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Pioneer thumps Flyers; Maryvale girls now 10-4
 | | TOWERING...Pioneer's Joelle Connelly had the height advantage last Thursday against Maryvale, scoring 37 points, despite the defensive efforts of the Lady Flyers' Jessica Cunningham (center) and Rebecca Dennee. (Times photo) |
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Last Thursday's girls basketball game between Maryvale and Pioneer wasn't much of a contest, as Lady Panthers senior center Joelle Connelly accomplished what she does against pretty much every other team- dominate inside the paint.
By the end of the first half, "Basket by Connelly" seemed to be the theme of the public address announcer.
Pioneer (11-0 overall, 7-0 in Erie County Interscholastic Conference- III) showed every bit why it is regarded as one of the top teams in Western New York, thrashing the Lady Flyers on the road, 74-35. Connelly recorded a career-high 37 points on 17-of-25 shooting.
Maryvale (10-4 overall, 7-2 in ECIC-III) committed 16 first-half turnovers, as Pioneer's full-court press gave the Lady Flyers fits. After Pioneer scored the first 12 points, a Lady Panthers three-pointer at the first quarter buzzer gave the road squad a 24-8 lead. By halftime, it was 43-15.
Senior guard Joey Ruderman led Maryvale with nine points. Connelly, who stands 6 feet, 3 inches, scored 24 points in the first half alone.
Maryvale bounced back Tuesday at home against local rival Cheektowaga Central, thumping the Lady Warriors, 53-26.
Forward Rebecca Dennee led the Lady Flyers with 14 points, as Maryvale jumped out to a 27-9 halftime lead. Ruderman added nine points. Senior guard Taylor Pagano led Central (8-5 overall, 4-4 in ECICIII) with nine points, one game after her sister, Margo, scored 27 in a win.
The Lady Warriors will host nonleague opponent St. Mary's
of Lancaster tonight at 6:30 p.m.
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