CHERRY TWP - The Moniteau girls basketball team showed in the first half of Friday's game against Cranberry that it could play without Natalie DeMatteis if necessary.

In the fourth quarter, the Warriors showed why they needed her.

Dematteis, who had three fouls in the first quarter, drained a 3-pointer and a basket on consecutive possessions late in the fourth quarter to give the Warriors the lead for good in a 61-52 KSAC victory over the Berries.

"When Natalie got in foul trouble, that was about the time we picked it up on defense," said Moniteau coach Mark Yeager. "We made some good stands and the girls feed off of that."

Cranberry held an early 16-8 lead and was up 16-10 late in the first quarter when DeMatteis earned her third foul and sat for almost the rest of the first half.

The Warriors (15-7, 11-1) tied the game at 21 with 3:59 left before halftime after a score by Jenna Beatty and a 3-pointer by Alyssa Deal.

Cranberry (15-9, 9-4) held a 29-26 lead at the break and, when Kasey Morrow sank a pair of baskets to open the third quarter, the Berries surged to a 33-26 lead.

Scores by Moniteau's Kristen Baronetski, Amy Gladd and Laken Burk later trimmed the deficit to one point.

With Cranberry holding a 39-34 lead, Moniteau closed out the third quarter on a 9-1 run, capped by a 3-pointer and basket by Deal for a 43-40 lead.

In the fourth, Moniteau held a 49-48 lead before a three-point play by Mandy O'Neil gave the Berries the lead with 2:34 remaining.

That's when DeMatteis hit her consecutive shots to give the Warriors the lead for good.

Moniteau outscored Cranberry 12-1 to close out the game, including eight points from DeMatteis.

"She had some nice drives and dishes," said Yeager. "Offensively, she shined for us in the fourth quarter, but I have to credit everyone."

Baronetski led all scorers with 16, including 10 in the first half. DeMatteis and Deal each added 14 points.

"Kristen has had a quiet, successful season," said Yeager. "I don't know how many games she's had a double-double. She's always in position."

Cranberry received 14 points from Jessica Jack and 13 apiece from Morrow and O'Neil.

"They just made a few more baskets than we did," said Cranberry coach Chrissy Stefanini. "I can't take anything away from my girls. Things just didn't fall for us at the end.

"This was a great game to prepare for the playoffs. It was a playoff atmosphere. This is what we needed. This will definitely not hurt us," she added.

Moniteau will host a scrimmage game against Union before preparing for the District 9 playoffs next Friday.

"We're healthy and we're playing well and playing better as a team," said Yeager. "They're doing what we need to do. I'm just the biggest cheerleader."

CRANBERRY 52

Cassie Sanford 0 0-0 0, Ashley Ahrens 3 1-2 9, Jessica Jack 7 0-0 14, Samantha Stearns 1 0-0 3, Stephanie Switzer 00-0 0, Kasey Morrow 5 3-4 13, Mandy O'Neil 5 3-6 13. Totals: 21 7-12 52.

MONITEAU 61

Kristen Baronetski 6 4-5 16, Jenna Beatty 4 0-0 8, Amy Gladd 3 1-2 7, Alyssa Deal 6 0-0 14, Natalie DeMatteis 4 4-6 14, Sara Vinca 0 0-0 0, Laken Burk 1 0-0 2, Jill Davis 0 0-0 0. Totals: 24 9-13 61.

3-point goals:

Ahrens 2, Stearns; Deal 2, DeMatteis 2

JV:

Moniteau, 48-22

Next:

Moniteau in District 9 Playoffs