Minersville girls pull away from Marian

POTTSVILLE – The start was good.

But by night’s end Marian couldn’t keep up with the quick-footed defending District 11 Class 2A champions.

Minersville had a whole bunch of answers every time the Fillies posed a question on Monday evening at Martz Hall.

The Battlin’ Miners withstood an early flurry by Marian en route to an impressive 53-38 semifinal victory.

The loss ends Marian’s hopes of playing for a District 11 title and earning a berth in the state tournament.

“They’re so difficult to match up against,” said Marian coach Paul Brutto. “We got that early lead (6-0), and then they came back. They’ve got two outstanding players in Emily Kriston and Abby Wigoda and we just didn’t defend them very well.”

Kriston bombed away for 17 points and Wigoda scored 15. Alex Kroznuskie added 10. That was enough to offset the tremendous effort from Fillie sophomore guard Emily Shaud, who was nothing short of sensational in a 20-point night before departing with five fouls.

“She is so darn good it is difficult to defend her,” said Minersville coach Jared Homa about Shaud. “We did a few things to try and slow her down especially at the half. She gave us fits.”

Shaud was the reason for Marian’s 6-0 run to start the game and had nine first-quarter points.

Meanwhile, Minersville was sputtering early as it missed on its first seven shots. When Kriston was hacked after missing a triple, she proceeded to knock down all three foul shots which seemed to put the Miners back on track.

“We were making some poor decisions,” said Homa. “But it wasn’t all on us. Marian was playing that great defense, which they always throw at you.”

The Fillies got a triple from Macy Alansky and Shaud drove the lane for two more late in the quarter to take a 15-13 lead after a quarter.

Marian still led (17-14) when Emma McClafferty added a rebound bucket early in the second quarter. But the Miners went on a 6-0 run as Kriston scored all of the points and they never trailed again.

“She’s such a great player,” said Brutto about Kriston, “She’s a great ballhandler and makes things happened. And they got a couple of shooters that you’re hesitant to leave them because then they’ll kick it to them.”

Kaylee Whalen was one of them, nailing two buckets from the wing. A late Kroznuskie triple sent the Miners off with a 29-21 halftime lead. Minersville came out to open the third quarter, and again Kroznuskie was right in the mix with a triple and a jumper, which enabled her team to stretch the lead to 37-24.

“The last time we played them (a 49-33 loss) our defense did a pretty good job and they killed us in transition,” Brutto said. “Today, they hurt us in the halfcourt.”

SPEEDY … Minersville’s foot-speed took a toll on the Fillies.

BOARDS ... Wigoda finished with 13 rebounds and Kriston added nine for the Miners. The Fillies, who ended with a 36-35 edge on the boards, with McClafferty and Shaud each with seven.

DEPARTING … Marian said goodbye to a pair of superb seniors in Reese Erbe and Gianna Agosti. “They’ll be tough to replace; two good leaders and two good kids,” said Brutto.

TITLE GAME ... Minersville moves back into a familiar spot as it will go after its fifth straight District 11 championship. The Miners will face Schuylkill League opponent Mahanoy Area.

MARIAN

Shaud 6-6-9-20, Alansky 3-0-2-7, Kreisl 1-0-0-3, Erbe 1-0-0-3, Schwabe 1-0-0-2, McClafferty 1-0-0-2, Agosti 0-0-0-0, Murray 0-0-0-0, Reinoehl 0-0-0-0. TOTALS: 13-7-13-38.

MINERSVILLE

Kriston 4-8-12-17, Wigoda 4-6-6-15, Kroznuskie 3-1-2-10, Graeff 2-0-0-5, Whalen 2-0-0-4, Hossler 0-2-2-2, Horan 0-0-0-0, Hammer 0-0-0-0, Arroy 0-0-0-0, Motley 0-0-0-0, Corby 0-0-0-0. TOTALS: 15-17-22-53.

Marian 15 6 3 14 - 38

Minersville 12 17 8 16 - 53

Three-pointers: Marian - Shaud 2, Alansky 1, Kreisl 1, Erbe 1; Minersville - Kroznuskie 3, Wigoda 1, Graeff 1.