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PLYMOUTH — To take control of a traditional rival, Wyoming Valley West resorted to a simplified game of basic basketball.

Throw it to the big girl and watch her score.

That strategy worked to perfection Tuesday, as 6-foot center Colleen Cwalina scored 20 points in 21 minutes and the Spartans hammered Hazleton Area, 70-44 in a high school girls basketball game at Wyoming Valley West High School.

“We knew we had the height advantage with Colleen,” said Spartans senior Erin Gibbons, who matched Cwalina for game-high with 20 points. “We knew that would be a big factor in the game today.”

Probably the biggest one.

Cwalina powered into the paint for seven points as Valley West took a seven-point lead by the end of the first quarter, then drew continuous fouls and converted five of her six foul shots in the second quarter to lead the Spartans to a 39-22 halftime advantage.

“They’re a veteran team. They exposed us inside,” Hazleton Area coach Joe Gavio said.

It continued into the second half.

Cwalina, appearing unstoppable most of the time, added eight points in the third quarter and finished with 13 rebounds as Valley West’s lead grew to 25 points. She played sparingly through the game’s final 10 minutes as Valley West was content to stall the clock.

“Once we started pushing the ball and really scoring, that’s when we were lighting up,” Gibbons said. “We didn’t expect that to happen. When it did, everyone’s adrenalin was going. We knew it was going to be a big game. They’re always our toughest opponent every year.”

Apparently, not this year.

Valley West had little trouble improving to 2-0 and tied with Pittston Area at the top of the Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1, while Hazleton Area fell to 1-1 in league play during the young season.

“They just seemed a lot more confident,” Gavio said of the Spartans. “We struggled from the very, very beginning. We lost a lot (through graduation), some tough kids.”

With the victory, Valley West gained some high hopes.

To complement Cwalina’s scoring, Gibbons hit 10 points in each half, Andi Blaski scored five of her seven points in the second quarter while playing sterling defense, and Gabby Smicherko started her 19-point night by ringing up eight in the opening quarter.

“It gives us a lot of confidence,” Gibbons said of the victory. “Being this is our senior year for most of us, we wanted to get some big wins.”

Nanticoke Area 74, Hanover Area 17

Kayla Aufierio scored 20 points and Lisa Radziak and Riley Klepadlo combined for 31 more as the Trojanettes trounced their rivals from Hanover Area.

Aufiero and Radziak both converted three 3-point field goals. Alyssa Lewis added 11 points in the victory, which began when Nanticoke Area cruised to a 28-6 lead after a quarter.

Nanticoke Area’s defense held the Hawkeyes to six points in the second half.

Pittston Area 63, Coughlin 22

Taryn Ashby drilled three 3-pointers and torched the nets for 23 points as the Patriots improved to 2-0 and remained tied with Wyoming Valley West at the top of the WVC Division 1.

Alexa Noone added 11 points in the victory and Kirsten Durling finished with 10.

Claire Curtis led Coughlin with 11 points.

Northwest 62, Lake-Lehman 52

Brenna Babcock scored 21 points, Danielle Bowman scored 18 and the Rangers used a big fourth quarter to pull out victory.

Trailing 38-34 entering the final stanza, Northwest out-scored Lehman 28-14 over the final eight minutes to rally for the win.

Madison Borum led Lehman with 16 points and Sarah Salus finished with 11 for the Black Knights.

Wyoming Area 80, Meyers 42

Sarah Holweg erupted for 31 points and hit five 3-point field goals as the Warriors handled Meyers.

Lydia Edwards and Addison Orzel combined for 27 points for the Warriors, who took a 42-27 halftime lead and then limited the Mohawks to 15 points through the second half.

Giana Skaff led Meyers with 12 points.

Crestwood 54, Dallas 45

Sarah Hopkins scored 15 points and Julia Makowski added 14 points as Crestwood used a 33-19 second-half en route to a victory.

Andrea Shipton had 10 points for the Comets.

Lauren Charlton finished with 12 points and Sara Lojewski scored 10 points for Dallas.

Berwick 43,

Wyoming Seminary 28

Berwick jumped out to a 25-12 halftime lead en route to a win over the Blue Knights.

Tori Talanca scored a game-high 16 points, while Reese Mensinger chipped in with 14.

