CHERRY TWP — Senior Caitlin McNamara has played a huge role in the Grove City High girls basketball team's offense the past three seasons.

This year, however, it hasn't been out of necessity.

McNamara, who accounted for 66 percent of the Eagles' offense as a junior, has been the team's top scorer. But she's no longer the only scorer.

In Tuesday's game at Moniteau, Grove City used a 12-0 run to erase a 3-0 Moniteau lead, with the first 10 points coming from players other than McNamara.

Moniteau eventually cut the lead to three points midway through the third quarter, but a 10-0 run, capped by a pair of free throws and a basket by McNamara, propelled the Eagles to a 46-31 victory.

Grove City improved its record to 3-0, equaling last year's win total.

"The key has been to get everyone involved, and Caitlin is on board for that," said Grove City coach T.L. Eller. "Teams will key on her and that will help open things up."

McNamara had six points in the first half and 13 in the second to help the Eagles pull away.

"They got the ball to McNamara in the second half," said Moniteau coach Mark Yeager. "She's one of the best players in the county. In the fourth quarter, she got rolling."

It was Sammi Bell who got the Eagles off to a quick start.

After Moniteau's Heather Porter sank a 3-pointer 11 seconds into the game, Bell answered with a pair of free throws, a layup and another basket — all in a 41-second span — to kick-start the 12-0 run.

The Warriors trailed 25-15 early in the third quarter before they went on a 9-2 run to trim the deficit to 27-24 with 3:58 left in the period.

Moniteau freshman Ashley Brehm and sophomore Katie Brehm drained consecutive baskets, then, following a McNamara basket, the Warriors' Ashley Brehm hit a 3-pointer and sophomore Amanda Sloan also scored to make it a three-point game.

"We told our freshmen and sophomores the biggest thing is there's nothing different than in the seventh grade," Yeager said. "You have to know your man. We came out really hyper. We calmed down in the second half."

The Eagles, though, regrouped and used scores by Lexi Caporali, Kynisha Basham, Mariah Jenkins and the four points by McNamara to take a commanding 37-24 lead with 6:48 remaining.

The Warriors (1-2) are without the services of starting seniors Kathleen Harding (knee) and Jenna McCorry (shoulder), who were injured in the championship game of the Kittanning Tournament Saturday.

Harding might return before January while McCorry is out indefinitely. The team also is missing senior Jaryn Beatty, who is recovering from knee surgery during volleyball season.

"I'm proud of my kids. They gave an outstanding effort," said Yeager. "We'll be without some seniors for a while, but we'll be OK. This all will help us."

McNamara was the only scorer in double figures. Bell and Caporali had eight and seven points, respectively, while Guercio led Moniteau with nine points and Sloan added eight.

"We're not used to jumping out in front," said Eller. "We almost got too excited. We overextended ourselves and let (Moniteau) get some easy baskets.

"We're learning how to win."

GROVE CITY 46Caitlin McNamara 6 6-7 19, Sammi Bell 3 2-3 8, Lexi Caporali 2 2-3 7, Kynisha Basham 2 0-0 4, Madison Torok 1 0-0 2, Mariah Jenkins 2 0-0 4, Danielle Johnson 1 0-1 2, Rachel Kurtz 0 0-0 0.

Totals: 17 10-14 46.

MONITEAU 31Katie Brehm 1 0-0 2, Amanda Sloan 4 0-0 8, Heather Porter 1 0-0 3, Alex Guercio 4 1-2 9, Ashley Brehm 2 0-0 5, Nikki Yeckel 1 0-0 2, Krista Snyder 1 0-0 2.

Totals: 14 1-2 31.

Grove City 14 9 10 13—46Moniteau 5 8 11 7—313-point goals: Grove City 2 (McNamara, Caporali); Moniteau 2 (Porter, A. Brehm).

JV: Moniteau, 35-23 (M: Krista Snyder 9; GC: Vanessa Sprando 8)

Thursday: Venango Catholic at Moniteau

Saturday: Grove City at Ft. LeBeouf