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Crusaderettes improve to 21-0

JAY W. BENNETT The Marietta Times Parkersburg Catholic’s Julia Ambrozy applies defensive pressure to Charleston Catholic guard Katie Nester during the Crusaderettes’ 54-25 win Tuesday evening versus the Irish. Ambrozy, Olivia Ullman and Mikayla Alkire were honored on senior night.

PARKERSBURG — No. 2 Parkersburg Catholic held visiting Charleston Catholic to just six field goals while forcing 21 turnovers through the first three quarters here Tuesday on senior night as the Crusaderettes finished their first unbeaten regular season since 1995 following a dominant 54-25 triumph.

The 6-13 Irish, who lost 54-33 to PCHS back on Dec. 16, trailed 12-2 after one, 28-8 at intermission and 45-13 after three as the Crusaderettes of 12th-year head coach Marty Vierheller will carry a 21-0 record into the postseason.

Olivia Ullman (12 points, four steals), Mikayla Alkire (two points, game-high eight rebounds) and Julia Ambrozy (five boards) were honored prior to the tip.

Freshman Aaliyah Brunny stole the show in the early going as her 19-footer jumper from an Ambrozy dime put the hosts ahead for good. Brunny, who finished with game-highs of 16 points, six steals and two blocks, tallied the first seven points for PCHS.

Sophomore point guard Madeline Huffman, who had 12 points, a game-high five assists, a trio of steals and one block, followed Brunny’s barrage with a 3. Finally, the Irish got on the board with 55 ticks left in the opening stanza when Mills Mullen found Clare Tupta, who drained a long jumper for part of her seven markers.

Huffman, though, penetrated the Irish defense and found an open Madison Ross on the block to close out the quarter scoring. Ross finished with 10 points off the bench.

PCHS, which returns home next Tuesday to take on the winner of Friday’s Class A, Region IV, Section 1 game between fifth-seeded Wirt County and No. 4 Wahama, opened the second quarter on a 12-2 run to take total control. Huffman’s quick hands resulted in a steal and a layup to cap the spurt.

“These three seniors are as special and as loyal as any young ladies I’ve ever been around,” coach Vierheller stated. “They have a place in my heart forever. We’ve been through a lot together and I could not be happier for them. They have given me everything, everything. I know they have much bigger goals they want to achieve.

“We know it’s not going to be an easy road, though. They are very much like daughters to me. I know I drive them crazy, but I love them dearly and what they have done personally for me, but also for our entire Parkersburg Catholic Crusaderette basketball program and family, I can’t put it into words.”

Jordan Keener had five of her team-high 11 points for Charleston Catholic in the second quarter, but after her basket made it 34-13, PCHS ended the quarter by scoring 11 straight, which included a steal and lay-in by Ross to put the hosts ahead by 32 entering the fourth.

Alkire got in the scorebook at 4:16 of the fourth on a putback, which made the score 52-17. The final basket by the Little Kanawha Conference champion Crusaderettes came with 3:51 to play when Micaela Bowersock fed Beth Lowther in the paint just inside the elbow and she banked it in.

Tupta finished with seven points, Keener added a trio of steals and Crusaderette Jenna Boice dished out three assists.

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