McCaslin

CHERRY TWP — After a five-game winning streak earlier in the season, the Moniteau girls basketball team has alternated wins and losses for six straight games.

Warriors coach Mark Yeager is hoping Wednesday night was the start of another string of victories.

Senior guard Maura McCaslin's 26 points lifted Moniteau to a 75-43 KSAC win over visiting A-C Valley.

Her 12 points in the first quarter helped the Warriors to lead 25-11 after eight minutes of play.

"She had been struggling a bit shooting the ball," Yeager said. "But her defense has been there and she's a great leader. The shooting will come around. Hopefully, tonight was the start of that."

Moniteau (5-2, 8-4) also received 20 points from Jenna McCorry and 12 from Alex Guercio.

A-C Valley (2-5, 5-6) entered the contest on a three-game win streak, but struggled in the early going.

"We've had only three practices the last three weeks and it showed tonight," said A-C Valley coach Lane Larimore. "We came out flat, no doubt. But Moniteau beat us with their quickness.

"Maryellen (Busch) and Erin (Larimore) are the only two girls we have who have a lot of experience on the court," added Larimore.

Turnovers and foul trouble doomed the Falcons. The team's top three scorers — Busch, Larimore and Meghan Cratty — fouled out in the second half.

Busch did manage a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds.

"We've been in foul trouble in a lot of our games this year and it's usually those three players," said Larimore.

Moniteau shot 28-of-40 from the free-throw line. McCaslin and McCorry were a combined 23-of-27.

A-C VALLEY 43Shayla Bartley 1 0-3 2, Erin Larimore 1 4-6 6, Tricia Kerlin 2 0-2 4, Meghan Cratty 4 0-1 8, Shelbi Cervenec 0 2-3 2, Mikyla Denchke 2 3-8 7, Maryellen Busch 6 2-4 14, Christa Moores 0 0-2 0, Courtney Irwin 0 0-0 0, Nicole Wetzel 0 0-0 0, Danielle Schnell 0 0-0 0, Nicole Marshall 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16 11-29 43.

MONITEAU 75Kathleen Harding 4 1-2 9, Chelsea Sellers 0 1-2 1, Chelsea Say 1 0-0 2, Maura McCaslin 7 9-10 26, Jenna McCorry 3 14-17 20, Alex Guercio 6 0-3 12, Katie Brehm 1 0-2 2, Jaryn Beatty 0 3-4 3, Brittany Wright 0 0-0 0, Amber Smith 0 0-0 0. Totals: 22 28-40 75.

A-C Valley 11 9 14 9—43Moniteau 25 18 25 7—753-point goals: Moniteau 3 (McCaslin 3).

JV: A-C Valley 31-21 (ACV-Mikyla Denchke 13 points, 16 rebounds, 14 steals; M-Katie Brehm and Brittany Wright 6 points)

Friday: Moniteau at Keystone; Karns City at A-C Valley