easton outscored the Patriots 33-11 in the second half and knocked down seven 3-balls. Easton moved to 15-2 and remained atop the EPC and district playoff standings.
Emmaus vaulted past William Allen 60-21 on senior night. Olive Whitney hit a new career high with 21 points, converting five 3-pointers along the way. Gabby DeVita hit twice from beyond the arc and Gracie Ervin contributed ten points. Emmaus racked up 42 first half points, leading 42-13. Arianna Rosario led the Canaries with 12 points. The victory keeps the Green Hornets in line for the second seed in the upcoming EPC and district tournaments.
Palmerton rolled by Jim Thorpe 51-24, getting out to a 17-0 first quarter lead thanks in part to seven from Hailey Barry. Barry finished with 12, while Cate Morgan paced the Bombers with 20. Emma Rex put up 11. Palmerton is now 14-5 and has Northampton, Northwestern Lehigh, and Northern Lehigh left.
For the second time in seven days, Northwestern Lehigh survived a one-point nail-biter with Lehighton. The Tigers held the Indians scoreless for a five plus minute stretch of the fourth quarter, allowing them to come back and steal the victory. Literally. Nat Conner stole two in the back court off the press for layups late to push the Tigers across the finish line, along with a huge layup by Emma Freeman late. Conner finished with 16, matching Ryleigh Trotman on the other side. Lehighton carried a lead heading to the fourth and had pushed it to as much as ten points. In the waning moments, Leah Uyvari could have put the Indians back on top, but missed a pair of free throws; then on the other end, Olivia Reinhart missed a pair, giving Lehighton a last chance with 7.7 seconds. The shot did not go and Northwestern emerged victorious. The two could meet again in Colonials and/or districts. Find more on this game on our X account: @LSVSports
Ever-present anchor Ava Kopetskie once again helped will her squad to victory in a tight one with Northampton, 52-49. The Konkrete Kids rocketed out to a 21-15 first quarter lead, spurred on by two triples from Laila Reichl and eight points overall. Northampton kept a 33-29 halftime lead before the Hurricanes evened things up after three. Kopetskie scored all eight Hurricanes points in the fourth and 16 of the 23 second half points for her team. She hit the winning 3-pointer from deep as time expired for the game winning score. The loss officially eliminated Northampton from postseason contention.
Southern Lehigh clinched a district playoff berth, speeding past Palisades 43-15. It was never in doubt for the Spartans, as they cruised to a 27-6 halftime lead. Sam Fontanez led the Spartans with 12 points, followed by Eliana Marques and Lydia Bartlett, each with nine. Southern hit four 3-pointers and went 7/8 at the foul line.
Parkland had no trouble with Whitehall, blowing by the Zephyrs 55-18. In typical Trojans fashion, numerous players put up plenty of points. Aneri McGalla had 12 points on four triples. Isabella Hallal followed with 11 and Cheryllana Cunningham put up nine. Ed Ohlson’s squad now prepares for a tough stretch before the postseaosn: at Central Catholic, home to Emmaus and home to Dieruff.
Hailey Barry and Kaylin Stewart combined for 31 points in Catty’s 47-30 victory over Salisbury. The win gave the Rough Riders five straight, as they try to keep pace with Green Pond and Schuylkill Haven in 3A. Kendra Morgan put up 14 points in the loss for the Falcons.
Grace Donahue was the hero for Saucon Valley, securing the victory at Martz Hall 36-35 over Pottsville. Her free throw with no time left on the clock in regulation averted overtime and moved the Panthers to .500 at 9-9.
Rutgers Prep was too much for Executive Education, sacking the Raptors 65-35. A 15-5 first quarter put Prep in the driver’s seat. Hailey Benbow, the sophomore who was the GOAT at the recent Bethlehem Catholic GOAT Challenge, put up 15 points. Sophia Georgades did the same. For the Raptors, Kendall Medina led the way with 20 points.

Saturday, 1/24:

The Golden Hawks of Bethlehem Catholic won their seventh straight, heading on the road for a 45-39 victory at Lancaster Catholic. Brooklyn Lewis put up ten in the first half and 21 for the game. Aliyah Brame added 16 points on the afternoon. Despite a 24-15 halftime lead for Beca and the same lead going to the fourth, they were held to only six fourth quarter points. Brame scored four of those on a trey and a free throw.
Liberty went off for a 70 spot, blasting Stroudsburg 70-24. Twenty-one more points for Ava Kopetskie leaves her just five short of becoming the all-time leading scorer in Liberty High School history. The Hurricanes blew the Mounties away with TWELVE 3-pointers nailed by six different players. Addie Smith led the way in sharp-shooting with four 3-balls. Teagan Strunk led Stroudsburg with 11 points. The loss officially ended the postseason hopes for the Mounties.
Hours after falling on the road in a wild environment at Northwestern Lehigh, Lehighton rebounded with a 51-40 victory at Tamauqa in a game that was rescheduled from last weekend. Lauren Ligenza scored a double double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Leah Black also pulled down 10 boards. Leah Uyvari banged home 20 points, including two of the team’s four 3-pointers. The Indians remain atop the District XI 4A power rankings at 17-2.
Nine different players scored for Notre Dame Green Pond, as the Crusaders moved closer to the program’s 1,000th victory. In the 50-19 win over Bangor, Riley Boyle scored ten, Ava Shonk contributed nine, and Ava Hobbie added eight. The win was the eighth in a row for NDGP and makred the 997th win for the program. Jackelin Miller led the Slaters with 12 points, as Kaylynn Figurski was held to just two.T
The Green Hornets went full-Emmaus, taking the trip up to East Stroudsburg South and bringing back a 62-19 win. In typical fashion, Emmaus lived by the three, hitting seven of them. Three of those came from Olive Whitney and Gabby DeVita. Emmaus now prepares for Dieruff and Parkland before closing out the regular season against Whitehall.
Melina Cole caught fire ahead of a weekend snow storm in Dunmore, sinking six 3-pointers in a 20 point afternoon. Fifteen more from Nat Amato and ten by Gabby Wismer allowed Easton a big halftime lead and 52-40 win over the Bucks. When all was said and done, the Rovers hit 11 times from distance. Easton remains atop the EPC and 6A power rankings, but has a challenging stretch of games to finish the regular season in Liberty, Nazareth, Spring-Ford and Bethlehem Catholic. If they can conquer their EPIC foes, they will be the top seed.
Wilson Area rolled up a 49-14 win over Moravian Academy behind another solid performance from Juliana Bonham and company. Bonham hit three 3-pointers and had 18 points to go with four steals. Katherine Colon created five turnovers off steals and Carlyna Stackhouse put up eight points. The Warriors stayed hot with a fifth straight win as they prepare for the Colonial League tournament and districts.
Catasauqua doesn’t go as deep as some teams, but they continue to dominate and put together their sixth straight win, besting Kutztown 49-24. Hailey Jenkins was held to six points at the half, but went off for 16 more over the final two frames. It was a similar story for Kaylin Stewart, who had four points at the break, but finished with 12. Javaeh Lafond added 11 more. The Rough Riders are trying to keep pace with Palmerton for a top four seed in the Colonial League tournament.

ILVGH: Big Shots and Big Games