EXETER — Pittston Area and Wyoming Area started a new girls basketball tradition Monday night by awarding the first Tigue-Denisco Trophy to the game’s winner.
Addison Orzel made sure the Warriors used it as an opportunity to create a new result.
Orzel grabbed 30 rebounds, scored 13 points and blocked six shots to earn the Tony Denisco Trophy as her team’s Most Valuable Player in a 61-55 Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1-2 crossover victory.
MVP Awards were created to honor the memories of Denisco, the West Pittston mayor, and Tom Tigue, the 26-year state representative from Hughestown, who both passed away during 2016.
“Our coach mentioned that it was going to become a big event where we celebrate prominent members of our community and that it would be a good competitive game with a large crowd,” Orzel said. “I was aware of the award.”
Orzel went out and grabbed it the way she did rebounds. She reached double figures in the game’s first seven minutes and finished with 20 on the defensive end, along with 10 offensive.
“This year especially, I learned what my role is on the team and how I can contribute in the best way,” said Orzel, a 5-foot-10 junior center. “That’s rebounding.”
When Orzel, who averages 14.7 rebounds per game, grabbed more than 20 three times in four games earlier in the month, 30 seemed like a reachable milestone.
She picked an ideal time to get it.
Pittston Area, annually one of the top teams in the WVC and the Division 1 co-leader until Monday’s loss, had dominated the series. Wyoming Area had frequently struggled in the sport before reaching the district semifinals last year.
“It’s a rivalry game,” Orzel said. “I knew I had to be competitive. I knew I had to give it my all.
“That’s what I did.”
Taryn Ashby, Tigue’s granddaughter, received the plaque in his name as Pittston Area’s MVP. She had nine of her 11 points in the second half and also finished with five assists.
Pittston Area’s only lead was 2-0 in a game that Wyoming Area led by as much as nine in the second quarter.
The Lady Patriots did rally to tie twice in the second quarter and again at 48-48 with 2:45 remaining on Kirsten Durling’s steal and breakaway.
Durling led Pittston Area with 24 points and five steals.
Sarah Holweg, who led Wyoming Area with 19 points, had three during the six-point streak that followed.
Ashby hit a 3-pointer with 53.8 seconds left to make it 54-51, but Wyoming Area shot 5-for-7 from the line the rest of the way, including on a clinching three-point play by Holweg.
Lydia Edwards had 15 points for Wyoming Area, which won its fourth straight to improve to 10-5 overall and cling to slim Division 2 title hopes at 7-3 in the WVC.
Leah Hodick had 12 points and eight rebounds while Andrea Ruby had 15 rebounds and six assists for Pittston Area.
Hazleton Area 59,
Lake-Lehman 41
Marissa Trivelpiece and Maddie Mrochko scored 14 points each in the Cougars’ win.
Kendra Pfeil finished with 11 points and Virginia Yurchak added 10 to the victory.
Lehman’s Savannah Purdy scored a game-high 18 points.
Meyers 63,
GAR 41
Erin Morris scored 13 and Gianna Skaff added 11 in Meyers’ win over GAR.
Bella Skaff finished with 11 for the Mohawks.
Khira Cook led GAR with 15 points and Olivia Adolphus scored 10.
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GIRLS BASKETBALL
Wyoming Area 61, Pittston Area 55
PITTSTON AREA (55) — Kirsten Durling 11 2-5 24, Leah Hodick 5 2-4 12, Alexa Noone 2 0-0 6, Andrea Ruby 1 0-0 2, Taryn Ashby 5 0-2 11, Mary Silinskie 0 0-0 0. Totals 24 4-11 55.
WYOMING AREA (61) — Aleah Kranson 0 2-4 2, Sarah Holweg 6 5-7 19, Lydia Edwards 5 2-4 15, Katie Wolfgang 2 5-9 9, Addison Orzel 6 1-4 13, Cassidy Orzel 0 3-4 3, Kari Melberger 0 0-0 0, Nicole Silinskie 0 0-0 0, Ellie Glatz 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 18-32 61.
Pittston Area`13`16`10`16`—`55
Wyoming Area`20`10`11`20`—`61
Three-point goals — PA 3 (Noone 2, Ashby), WA 5 (Edwards 3, Holweg 2).
Hazleton Area 59, Lake-Lehman 41
HAZLETON (59) — Kendra Pfeil 5 1-2 11, Marissa Trivelpiece 5 2-2 14, Maddie Mrochko 5 3-4 14, Alexis Sheeto 1 0-0 2, Destiny Huston 1 0-0 2, Erika Book 1 0-0 2, Katie Lipinski 0 0-0 0, Virginia Yurchak 5 0-0 10, Megan Trivelpiece 1 0-0 2, Mackenzie Jones 0 0-0 0, Faith Grula 1 0-0 2. Totals 14 6-8 59.
LEHMAN (41) — Hailey Kubiski 0 1-3 1, Sarah Salus 0 3-4 3, Corinna Scoblick 3 1-2 7, Janelle Cawley 2 2-2 6, Savannah Purdy 6 4-6 18, Madison Borum 2 2-2 6. Totals 13 13-19 41.
Hazleton `19`16`9`15`—`59
Lehman`9`13`5`14`—`41
Three-point goals — HAZ 5 (Pfeil 2, Mar. Trivelpiece 2, Mrochko); L-L 2 (Purdy 2).
Meyers 63, GAR 41
GAR (41) — Alana Germano 0 0-0 0, Silvia Adolphus 3 4-4 10, Paige Lyons 1 1-2 3, Lyann Pena 1 1-2 3, Sharleen Peralta 1 2-2 4, Cierra Taylor 3 0-0 6, Khira Cook 6 1-4 15. Totals 15 9-14 41.
MEYERS (63) — Bella Gray 1 0-0 2, Erin Morris 5 2-2 13, Kayley Nilon 0 0-0 0, Elise Fellerman 2 0-0 4, Amanda Gray 1 2-4 4, Ashley Bruno 1 0-0 2, Stephanie Sutton 0 0-1 0, Bella Skaff 3 4-6 10, Illequa Adams 0 0-0 0, Devon Keiper 1 0-0 3, Gianna Skaff 4 0-0 11, Selena Soto 1 0-0 2, Allycia Harris 1 2-2 4, Sarah Bottger 3 2-2 8. Totals 23 12-17 63.
GAR`11`9`4`17`—`41
Meyers`14`14`21`14`—`63
Three-point goals — GAR 2 (Cook 2); MEY 5 (Morris, Keiper, G. Skaff 3).
Holy Redeemer 66, Crestwood 55
CRESTWOOD (55) — Riley Magin 2 0-0 6, Andrea Shipton 3 0-0 6, Sarah Hopkins 4 3-4 12, Kate Snipas 2 2-3 6, Sarah Richards 2 3-4 8, Julia Makowski 3 11-12 17 . Totals 16 19-25 55.
REDEEMER (66) — Kornfeld 2 1-3 5, Januzzi 6 2-3 14, Andrejka 7 8-11 22, Yencho 2 0-0 4, Kosierowski 2 1-2 5, Rajza 4 3-5 12, Marcinkowski 1 2-2 4. Totals 24 17-26 66.
Crestwood`9`12`11`23`—`55
Holy Redeemer`10`19`16`21`—`66
Three-point goals — CRE 4 (Magin 2, Hopkins 1, Richards); HR 1 (Rajza).
