Kayla Hoohuli, 4, of the Lady Dutch drives through Clearfield defenders, Gwenn Porter, 22, Amber Byerly, 42, and Jayme Ryan, 12, during Saturday afternoon’s District 9 League game played at the SMAHS gym. Hoohuli finished the day with 27 points to lead the Lady Dutch to a 48-44 win.

By JIM MULCAHY
Daily Press staff

The St. Marys Area Lady Dutch basketball team remained undefeated on the season as they came up with a tough 48-44 victory over the Clearfield Lady Bisons Saturday afternoon at the SMAHS Dutch Oven.

“The key to the game was the defensive job that Kayla Hoohuli did on Clearfield’s Jayme Ryan in the second half. Kayla held her to one point in the second half,” said St. Marys coach Bob Swanson. Ryan scored 11 points in the first half.

“Clearfield is a tall team and they handle the ball well. They shot the ball well today,” said the coach.

“We didn’t shoot the ball well in the first half,” said Swanson. The Lady Bisons held a 27-21 halftime lead over the Lady Dutch as Clearfield scored the final eight points of the first half.

“Kayla (Hoohuli) had a good game for us and Emily (Hathorn) had some key plays for us that kept us in the game,” noted the coach. Gina Pelgrin finished the game with 11 rebounds despite battling foul problems.

“We have a lot of work ahead of us. This was a good game for us, a good test. I am proud of the way the girls handled themselves,” added coach Swanson.

The St. Marys offense was led by Kayla Hoohuli with 27  points on seven twos, three threes and a four for seven night from the foul line. Emily Hathorn was next with seven points.

Sarah Kovalick led Clearfield with 10 points on two twos and two threes. Gwenn Porter was next with nine points.

A foul shot by Hathorn gave St. Marys the early 1-0 lead. Ryan hit a two, Kovalick a three and Ryan scored on a putback to give Clearfield the 7-1 lead. Hathorn scored on a putback to make it 7-3. Amber Byerly scored a field goal and Porter sank two foul shots, 11-3. Gina Pelgrin scored on a putback and Hoohuli added a field goal, 11-7. Byerly made it 13-7. A foul shot by Tia Cunningham cut the Clearfield lead to 13-8 at the end of the first period.

Pelgrin and Ryan traded buckets to open the second period. Hoohuli hit a three before Porter scored for Clearfield, 17-13. A three and a two by Hoohuli gave St. Marys their second lead of the game 18-17. Hathorn added a foul shot, 19-17. Annie Janocko tied the game at 19. Hathorn made it 21-19 before Clearfield scored the last eight points of the half to take a 27-21 halftime lead.

Kovalick gave Clearfield the 29-21 lead to start the third period. St. Marys went on an 13-0 run to take a 34-29 lead with 3:39 left in the third period. In the run Hoohuli had eight points, Megan Herbstritt three and Cunningham two. After a Clearfield bucket, Hathorn sank a foul shot as St. Marys led 35-31 after three quarters.

Each team scored 13 fourth period points as St. Marys held on for the 48-44 victory. Hoohuli led St. Marys with nine while Cunningham and Amanda Simbeck each sank two foul shots. Porter led Clearfield with five points.

Game notes

The Lady Dutch are now 7-0 on the season and 2-0 in the District 9 League.

St. Marys returns to action Tuesday when they host the Brookville Lady Raiders in another District 9 League game. Junior varsity gets underway at 6 p.m. with the varsity to follow at 7:30 p.m.

Clearfield 44

Annie Janocko 1-1-0-0-5, Sarah Kovalick 2-2-0-0-10, Madison Sopic 1-0-1-3-3, Jayme Ryan 4-1-1-2-12, Gwenn Porter 1-1-4-6-9, Elizabeth Peters 1-0-1-2-3, Amber Byerly 1-0-0-0-2, Angela Moore 0-0-0-2-0. Totals 11-5-7-15-44.

St. Marys 48

Gina Pelgrin 2-0-0-0-4, Kayla Hoohuli 7-3-4-7-27, Tia Cunningham 1-0-3-4-5, Leanne Levenduski 0-0-0-0-0, Emily Hathorn 2-0-3-8-7, Amanda Simbeck 0-0-2-2-2, Megan Herbstritt 0-1-0-0-3. Totals 12-4-12-21-48.

Score by quarters

Clearfield   13  14  10  13   44

St. Marys     8  13  14  13   48

JV’s lose

The Clearfield junior varsity squad outscored St. Marys 17-4 in the fourth quarter to come from behind to edge the Lady Dutch 37-35.

St. Marys took a 12-8 first period lead. Clearfield outscored their hosts 5-4 in the second period as the Lady Dutch led 16-13 at the half.

St. Marys outscored Clearfield 15-7 in the third period to take a 31-20 lead into the final quarter. The Lady Bisons outscored the Lady Dutch 17-4 in the fourth quarter to win 37-35.

St. Marys scoring: Jenna Anderson 4, Chelsea Walker 9, Jessie Donachy 8, Mandy Gerarge 5, Rachel Walker 10.

Clearfield scoring: Angela Moore 3, Cori Zalno 8, Johanna Ryan 2, Lisa Ambuski 2, Julie Ammerman 4, Kristen Butler 8, Rachel Thompson 10.