Nicole Valentino chose a most opportune time to post, arguably, her best collegiate career cage outing.
Valentino’s 25-point, 10-rebound, 4-assist line led the Thiel College basketball team to a recent 68-55 non-conference win over LaRoche College at Rissell-Beeghly Gymasia, earning her Presidents’ Athletic Conference player of the week laurels.
The Lady Cats were without leading scorer Amber Bodrick and second-leading rebounder Fontella Jones. Bodrick, the PAC pacesetter in scoring (25.2) as well as the Lady Cats’ leading rebounder (8.9), marksman (47.0) and pickpocket (2.56 steals per game), sustained a sprained ankle in the previous day’s practice. Jones, a Farrell High product averaging 9.7 ppg., 7.4 rpg., 2.75 assists and 2 spg., was diagnosed with mononucleosis and also sidelined.
So with an opportunity to annex the .500 plateau prior to a 2-week hiatus for the holidays, Valentino vanquished the Redhawks. The 5-foot-10 senior stalwart turned in a 7-for-15 shooting performance from the floor, hitting on 3 of 5 attempts from beyond the arc for Thiel (5-5). She had help, however, as Jena Cook contributed a career-high 25-point performance, the Lady Cats outrebounded (52-41) the Redhawks and Thiel’s bench bested LaRoche 31-7 in scoring.
Thus far this season Valentino, the former Sharon High standout, is averaging 14.2 points and 3.60 assists in 36 minutes per game for head coach Artina Trader. She’s also connected on 21 treys.
The PAC women’s standings (through Monday) were: Westminster 1-0, 5-3; Bethany 1-0, 4-5; Grove City 1-0, 2-7; Thomas More 0-0, 7-1, Washington & Jefferson 0-1, 5-3; Thiel 0-1, 5-5; Waynesburg 0-1, 4-5, and Saint Vincent 0-0, 2-6, which is in the process of provisionally joining NCAA Division III and the PAC.
ä Thiel’s Tomcats also have been led by some local flavor.
Jamestown High product Joe Herrmann is the PAC’s second-leading scorer (16.4) and rebounder (8.3), and the 6-5 junior also ranks among the loop leaders in free-throw (78.7) and 3-point field goal percentage (42.1). Also for the Tomcats, Brandon Mirizio (Kennedy Catholic) is included among the PAC pacesetters in scoring (11.8) and steals (1.83). The 5-9 sophomore guard transferred from Juniata College where he has been reunited with his Kennedy Catholic coach Tim Loomis, in his first season as Tomcats’ taskmaster.
The PAC men’s standings (through Monday) were: Bethany 1-0, 8-3; Waynesburg 1-0, 5-2; Westminster 1-0, 4-4; Thomas More 0-0, 0-8; Grove City 0-1, 3-5; Thiel 0-1, 3-5; W&J; 0-1, 1-8, and Saint Vincent 0-0, 7-2.
ä Former Greenville High standout Laura Beatty recently was honored by her alma mater, Edinboro University, as part of the Fighting Scots’ all-time volleyball squad. During her heyday Beatty (’92) served as a setter. She later served a stint as Commodore Perry High’s head volleyball coach.
Ed Farrell is assistant sports editor for The Herald
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Thiel's Valentino named PAC player of the week
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PIAA Track: Hickory's Bell, Lubarski, Regginello grab gold
SHIPPENSBURG — There’s a big difference between being seeded 1st and finishing 1st — Matt Bell can attest to that.
After settling for silver last year, the Hickory High senior put the shot 59 feet, 6 3/4 inches Friday afternoon to garner gold at the annual PIAA Track & Field Championships at Shippensburg University. -
WM to play for D-10 baseball title; GC, Sharon, Sharpsville lose
Four area baseball teams were in action on Friday in the District 10 semifinals as the squads battled to compete for District 10 championships on Monday.
West Middlesex rolled past error-prone Linesville, 8-0, in Class A action at Slippery Rock University’s Jack Critchfield Park.
In Class AA, both Sharon and Sharpsville suffered 2-1 losses. The Tigers fell to Saegertown at Ainsworth Field in Erie while the Blue Devils lost to Titusville at SRU.
In Class AAA, the Grove City Eagles were denied the chance to defend their D-10 crown after suffering a 6-3 loss to Warren at SRU. -
Farrell volleyball falls in D-10 semifinals
The Farrell High boys volleyball team suffered a 2-0 (25-15, 25-12) loss to Saegertown on Thursday night in the District 10 semifinals at Meadville Area High’s “House of Thrills.”
“This was the first year we made it out of the first day (pool play) of the playoffs,” said Steelers’ coach Dan Dragicevic. “I’d like to cite my seniors (Eric Demus, Anthony Perkins, Jaylen Chambers and Lawrence Hughes). -
Locals ready to go for gold at Shippensburg
Now that Mercer County is on the map, it’s incumbent upon the area aggregation to chart a course for the ultimate destination — Seth Grove Stadium’s medals stand — during this weekend’s PIAA Track & Field Championships.
Led by West Middlesex High sprinter Clay Allen, many Mercer Countians are seeded at or near the top of their respective events for the annual 2-day marathon at Shippensburg University, which commences 9 a.m. Friday. It will continue beginning 9 a.m. Saturday. -
D-10 Playoffs: Local teams go 6-for-6
ä Grove City 1, Harbor Creek 0 — At Slippery Rock University’s Jack Critchfield Park, what the Grove City Eagles couldn’t accomplish themselves, the Harbor Creek Huskies unwittingly did for them.
Unable to plate runs themselves, Torin Smith scored the Eagles’ only run when teammate Tyler Devine’s seeming inning-ending pop-up to left field was dropped by Harbor Creek’s Chris Merritt in the bottom of the 7th inning of Tuesday’s tourney opener. -
Great year for WM track; local qualifiers listed
It’s been a big year for the Big Reds.
Though there’s no official documentation, the 2011-12 academic year may be the most successful in West Middlesex High’s athletic annals. -
SPORTVIEW: Local names Kroko, Lutz, Kareklas in news elsewhere
IT’S ALWAYS GOOD to hear of former area people who have gone on to athletic success in other areas, or the family of former area residents. Following are a few of those stories:
ä Bob and Betty Kroko of Sharon are avid followers of professional baseball. No, not necessarily the Pittsburgh Pirates or Cleveland Indians like many local fans.
The Krokos keep a close eye on the Austria Major League! -
Petty an all-around great athlete in track and gymnastics
When Mercer County’s contingent convenes at the annual PIAA Track & Field Championships this weekend, it will be well represented
Clay Allen, Matt Bell, John Yohman, Johnathan Jacoway, Jeremy Jansco, Nico Zahniser, DeShawn Coleman, Dan Jaskowak, et all, should haul home some hardware. But with all due respect, the aforementioned young men may or may not be best athletes in the area’s aggregation that will assemble this weekend at Shippensburg University. -
Lubarski, Richards, Petty, Allen shine at D-10 Track Championships; Hickory girls, WM boys team champs
Hickory High’s high-jump state champion Lauren Lubarski suffered a severe blow to open her competion at the annual District 10 Class AA Track & Field Championships Saturday at Hickory HIgh Stadium.
She failed to qualify for state in the event she had won the previous year. -
Baseball, softball D-10 playoff pairings
The District 10 pairings for the baseball and softball playoffs have been released. Five area baseball teams and four (possibly 5) softball squads have qualified.
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