Alex Wesneski led Seminary with seven points.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Wyoming Valley West 70, Hazleton Area 44

HAZLETON AREA (44) — Marissa Trivelpiece 2 1-3 5, Alexis Sheeto 0 0-0 0, Megan Trivelpiece 1 2-2 4, Maddie Mrochko 8 0-0 20, Kendra Pfeil 4 0-0 8, Virginia Yurchak 1 0-0 2, Erika Book 0 0-0 0, Mackenzie Jones 0 0-0 0, Faith Grula 0 0-0 0, Katie Lipinski 2 0-0 5. Totals 18 3-5 44.

WYOMING VALLEY WEST (70) — Erin Gibbons 6 6-8 20, Andi Blaski 2 3-3 7, Natalie Gruver 2 0-0 4, Gabby Smicherko 8 2-4 19, Colleen Cwalina 6 8-10 20, Katie Mackiewicz 0 0-0 0, Katie Johnson 0 0-0 0, Toni Amato 0 0-0 0. Totals 24 19-25 70.

Hazleton Area`11`11`14`8`—`44

Wyoming Valley West`18`21`18`13`—`70

Three-point goals — HAZ 5 (Mrochko 4, Lipinski); WVW 3 (Gibbons 2, Smicherko).

Nanticoke Area 74, Hanover Area 17

HANOVER AREA (17) — Victoria Benning 3 0-0 6, Sara Tuzinksi 1 0-0 3, Mary Slosser 1 1-2 3, Arianna Sillak 0 2-2 2, Sara Whitesell 0 1-2 1, Madison Hooper 0 1-2 1, Tiana Drois 0 1-2 1, Carry Steppez 0 0-0 0, Emilee Bobos 0 0-0 0. Totals 5 6-10 17.

NANTICOKE AREA (74) — Kayla Aufierio 7 3-4 20, Lisa Radziak 7 0-0 17, Riley Klepadlo 6 1-2 14, Alyssa Lewis 4 3-3 11, Brinley Sobeck 2 0-0 4, Jill Baron 2 0-0 4, Katie Butczynski 1 0-0 2, Bella Czeck 1 0-0 2, Alexis Pyzia 0 0-0 0, Jennifer Kurkowski 0 0-0 0, Maddy Grilz 0 0-0 0, Emily Haver 0 0-0 0. Totals 30 7-9 74.

Hanover Area`6`5`3`3`—`17

Nanticoke Area`28`14`22`10`—`74

Three-point goals — HAN 1 (Tuzinski); NAN 7 (Aufierio 3, Radziak 3, Klepadlo).

Pittston Area 63, Coughlin 22

COUGHLIN (22) — Claire Curtis 4 3-8 11, Molly Poray 1 0-0 3, Emily Cicon 1 0-0 2, Yansel Perez 1 0-0 2, Morgan Crayton 1 0-0 2, Kira Meager 1 0-0 2, Abby Cicon 0 0-0 0, Ajabya Butts 0 0-0 0, Le’June Berry 0 0-0 0, Ariana Brittingham 0 0-0 0, Courtey Wartella 0 0-0 0. Totals 9 3-8 22.

PITTSTON AREA (63) — Taryn Ashby 9 2-2 23, Alexa Noone 4 0-0 11, Kirsten Durling 5 0-0 10, Leah Hodick 3 2-3 8, Portia Weidlich 1 3-4 5, Nicole Zambetti 1 0-0 2, Krista Mourizi 1 0-1 2, Andrea Ruby 1 0-0 2, Lily Savoy 0 0-2 0, Mary Silinskie 0 0-0 0, Kayleig Walker 0 0-0 0, Cherokee Musto 0 0-0 0, Brooklyn Pendana 0 0-0 0, Ellie Bartoli 0 0-0 0. Totals 25 7-12 63.

Coughlin`2`2`9`9`—`22

Pittston Area`32`13`12`6`—`63

Three-point goals — COU 1 (Poray); PIT 6 (Ashby 3, Noone 3).

Northwest 62, Lake-Lehman 52

NORTHWEST (62) — Brenna Babcock 8 5-8 21, Danielle Bowman 7 1-5 18, Hannah Wisniewski 4 1-4 9, Reagan Harrison 0 5-6 5, Trista Babcock 2 1-2 5, Jordan Harrison 2 0-0 4, Megan Harry 0 0-0 0, Brooke Harvey 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 13-24 62.

