Wyoming Area’s Londyn Sobeck and Pittston Area’s Bella Dessoye received their team’s MVP awards from Monday’s game.
Submitted Photo
Bella Dessoye led both the offense and defense Monday night, helping keep Pittston Area in control throughout a 50-27 victory over visiting Wyoming Area in the Tigue-Denisco Cup girls basketball game.
Dessoye scored a game-high 15 points and made five steals while earning her team’s Most Valuable Player Award.
“Bella was fantastic,” Pittston Area coach Jeff Gregory said. “She brought a ton of energy. She made some shots for us to get us going, and then defensively, she’s our stopper.
“She caused some turnovers. She caused them to play in a hurry. Her energy really was the difference.”
The game was the regular-season finale for Pittston Area, which takes a five-game winning streak and 13-9 overall record into the playoffs. The Lady Patriots beat the Lady Warriors for the second time this season, adding to a December victory in the Anthony “Badger” Marseco Tournament in Old Forge.
Londyn Sobeck and Jailyn Park scored nine points each to lead Wyoming Area. Sobeck had the team’s only seven points in the first 13:20 and was selected MVP for the Lady Warriors.
Pittston Area broke away with eight straight points in the last 42 seconds of the first quarter and the first 10 seconds of the second quarter. Dessoye hit a 3-pointer from the left wing, then made a steal that led to Julia Long finding Lili Hintze for a layup with one second left in the first quarter.
Long then opened the second quarter with a 3-pointer. That flurry started a 13-2 run to an 18-5 lead with 5:51 left in the half. Dessoye hit from just inside the arc, and Leah Drozginski made a 3-pointer after Hintze grabbed an offensive rebound and kicked it out to complete the run.
Sophomore reserves Shawna Pugliese and Arianna McGarry helped Pittston Area continue to expand its lead.
Pugliese entered the game with 5:28 left in the half and provided a defensive rebound, a basket on a 19-footer from the right side, and a blocked shot in her first 1:13. She made her only other shot from the floor before the half was over and finished with five points.
McGarry added six points with a three-point play in the third quarter and a 3-pointer in the fourth.
“They came in and contributed, which is what we need,” Gregory said. “They gave us a boost, especially Shawna. She contributed immediately when she came into the game, and that’s what we need moving forward.”
Combined with Long, who came off the bench for a lineup adjustment Gregory made for Senior Night, the Pittston Area bench outproduced its Wyoming Area counterparts 18-0 in points, 7-3 in rebounds, and 3-1 in assists.
Dessoye’s MVP effort included 6-for-11 shooting from the floor, a 3-pointer, and successful conversion of both her free throws. She also grabbed three rebounds and dished out two assists.
