Pictured above: Mackenzie Perluke in file action from earlier this season. (Tony Callaio Photo)
Mackenzie Perluke scored 16 points and Wyoming Valley West made the most of a fast start to defeat host Crestwood, 49-42, Wednesday night in a Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 girls basketball opener.
The Lady Spartans opened a 15-7 lead after one quarter, saw it reduced to 35-32 going to the fourth quarter and held on with the help of seven points by Perluke in the last eight minutes.
Kalia Saunders, Thalia Irizarry and Hailee Oliphant all hit 3-pointers for Wyoming Valley West in the first quarter. Saunders and Irizarry each had another basket for five points.
Saunders finished with 13 points.
Julia Glowacki made four 3-pointers, two each during the rally in the second and third quarters, and led Crestwood with 15 points.
In other WVC girls basketball openers Wednesday:
Hazleton Area 58, Tunkhannock 24
Hazleton Area opened a 16-0 lead in the first 4:40 and held host Tunkhannock scoreless for more than seven minutes on the way to the Division 1 rout.
Alexis Reimold and Sophia Shults each had 5 of their 11 points in the 16-0 start.
Lexi Corby’s free throw in the final minute of the first quarter broke the shutout and Maci Iddings then added two more free throws.
Lacie Kringe tipped in her own miss in the closing seconds for an 18-3 lead after one quarter. That gave her six points in the quarter.
Kringe led the way for the Lady Cougars with 14 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists.
Sable Stephens paced Tunkhannock’s offense with 11 points.
Nanticoke 44, Wyoming Seminary 31
Caitlyn Majiros fired in 24 points to lead Nanticoke to the road win in a WVC Division 2 opener.
Majiros had 14 in the first half to help the Trojanettes to a 25-12 lead.
Claire Griffin led the Blue Knights with 10 points.
Holy Redeemer 64, Hanover Area 13
Holy Redeemer shut out visiting Hanover Area in the first half of the WVC Division 2 games.
The Lady Royals led 17-0 after one quarter and 39-0 at halftime.
Mia Ashton and Paige Skibitsky scored nine points each. Ashton had all her points in the second quarter. Skibitsky hit a 3-pointer in each of the first three quarters.
Hanover Area scored 11 of its points in the third quarter, all by Brenna Slusser, who made three 3-pointers.
Wyoming Area 55, MMI Prep 6
Wyoming Area scored the game’s first 19 points and did not allow a field goal for three quarters.
Morgan Janeski led the Lady Warriors with 17 points. Halle Kranson added 11 points. Anna Wisnewski had 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Wyoming Area led 53-2 after three quarters.
MORE WEDNESDAY WVC GIRLS BASKETBALL COVERAGE
Wilkes-Barre Area/Dallas game story: Thornton 3s complete comeback – NEPA Sports Nation.
