RIDGWAY, PA – A slow start and a scoreless end sunk the Smethport girl’s basketball team as they opened the season with 56-31 loss to Keystone in the Ridgway Tip-Off Tournament.
Initially falling behind the Lady Elkers, who were led to a 13-4 first quarter by the trio of Isabella Brandon, Peyton McElravy and Hannah Henry, the Lady Hubbers nudged back into contention over the next two quarters, ultimately staring up at a 12-point deficit heading into the final quarter of play. However, that’s where their scoring came to an abrupt end. Unable to make their way into the scoring column during the fourth, Smethport watched as the lead ballooned to the final 25-point margin.
One bright spot in their season opener was the debut of Cassidy Szuba, a freshman who the Lady Hubbers will depend on as the season progresses. Hitting the ground running, Szuba knocked down a game-high three 3-pointers on her way to 11 points alongside four rebounds and two steals. Jenna Goodman also found her stroke from beyond the arc, hitting two triples and ending with six points, three rebounds and four steals while Madey McKean came away with six points, four assists, two blocks and four steals.
AT RIDGWAY
Smethport (31)
Szuba 4 0-0 11, Goodman 2 0-0 6, McKean 3 0-0 6, Neff 1 2-3 4, Durs 1 0-0 2, Miller 1 0-0 2. Totals: 12 2-3 31
Keystone (56)
Brandon 7 3-6 17, McElravy 7 1-4 15, McGriffin 4 0-0 9, Henry 4 0-0 9, Shumaker 3 1-2 9. Totals: 25 5-12 56
Smethport 4 15 31 31
Keystone 13 28 43 56
Three-point goals: SM (5) Szuba 3, Goodman 2, KY (3) McGriffin, Shumaker, Henry; Total fouls: SM 14, KY 10; fouled out: None.
