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GIRLS HOOPS: Shippensburg blows past Waynesboro


WAYNESBORO -- Before the season, coach Andrew Markel set high standards for the Shippensburg girls basketball team, with aspirations to flip its 7-15 record from last season.

After an 0-2 start in their opening weekend, the Lady Hounds had some work to do if they hoped to live up to Markel's goal.

But a 55-35 Mid Penn Colonial win Tuesday over Waynesboro is certainly a good place to start.

Shippensburg (1-2, 1-0 MPC) came out of the gate strong, racking up a 14-2 lead to start the game, but like they've done already this season, the Maidens (0-3, 0-1 MPC) began working their way back. Chelsea Cover sank a 3-point shot to kick off an eight-point run to end the first quarter, shrinking Ship's lead to three.

But the buzzer indicating the end of the first frame was also the end of any kind of Maiden momentum.

Shippensburg used a man defense to stop Waynesboro, and according to Maiden coach Allison Steiger, it got in their heads.

"They didn't do anything fancy, and they didn't overplay us," Steiger said. "We panicked, we rushed, we let everything effect us except play. They took advantage and I don't blame them, they should have. We couldn't get up and down the court today. We weren't making good choices."

"I thought the first two games of the season, we were on a learning curve," Markel said. "This one, it was good to get control early."

Waynesboro struggled with turnovers, committing more than 17 giveaways -- 10 in the first half alone -- and with foul calls slowing the second half, there was no flow to the already lopsided game.

Shippensburg had 15 free throw attempts, one for every Waynesboro personal foul committed, while the Maidens walked to the foul line just twice. The Lady Hounds had 11 personal fouls. Ship went 7-for-15 at the foul line, Waynesboro was 0-2.

"I was hoping for a much more free-flowing game," Markel said. "It was stalling a lot, but we tried to not let them get in an offensive rhythm."

Mariah Martin went 3-for-6 in free throw attempts, and led Ship with 17 points, including 11 in the first half.

"She's so close to piecing it together to become a really good player," Markel said. "She's much better at losing the defender and finding an open shot, and tonight she was doing that well."

Martin had help from Liz Logan, who had 12 points, and Courtney Coy added 10.

"It felt really good to finally win because the first two games we really didn't run our plays very well, but tonight we actually ran them and executed," Martin said. "When they get me the ball I just want to score, and I feel comfortable with Liz down there with me."

Despite the Maidens' offensive struggles, Cat Weber had 16 points, while Cover was the next leading scorer with eight.

Shippensburg 55, Waynesboro 35

Shippensburg (55)

Kara Newell 2 2-3 6, Maddie Bender 3 0-0 6, Courtney Coy 4 0-0 10, Liz Logan 5 2-4 12, Rachel Kline 0 0-2 0, Kayleen Sydnor 2 0-0 4, Mariah Throckmorton 0 0-0 0, Shannon Staver 0 0-0 0, Mariah Martin 7 3-6 17, Ally Mankamyer 0 0-0 0. Totals — 23 7-15 55.

Waynesboro (35)

Chelsea Cover 3 0-2 8, Taylor Clawson 0 0-0 0, Olivia Gardenhour 3 0-0 7, Sara Gsell 1 0-0 2, Elizabeth Churchman 0 0-2 0, Cat Weber 8 0-0 16, Emma Steiger 0 0-0 0, Brooke Heise 1 0-0 2, Taylor Brooks 0 0-0 0. Totals — 16 0-4 35.

Shippensburg _ 16 _ 16 _ 12 _ 11 _ — _ 55

Waynesboro _ 13 _ 8 _ 9 _ 5 _ — _ 35

3-point goals — Ship 2 (Coy 2), Way 3 (Cover 2, Gardenhour).

JV score — Shippensburg 31, Waynesboro 10.