EXETER – One statistic jumped out to Pittston Area coach Kathy Healey after Monday’s 62-55 loss at Wyoming Area in a Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1-2 crossover girls basketball game.
“They shoot (32) foul shots; we shoot 11,” Healey said. “It’s a huge difference. We’re all in foul trouble.”
The Lady Warriors were accurate enough to use those extra attempts to outscore the Lady Patriots 18-4 at the line.
The fouls were spread out enough so that Pittston Area only had one player, Alexa Noone, foul out and one other, Leah Hodick, lose major minutes. Healey only had to use one reserve.
Noone played all but 3:18.
Hodick sat out 13:07. The freshman center produced 12 points and eight rebounds while playing less than 60 percent of the game.
Pittston Area’s offense missed her. The Lady Patriots scored 18 points in the 13:07 Hodick was on the floor (1.37 per minute) and 37 points in the 18:53 she sat (1.96 per minute).
Opposing center Addison Orzel dominated for Wyoming Area with 13 points and 30 rebounds, but Orzel was equally effective regardless of whether Hodick was on the floor or Pittston Area was forced to use a smaller lineup.
Orzel reached double figures in rebounds in the first 6:10, getting there when she got her own rebound three straight times before converting for a basket.
The 5-foot-10 junior center wound up doing damage on both ends of the floor. She had 20 defensive rebounds and six blocked shots, along with her 13 points, 10 offensive rebounds and two assists.
“This year especially, I learned what my role is on the team and how I can contribute in the best way,” said Orzel, who raised her rebounding average to 14.7 per game with her fourth effort of at least 20 in the last nine outings. “That’s rebounding.”
Orzel’s quick start – she finished the first quarter with eight points and 11 rebounds – helped make sure Wyoming Area was in control most of the way.
The Lady Warriors played 27:21 of the 32 minutes with the lead. They trailed for just 20 seconds in the opening minute and the game was tied for 4:19.
Pittston Area (55)
Kirsten Durling 11-24 2-5 24, Leah Hodick 5-8 2-4 12, Alexa Noone 2-14 0-0 6, Andrea Ruby 1-2 0-0 2, Taryn Ashby 5-17 0-2 11, Mary Silinskie 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-65 4-11 55.
Pittston Area (61)
Aleah Kranson 0-4 2-4 2, Sarah Holweg 6-17 5-7 19, Lydia Edwards 5-11 2-4 15, Katie Wolfgang 2-6 5-9 9, Addison Orzel 6-14 1-4 13, Cassidy Orzel 0-5 3-4 3, Kari Melberger 0-0 0-0 0, Nicole Silinskie 0-1 0-0 0, Ellie Glatz 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 19-58 18-32 61.
Pittston Area`13`16`10`16`—`55
Wyoming Area`20`10`11`20`—`61
3-Point Shooting – Pittston Area 3-13 (Noone 2-6, Ashby 1-5, Durling 0-2), Wyoming Area 5-18 (Edwards 3-8, Holweg 2-6, N. Silinskie 0-1, Kranson 0-1, Wolfgang 0-2). Fouled Out – Noone, Edwards. Rebounds – Pittston Area 45 (Ruby 15), Pittston Area 48 (A. Orzel 30). Assists – Pittston Area 14 (Ruby 6), Wyoming Area 8 (Holweg 3). Steals – Pittston Area 10 (Durling 5), Wyoming Area 8 (Holweg 2, C. Orzel 2). Blocked Shots – Pittston Area 4 (Noone 2), Wyoming Area 7 (A. Orzel 6). Team Turnovers – Pittston Area 14, Wyoming Area 12. Total Fouls – Pittston Area 20, Wyoming Area 14. Technical Fouls – None.
Points in paint – Pittston Area 35, Wyoming Area 35. Points off rebounds – Pittston Area 5, Wyoming Area 17. Fastbreak points – Pittston Area 6, Wyoming Area 6. Points off turnovers – Pittston Area 10, Wyoming Area 2. Bench points – Pittston Area 0, Wyoming Area 3.
Ties – 4. Lead Changes – 1. Pittston Area’s biggest lead – 2-0, 7:41-1. Wyoming Area’s biggest lead – 29-20, 4:01-2; 60-51, 0:24.8-4.