Quick start ignites Williamstown in 57-37 win over Belpre
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By Mike Morrison
Sports Writer
WILLIAMSTOWN - Perhaps the energy from watching their boys football team win their second consecutive state championship Saturday was still alive when the Williamstown Lady Yellowjackets opened their home season Monday night against the Belpre Golden Eagles.
The 'Jackets got off to a great start and never looked back as they downed Belpre 57-37 to improve to 2-0 on the season.
Faith Pickens and Riley Landis combined for 31 points as Williamstown built a 14-point halftime lead against a very talented Belpre team.
"I was really pleased with the way our team played and the way Faith (Pickens) played inside," said WHS head coach Fred Sauro. "She was a real presence down there getting rebounds and blocking shots and Riley Landis did a lot of positive things for us, too."
The Yellowjackets came out on fire as Landis knocked down a triple and then capped an 8-0 beginning with a drive to the bucket for two.
After Belpre got their first field goal of the game by Shy Miller, the 'Jackets scored the next nine points to extend their lead to 17-2.
Landis had nine points in the first quarter but Belpre got a 3-pointer by Miller just before the end of the quarter to close the deficit to 12.
An inside bucket to begin the second quarter by Haley Alloway cut the lead to 10 but Williamstown answered with a triple from freshman point guard Quinn Bunch and another two-pointer by Landis.
Later in the second quarter Bunch delivered from long range once again to push the lead out to 15 .
Sauro had high praise for the job that Bunch did running the point in just her second varsity contest.
"Quinn Bunch did an outstanding job for us tonight," said Sauro. "She didn't let any of the pressure get to her and really did a nice job on both sides of the court."
Belpre answered once again with a 5-0 run to close the lead back to 10 - capped by a steal and bucket at the other end by Julia Way.
Landis made all four of her free throw attempts in the game including a pair in the closing minute of the half and then delivered an assist to Pickens for the final basket of the opening half to send the home team to the locker room with a 31-17 lead.
The 'Jackets ruined any hopes of a Belpre second half comeback as they scored the first 11 points of the third quarter to open up a 42-17 lead and put things away for all intent purposes.
Pickens led all scorers in the game with 16 points while also pulling down 11 boards while Landis filled out her stat sheet rather nicely with 15 points, six assists and four rebounds.
Arissa Burt barely missed a double-double of her own as she finished with eight points and a team-high 16 rebounds.
Bunch added six points, four rebounds and four assists.
Belpre got a big game from its freshman post player as Gracie Bills finished the game with 10 points and a game-high 18 rebounds.
Miller added 12 points and six boards for a very young Eagles team that suffered their first loss in three attempts.
Sauro had high praise for his opponent but was quite pleased with the performance of his own squad.
"Belpre has a very nice team and I really thought they were going to present a big challenge for us," said Sauro. " I was proud of the way we came out and kind of took charge of things and then didn't let up. They (Belpre) are going to win quite a few ballgames."
Belpre returns to action Thursday when they host Trimble while The Yellowjackets host Petersburg on Friday.