LAKE-LEHMAN (52) — Madison Borum 7 2-6 16, Sarah Salus 3 5-6 11, Corinna Scoblick 3 3-6 10, Savannah Purdy 4 0-0 8, Janelle Cawley 1 2-4 4, Courtney Henniger 1 0-0 3, Hailey Kubiski 0 0-0 0, Hunter Kline 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 12-22 52.

Northwest`10`16`8`28`—`62

Lake-Lehman`12`8`18`14`—`52

Three-point goals — NW 3 (Bowman 3); LL 2 (Scoblick, Henninger).

Wyoming Area 80, Meyers 42

MEYERS (42) — Giana Skaff 4 0-2 12, Erin Morris 3 0-0 7, Amanda Gray 2 2-3 6, Bella Skaff 3 0-2 6, Devon Keiper 2 0-0 5, Danayia Ballard 2 0-1 4, Elise Fellernan 1 0-0 2, Bella Gray 0 0-0 0, Kahlay Nilon 0 0-0 0, Ashley Brun 0 0-0 0, Allycia Harris 0 0-0 0, Sarah Botger 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 2-8 42.

WYOMING AREA (80) — Sarah Holweg 12 2-2 31, Lydia Edwards 5 0-0 14, Addison Orzel 5 3-3 13, Katie Wolfgang 1 5-10 7, Cassidy Orzel 2 3-6 7, Aleah Kranson 2 1-2 6, Kristi Sicok 1 0-0 2, Nicole Silinskie 0 0-0 0, Brianna Pizzano 0 0-0 0, Kari Melberer 0 0-0 0, Jessica Davis 0 0-0 0, Lauren Kelly 0 0-0 0, Brandi Sorokin 0 0-0 0. Totals 28 14-23 80.

Meyers`11`16`11`4`—`42

Wyoming Area`26`16`19`19`—`80

Three-point goals — MEY 6 (Skaff 4, Morris, Adams); WA 10 (Holweg 5, Edwards 4, Kranson).

Crestwood 54, Dallas 45

DALLAS (45) — Maddie Kelley 3 3-4 9, Hanna Johnson 1 3-3 5, Sara Lojewski 3 4-8 10, Olivia Johnson 1 0-0 3, Kendra Saba 3 0-0 6, Lauren Charlton 4 3-4 12, Maria Bednar 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 13-19 45.

CRESTWOOD (54) — Riley Magin 1 1-2 3, Kristen Andrews 0 0-0 0, Sarah Hopkins 5 0-0 10, Bella Termini 0 0-0 0, Kate Snipas 3 2-4 9, Sarah Richards 0 1-2 1, Julia Makowski 5 4-8 14, Ally Muse 1 0-2 2. Totals 21 9-22 54.

Dallas`17`9`13`6`—`45

Crestwood`16`5`19`14`—`54

Three-point goals — DAL 2 (Johnson, Charlton); CRE 3 (Hopkins 2, Snipas).

Berwick 43, Wyoming Seminary 28

SEMINARY (28) — MT Lehman 2 0-0 6, Annemaaike Reitsma 0 0-2 0, Paige Parsons 1 0-0 3, Christina Kilyanek 0 0-0 0, Alex Wesneski 1 4-4 7, Julia Gabriel 1 0-3 2, Breanna Satkowski 0 0-0 0, Olivia Meuser 2 0-0 4, Mia Raneiri 2 0-0 4, Julia Iskra 0 2-2 2. Totals 9 6-11 28.

BERWICK (43) — Reese Mensinger 5 2-2 14, Tori Talanca 7 2-4 16, Abbey Burt 3 0-0 6, Sierra Miedaner 0 0-0 0, Megan Dalo 2 1-2 5, Mikayla Davis 0 0-0 0, Mallory Pinterich 0 0-0 0, Alexa Wall 0 0-0 0, Roni Isenberg 1 0-0 2. Totals 18 5-8 43.

Seminary`8`4`10`6`—`28

Berwick`15`10`14`4`—`43

Three-point goals — SEM 4 (Lehman 2, Parsons 1, Wesneski 1); BER 2 (Mensinger 2).

By Paul Sokoloski

Times Leader

Reach Paul Sokoloski at 570-991-6392 or on Twitter @ TLPaulSokoloski

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