Hubs score first 23 points, rout Blazers

December 15, 2009|By DAN KAUFFMAN

HAGERSTOWN -- North Hagerstown girls basketball coach Cyndi Benjamin earned the first high school varsity coaching victory of her career Tuesday night, as the Hubs overwhelmed Clear Spring 82-13 in an MVAL Antietam contest.

North (1-2, 1-0) scored the game's first 23 points to remove any suspense early.

"We still have things we need to work on to prepare for more intense competition," said Benjamin, whose Hubs opened the season with losses to Middletown and Thomas Johnson. "Our main things (to work on) are probably talking on defense and remembering and running our plays offensively."

The Hubs didn't need to run many halfcourt sets Tuesday. They forced the Blazers (2-2, 0-1) into 39 turnovers and converted many of them into fast-break points.

When that didn't work, North simply crashed the boards -- the Hubs rolled up a 47-15 rebounding advantage.

North made 39 of 74 shots (52.7 percent) while holding Clear Spring to 5 of 32 shooting (15.6 percent). The Hubs led 27-4 after one quarter, 48-9 at halftime and 62-11 after three quarters.

Ten of North's 11 dressed players scored.

Quielanna Gantt led the Hubs with 21 points and eight steals.

"Since the beginning of the season, she's really turned a lot of things around for the positive," Benjamin said. "She was a positive role model for the team on defense, and her energy is always high. She has long arms and drives point guards crazy."

Meredith Perini scored eight of her 14 points in the third quarter for North, showcasing both her driving ability and a nice outside shot.

"I show her everything that's happening on the floor and what we need, and she gets in and does it," Benjamin said. "I'm impressed with her effort."

Akatshi Osongo had 11 points, Alexis Marquiss had eight points and four assists, and Imani Carter added eight points and three steals for the Hubs. Sam Koterwas had six points, three steals and three assists, and Corie Anderson had six points and four assists.

Dominique Forsmann led Clear Spring with nine points. Blazers coach Adam Hoopengardner declined comment following the game.

CLEAR SPRING (2-2, 0-1)
House 1 0-3 2, Forsmann 3 2-2 9, Schlotterbeck 0 0-2 0, LeVardi 1 0-0 2. Totals 5-32 2-7 13.
NORTH HAGERSTOWN (1-2, 1-0)
Scott 2 0-0 4, Gantt 10 1-1 21, Marquiss 3 1-1 8, Koterwas 3 0-0 6, Osongo 5 1-2 11, Forrest 1 0-0 2, Perini 7 0-1 14, Anderson 3 0-0 6, Fisher 1 0-0 2, Carter 4 0-0 8. Totals 39-74 3-5 82.
Clear Spring 4 5 2 2 -- 13
North 27 21 14 20 -- 82
3-point goals -- Clear Spring 1 (Forsmann), North 1 (Marquiss). Rebounds -- Clear Spring 15, North 47. Turnovers -- North 18, Clear Spring 39.

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