Daniella Ranieli broke loose for 13 of her game-high 28 points in the third quarter Thursday night while leading unbeaten Pittston Area past host Old Forge, 64-49, for the girls championship of the Anthony “Badger” Marseco Tournament.
With reigning Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 Player of the Year Kallie Booth limited to four points by foul trouble and the Old Forge defense, Ranieli took over.
Ranieli’s third-quarter outburst broke open a 30-24 game and gave Pittston Area a 52-34 lead going into the fourth quarter.
After hitting two 3-pointers in the third quarter, Ranieli added another, her fourth of the game, while scoring five in the fourth quarter.
Ranieli had seven points and Old Forge’s Talia Piragas had eight in the first quarter, which ended with Pittston Area in front, 14-11.
Piragas, who finished with 22 points, had 8 more in the second quarter and Jewlya McCullon added 5 of her 10, but Maddie Karp and Ava Callahan kept Pittston Area in the lead.
Karp scored 7 of her 14 points in the second quarter. Callahan hit two 3-pointers in the quarter and finished with 3, along with 11 points.
Leah Domiano hit a pair of 3-pointers while adding nine points for Old Forge.
The Lady Devils, the No. 5 Small School in the Riverfront Sports Super Six Power Rankings of District 2 teams, fell to 5-2.
Pittston Area, the third-ranked Big School, is 8-0 going into Friday afternoon’s home game with Wallenpaupack (6-2). The teams are 1-2 in Class 5A in the ratings formula District 2 uses to decided seeding for its tournament.
Wyoming Area 65, Hanover Area 8
Morgan Janeski scored 12 of her 25 points in the first quarter and Wyoming Area shut out Hanover Area in the second half while taking third place Thursday night.
The Lady Warriors led 23-5 after one quarter.
Halle Kranson made two 3-pointers and scored 10 points in the second quarter, helping grow the lead to 43-8 at halftime. She finished with 15 points and a third 3-pointer.
Jocelyn Williams had 6 points each in the second and third quarters and finished with 14.
Caitlin Vigorito hit a 3-pointer in each of the first two quarters to lead Hanover Area with six points.
Pittston Area 47, Wyoming Area 38
Ranieli also had a big second half – this one with help from Booth – to rally Pittston Area past rival Wyoming Area in the tournament opener Tuesday.
They combined to score 29 of their 37 points in the second half.
Wyoming Area led 5-4 after one quarter and 19-14 at halftime before Pittston Area ran off the first 17 points of the third quarter.
The Lady Warriors fought back over the last three minutes of the quarter with an 11-2 run to get within 33-30.
Pittston Area built the lead to 41-34 with 1:30 remaining, then locked up the win at the foul line.
The Lady Patriots were 15-for-18 on free throws in the game, including 10-for-10 in the fourth quarter. Ranieli made all eight of her shots, including six in the fourth quarter. Booth, who finished 5-for-6, and Karp made two each in the fourth.
Booth had 12 points in the third quarter and finished with 17.
Ranieli, who had a team-high 20 points, scored 7 in the third and 8 more in the fourth.
Janeski led Wyoming Area with 12 points and 7 rebounds. Kranson had nine points, making a 3-pointer in each of the first three quarters.
Old Forge 60, Hanover Area 8
McCullon led a balanced attack with 12 points and Old Forge shut out Hanover Area in the first and third quarters of Tuesday’s semifinal.
McCullon had six points in the first quarter when the Lady Devils went in front 18-0.
Domiano had 6 of her 11 in the second quarter when Old Forge took a 36-7 halftime lead.
The Lady Devils led 52-7 after three quarters and allowed just one second-half point.
Piragas finished with 11 points.
