CHERRY TWP — Cranberry's big girl played in foul trouble. Moniteau's Emily Rider simply played big.

The Warriors' 5-foot-6 guard scored 18 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and had three steals in her team's 59-49 girls basketball win over the Berries Wednesday night.

The game was a rematch of last year's District 9 Class AA championsbhip game.

“We'll probably see them again in the playoffs, so this win is big for our confidence,” Rider said. “We really wanted to beat them.”

Moniteau (8-6) fell behind 12-2 in the first three minutes, causing coach Matt Stebbins to burn an early timeout.

“We had to refocus,” Stebbins said. “Once we did, we played a great team game.”

The Warriors took their first lead at 15-14 on a Maura Kimmel lay-up with 6:35 left in the first half. The lead changed hands five times and the score was tied on three occasions before Rider stuck back an offensive rebound with 3:08 left in the third quarter.

That bucket gave Moniteau a 34-33 edge and the Warriors never trailed again.

“I feel like we have this game away,” Cranberry coach Chrissy Shumaker said. “We missed 15 free throws and a whole bunch of lay-ups.”

Cranberry (8-5) dropped its third straight game. The Berries sank just eight of 23 free throws, including two of nine in the fourth quarter. The Berries missed the front end of three one-and-one's in the final period.

“If we make just 15 of those free throws, it's a different game,” Shumaker said.

Moniteau scored 37 points in the second half. Its 59 total points marked a season-high.

Fontaine Glenn contributed 14 points and six rebounds, Alycia Brehm nine points and three steals, Ashley Brehm nine points, Stephanie McCall seven points and five rebounds.

“That's the kind of balance we look for every game,” Stebbins said.

Moniteau does not have anyone averaging more than 12 points per contest. The Warriors were only out-rebounded 37-34 by a physically bigger opponent and forced 21 turnovers.

“See the ball and go get it. That has to be the mentality,” Rider said.

Junior point guard Emily Merryman — District 9's leading scorer at 24 points per game — had 28 points and three rebounds for the Berries. Cranberry's 6-foot-2 senior center, Sune Swart, was hel to seven points and eight rebounds.

Swart is headed to Bucknell University on a basketball scholarship. She averages 15 points per game, but spent critical minutes on the bench Wednesday after picking up three fouls in the first half. Her fourth foul occurred midway through the third period.

“She did a good job to finish the game,” Shumaker said. “I didn't agree with some of those calls. Sune blocks shots well, but officials anticipate because she's so tall. It's unfortunate.”

Stebbins said his team did a good job of “beating her to the spot.”

“That's what we wanted to do, deny her position,” he said. “We did a great job on her.

“This is a huge confidence boost for us,” Stebbins added. “We have one senior and only had 11 girls combined dress JV and varsity tonight. This is a big win for this group.”

CRANBERRY 49

Ashley Groner 1-1 0-0 2, Maddie Hepler 3-5 0-0 6, Emily Merryman 10-23 5-8 28, Marissa Peterson 0-1 0-0 0, Julie Swartzfager 2-8 2-6 6, Courtney Allen 0-0 0-0 0, Sune Swart 3-6 1-4 7, Maggie Kahle 0-1 0-3 0. Totals: 19-44 8-23 49.

MONITEAU 59

Kelsey Ripley 0-1 0-0 0, Fontaine Glenn 4-10 6-12 14, Ashley Brehm 3-7 0-6 9, Maura Kimmel 1-1 0-0 2, Alycia Brehm 1-10 7-7 9, Emily Rider 7-14 2-2 18, Stephane McCall 3-6 1-1 7, Maria Loos 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 19-48 16-29 59.

Cranberry 14 10 14 11—49

Moniteau10 12 22 15—59

3-point goals: Merryman 3; Ashley Brehm 3, Rider 2

JV: Cranberry, 33-19 (C: Adrienne Sponenburgh 8, Courtney Allen 8; M: Maria Loos 7)

Monday: A-C Valley at Moniteau