1-2 punch of Hobbs, Fox helps Lady Pilots by Shadyside
What a difference 24 hours made in the eyes of both head coaches Saturday when River High’s Lady Pilots visited Shadyside in a Tiger Den rematch.
There wasn’t a 40-point lead this time around for coach Rick Isaly’s 9-6 record crew, while Lady Tigers coach Serge Gentile was pleased with his team’s effort despite a 63-43 setback.
“We may have won the scoreboard, but (Shadyside) out-played us,” said Isaly, whose club has a big OVAC home test (Monday) against Monroe Central. “We missed a lot of outside shots, had trouble setting screens, and only played hard in spurts.”
Gentile, who starts three freshmen, a sophomore, and junior Kaci Tsoras, noted “we played hard, but we didn’t hang our heads when we got behind the 8-ball early. We competed and that’s important for us to get better.”
River forced 10 turnovers in the opening panel and led 16-1, spreading the scoring between senior Reese Hobbs, who had a game-high 23, junior Zoey Fox (16 points) and sophomore Maci Isaly (12 points).
Tsoras, who led the Lady Tigers with 20, drove the lane at 2:40 for the hosts’ initial bucket, but Hagan’s hoop and two from Fox created a 22-5 spread after one.
Shadyside shaved the margin to 26-17 midway through the second quarter on a Layla Samsa ‘3’ and Kamira Parker’s putback, but Fox swished twice and Hobbs added a pair in the paint for a 34-19 halftime count.
Hobbs continued her hot hand in the third with three scores, two coming off steals, but Gentile’s club used a Tsoras’ ‘3’ to make it 40-28 with 5:15 showing.
River went on a 12-2 spree as Hagan sank two fouls, Isaly added six, and Hobbs converted two steals. Samsa’s ‘trey’ made it 52-33 after three.
The 3-12 record Tigers, who visit Steubenville Central tonight, were unable to get closer than 17 in the fourth. River made it 60-37 on frosh Mallory Maddy’s fancy reverse layup.
Hobbs’ stat line included seven boards, six steals and five assists, while Hagan had eight points, seven rebounds and four steals. Fox had six rebounds, while Isaly was all the floor with five assists, five boards and four steals.
RIVER (63) – Hobbs 11, 1-3 23; C. Trifonoff 0, 0-0 0; Isaly 3, 6-6 12; Hagan 2, 4-6 8; B. Trifonoff 0, 2-2 2; Fox 7, 2-2 16; Maddy 1, 0-0 2. Totals 24, 15-19. SHADYSIDE (43) – Tsoras 8, 0-0 20; Melanko 1, 0-0 2; Samsa 2, 0-2 6; A. Hines 0, 0-0 0; Parker 2, 0-0 4; G. Hines 5, 1-4 11. Totals 18, 1-6.