Jan 15, 2025
Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes LaBrae sophomore Angel Scruggs drives prior to shooting and scoring a mid-range jumper during the third quarter against Crestview. She led the Vikings with 19 points.
LEAVITTSBURG — With both teams entering Tuesday evening tied for the top spot in the Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference Gray Tier, the opportunity to take a lead in the MVAC presented itself.
Using the whole floor on offense to find points, a fast start helped Crestview earn a 63-40 victory on the road at LaBrae. The Rebels now take command of the MVAC Gray Tier, with an overall record of 11-3 (6-0).
Junior Addison Rhodes led the charge with a game-high 23 points, senior Luvrain Gaskins adding 17 points, alongside junior Ava Bucey’s nine points.
Following the win, Crestview coach Aaron Blatch was pleased with his team’s performance.
“I want to give LaBrae a lot of credit, I thought they were physical. They took us out of some things that we’ve been doing. At times, I don’t think we executed real well, but I think they deserve credit for that,” Blatch said. “Both teams played really hard, it was a good competitive game between two good teams.
“We didn’t shoot it real well tonight, but I thought we knocked down enough that at least made them have to guard us which opened some things up for other people.”
A trio of Rebels created a quick 8-0 run early in the first quarter, with three pointers by Bucey and Rhodes setting up a score in the post by Gaskins. LaBrae (10-2, 5-1) senior Marissa Levensky netted the Vikings first field goal of the contest with less than four minutes to play in the quarter, but Crestview replied with buckets from senior Myer Miller and Gaskins to keep building a lead.
Five first half three-pointers by Crestview helped create spacing on the floor for Rhodes and company, especially for a game that featured plenty of foul calls which made finding a flow tricky.
“We normally don’t foul as much as we did tonight, but (LaBrae) has scrappy players, they like to push it just like we do. I feel like sometimes they sped us up a little bit more than we’d like, but that leads to us fouling, but we’ll clean that up,” Rhodes said. “Just being able to share the ball with everyone, getting everyone involved, it just makes it a better game for everyone to be in. Sharing the ball just sets the tone for everything.
“Just seeing the ball go through the hoop definitely for me, I’m ready to shoot next time. Even if it doesn’t go in, I’m still ready to shoot it, but it does build confidence to see it go through.”
Gaskins ability to net looks in the paint also contributed to the Rebels ability to strike around the floor.
“My teammates, just being able to see the backside, I think the backside was open a lot, especially because LaBrae was playing zone sometimes. Just being able to get easy buckets like that, my teammates made some great passes,” Gaskins said. “Going into the post and getting those points, it draws the defense in and makes it a lot easier for outside shots.”
Crestview eventually took a 38-17 lead into the halftime intermission, but the host Vikings kept hanging around thanks to some well executed plays on defense, and a nine-point second quarter by way of LaBrae sophomore Angel Scruggs.
Scruggs would go on to earn a team-high 19 points, finding a slew of baskets by driving through the lane. An effort like hers is what helped LaBrae hangaround a veteran Crestview squad.
“We know that (Crestview) is a great team in every single position, so we had to kind of pick our poison at the beginning of the game with what we saw and shut down,” Vikings coach Mandy Rowe said. “They had answers for everything we threw at them, so we just kept trying different defenses. We wanted to still play our game and push the ball up the court.
“I thought we played really hard, with a lot of effort. They’re a great team. This was a great test for us. Marissa Levensky was in foul trouble for the whole first half so we had (sophomore) Brielle Stout and (freshman) Ally Magoulick step in and get points off the bench with (sophomore) Megan Young. They stepped up to a great challenge. We don’t want to be satisfied, but I thought this was a battle to see where we’re at, and I’m happy with where we’re at, happy with our effort and just proud of my girls for continuing to compete.”
Levensky added nine points herself, with Magoulick scoring five.
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