YATESVILLE — Pittston Area coach Kathy Healey has been concerned about the way her team has finished games offensively so far this season. Some of those concerns were put to rest on Friday night.
Holding a 14-point edge at halftime against Wyoming Valley West, the Patriots allowed the Spartans to fight back. Late in the fourth quarter, Valley West was down three. Pittston Area, however, knocked down some late free throws to ice the game and take a 49-41 win in Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 action.
The win gives the Patriots a 3-0 record after the first week of the conference slate.
“We talked about it at halftime that Valley West was going to come back,” Healey said. “We knew it wasn’t going to be a big lead. The kids remained calm.”
Pittston Area got a huge boost from senior Jamie Chisdock in the first half. Chisdock scored 12 of her game-high 15 points in the first half.
After edging the Spartans 17-11 in the first quarter, Pittston Area continued to turn up the heat on both ends of the floor. The Patriots held the Spartans to just four second quarter points. Chisdock hit back-to-back threes to finish off the second quarter.
Healey said assistant coach Mark Casper told her to keep feeding Chisdock the rock. It paid off.
“I never felt more confident than I did tonight,” Chisdock said. “This win boosts our confidence. This league is so tough so you never really know. Staying confident throughout the game will go a long way for us.”
Healey said other teams can’t take the senior for granted.
“I’m excited for her,” Healey said. “She doesn’t’ get all the looks, but she’s a solid player. She was feeling it tonight.”
Taryn Ashby finished the game with 11 points, while Kirsten Durling put up 10 points. Friday night’s win capped off a busy, competitive week for Pittston Area.
On Wednesday, Taryn Ashby scored a game-high 17 points to lead the Patriots to a 48-44 win over Crestwood. Marley O’Brien contributed 14 points, while Durling hit for eight points. Chisdock had five points. The Patriots and the Comets played neck-and-neck most of the way before Pittston Area was able to hang on at the end.
Crestwood hit seven threes, while the Patriots had none.
On Monday, O’Brien and Ashby combined for 30 points as the Patriots took care of business against Tunkhannock.
Ashby hit a pair of three pointers to go with her five free throws. Durling had six points, while Megan Cummings and Chisdock each had four points. The Patriots outscored the Tigers 25-15 in the second half.
“We’re not where we want to be but we’re 3-0 in a very tough league,” Healey said. “Remember, our girls weren’t leaders last year. They are doing a great job with what we’re asking them to do.”
WA falls to Trojans, rattle Hanover
Wyoming Area expected a battle on Thursday against arguably the best team in the Wyoming Valley Conference. Nanticoke came into the game unbeaten, and showed why it continues to be the team to beat in Division 2.
This game, however, the Warriors were without standout sophomore Sarah Holweg, who missed the game due to an illness.
The Trojans held the Warriors to less than 10 points in each quarter in a 45-22 win. Wyoming Area mustered just three points in the first quarter and finished the first half with just nine points.
“We walked into Nanticoke feeling we were prepared,” Wyoming Area head coach Chad Lojewski said. “We didn’t compete at the potential we could. They shut us down early and we couldn’t get into a groove.”
For the Warriors, Nicole Wright led the way with eight points, while Rachel Solano and Katie Wolfgang contributed three points each. Lydia Edwards scored four points, including a three-pointer.
Earlier in the week, Wyoming Area picked up a big win against Hanover Area.
The Warriors scored 24 second quarter points to get the win on Monday. Sarah Holweg finished with a team-high 20 points in the win. Lydia Edwards contributed 14 points for the Warriors, while Katie Wolfgang scored 10 points. Jordan Kelly had seven points, while Addison Orzel had six points.
“That was a glimpse of what we can do,” Lojewski said. “If we can play with that type of energy we can compete with the best teams out there. That was a big win for the program.”
