Bears breeze by Dons

NEW MANCHESTER - Defense and a 23-point run was more than enough to lift Oak Glen over visiting Madonna Monday, as the Bears outdid the Lady Dons, 44-21.

"We had a 23-0 run. That was pretty big. Madonna was up 4-3 in the first quarter and we went on to score the next 23 points," Oak Glen coach Phil Rujak said. "But I credit our defense for the win. Most of the game, we played half-court-man-to-man defense. Our thought process was to cut the snake off at the head, and as far as we were concerned that head was Isabella Anile. She's the tea that makes the cup and we wanted to stop her.

"Michaelene Ayers, Taylor White and Alex Burch all guarded her and did a great job. We wanted to take them out of their rhythm and that seems to be what happened tonight."

Under the defense of Ayers, White and Burch, Anile was held scoreless. The Blue Dons as a team were limited in their offense output. After scoring four points in the first quarter, Madonna was shut out in the second half, as the Bears cruised to a 26-4 lead at the half.

Oak Glen's Payden Eckleberry dropped in five buckets from the floor and 2-of-2 from the line to notch a game-high 14 points. Fellow Golden Bear Kylie King hit five field goals and a foul shot for 12 points.

King rang up a 3-pointer. White, who finished with eight points, and Eckleberry each buried a pair of 3-point buckets.

Madonna was led by Jen Nogay, who hit a 3-pointer and two other field goals, to register seven points.

Oak Glen improved to 4-1, while Madonna fell to 1-3.

The Bears, who are ranked No. 7 in West Virginia Class AA, will be back in action Dec. 29 and 30 when they compete in the Ravenswood Classic. Oak Glen will take on Scott, the No.2 team in the state, at 4 p.m. Dec. 29 and Sissonville at 6 p.m. Dec. 30.

The Madonna reserves defeated Oak Glen, 25-19. Haley McLaughlan scored four for the Bears, while the victors were paced by Amy Davis' 10 points.

Oak Glen 44, Madonna 21

Madonna 4 0 9 8 - 21

OG 7 19 3 15 - 44

MADONNA (1-3): Selitti 0 0-0 0, Conner 1 0-0 2, Gilson 0 0-0 0, Anile 0 0-0 0, Bragg 2 0-0 4, Brancazio 1 2-2 4, Lyons 0 0-0 0, Magnone 2 0-0 4, Nogay 3 0-0 7. 9 2-2 21. 3-Pointer: Nogay.

OG: White 3 0-0 8, Burch 0 0-0 0, Patterson 0 0-0 0, Eckleberry 5 2-2 14, McElhaney 3 0-0 6, Porter 2 0-2 4, Ayers 0 0-2 0, Webster 0 0-0 0, King 5 1-2 12. 18- 3-8 44. 3-Pointers: White 2, King, Eckleberry 2.

Big Red 68,

Martins Ferry 33

STEUBENVILLE - The Big Red girls basketball team opened up its home season with a 68-33 win over Martins Ferry Monday.

The undefeated Red scored nine points in the opening quarter, before scoring double digits in the other three. Steubenville scored 21 in the second, 23 in the third and 15 in the fourth. At the half, Big Red led, 30-18.

AunDrea West led the Red with another big night.

The standout senior sank four 3-pointers en route to a game-high 26 points.

Brea Magnone buried a pair of 3-point shots. She finished with 14 points. Tabatha Berryman added eight points to Big Red's cause.

Martins Ferry freshman Jessica Kinney paced the Purple Riders with 15.

Courtney Frohnapflel scored 12 for Ferry.

Big Red improved to 6-0 on the season and returns to the court Dec. 30, when it hosts Edison.

Big Red 68, Martins Ferry 33

MF 9 9 12 3 - 33

BR 9 21 23 15 - 68

MF: Perdak 0 2-2 2; Nevins 1 0-0 2, Stalder 0 0-0 0; Rose 1 0-0 2, Sabatino 0 0-0 0, Courtney Frohnapfel 3 5-6 12, Jessica Kinney 6 1-2 15, Oberdick 0 0-0 0, Sarano 0 0- 0, Lucas 0 0-0 0, Stobbs 0 0-0 0. Totals: 11 8-10 33. 3-Pointers: Frohnafple 1, Kinney 2.

BR: West 10 4-7 26, Pugh 1 2-2 4, Berryman 4 0-1 8, Meyer 1 1-2 3, Jade Davis 0 0-0 0, Snyder 2 2-2 6, Smith 0 0-0 0, Magnone 5 0-0 14, Stonebraker 0 0-0 0, Evans 0 1-2 1, Purdue 0 0-0 0, Pendergrast 1 3-4 5. Totals: 17 6 13-19 68. 3-Pointers: Magnone 4, West 2.