PHS Girls Beat Locos, Cadets; Fall To Tigers
by Greg Waidelich Buckeye Correspondent

Rachel Beck has the ball at her fingertips in recent basketball action. Pettisville is 11-5, 6-1 in the BBC.- photo by Scott Schultz

The Pettisville girls basketball team went 2-1 last week to take its record to 11-5, 6-1 in the Buckeye Border Conference.

Pettisville traveled to Montpelier for a non-league matchup, Tuesday, Jan. 15. Using a 16-6 second quarter, PHS won 46-40.

Next on the Blackbirds' schedule were the Hilltop Cadets, who fell 57-18 in a BBC contest.

Pettisville traveled to Holgate, Saturday, Jan. 19, but a 13-point second half doomed the Birds as they fell 41-29.

PHS 46, Montpelier 40

The score was deadlocked at 9 at the end of one period. Pettisville picked up its intensity in the second, outscoring the Locomotives 16-6 for a 25-15 lead going into the locker room.

The third quarter was a repeat of the first, with both teams scoring 9 points for a 34- 24 Blackbird lead. Pettisville hit enough 12 of 19 free throws in the contest and hung on for a 46-40 victory.

"I'm proud of our ladies, stepping up and hitting shots and free throws late in the game," said Jason Waldvogel, PHS coach. "We started strong through the first three quarters and then relaxed.

"Montpelier did a great job of hanging around and made it a battle during the fourth quarter."

Erica King led Pettisville with 13 points. Alexa Short and Jodi Spotts added 11 and 10 points, respectively.

PHS was 15/30 from the floor for 50%, while Montpelier was 17/39 for 44%.

PHS 57, Hilltop 18

Pettisville held Hilltop scoreless in the first quarter and held a 13-0 lead at the end of one. The Cadets scored nine in the second, but the Birds added 15 to take a 28-9 lead at halftime.

Pettisville outscored Hilltop 29-9 in the second half for the 57-18 final.

Spotts led the Birds with 13 points. King added 12 and Haley Nofziger chipped in 10.

"We played a complete game today," said Waldvogel. "Our defense was aggressive and our offense was deliberate.

"It was a great final home game for our seniors, Jodi Spotts and Jordyn Brakefield."

Pettisville was 19/38 from the floor for 50% and 13/16 from the line. Hilltop was 8/31 from the floor for a frigid 26% and 1/2 from the line.

Holgate 41, PHS 29

Pettisville led 16-12 at the half, but was outscored 29-13 in the second half for the 12-point loss.

Spotts was the only Blackbird in double figures, with 11 points.

BOX SCORES

PETTISVILLE (46) - K. Weber 5, Short 11, Spotts 10, Nofziger 5, King 13, B. Weber 2. Totals 15-12-46.

MONTPELIER (40) - Delong 9, Gearig 7, Watts 2, Clark 3, Willibey 10, Davis 9. Totals 17-3-40.

PHS	9	16	9	12 -	46
MHS	9	6	9	16 -	40

PETTISVILLE (57) - Brakefield 3, Schmucker 5, Short 8, Spotts 13, Nofziger 10, King 12, Avina 2, Garcia 4. Totals 19-13-57.

HILLTOP (18) - Ames 2, Burkholder 6, Mocherman 5, Rohlf 3, Smith 2. Totals 8-1-18.

PHS	13	15	16	13 -	57
HHS	0	9	5	4 -	18

Reserve score: Pettisville won 36- 15.

PETTISVILLE (29) - Short 2, Spotts 11, Nofziger 3, King 7, B. Weber 6. Totals 11-4-29.

HOLGATE (41) - Giesige 10, Kelly 3, Rohrs 11, Medina 5, Brown 8, Bates 4. Totals 13-11-41.

PHS	4	12	5	8 -	29
HHS	8	4	15	14 -	41

Reserve score: Pettisville won 27- 21.