T-L Photo/SETH STASKEY BELLAIRE’s Maci Crozier goes for a steal from Martins Ferry’s Sidne Sidon during the first quarter of Thursday’s game in the ‘House of Champions.’ Crozier scored 21 points and the Big Reds cruised to an 81-56 victory.

BELLAIRE — Playing against the Bellaire girls basketball team is quite the challenge.

Its vaunted full-court pressure withstanding, the Big Reds have scoring punch basically all over the floor, making it extremely hard on opposing defenses.

That recipe of defensive pressure and balanced scoring worked well once again Thursday evening inside the ‘House of Champions.’

Bellaire turned up the heat on Martins Ferry, got 61 combined points from its three-headed monster of Maci Crozier, Natalie Stoner and Katrina Davis en route to a convincing 81-56 repeat victory against the Riders.

“This year, in the first three games, we’ve had four different girls go over 20 (points) and we have like four girls averaging 15 or better, so it definitely makes my job easier when every person out there is a threat,” Bellaire head coach John Farrier said.

While the pressure defense was effective and definitely took a toll, it took the Big Reds a quarter or so to get it cranked up fully.

“We’re working hard to get better every day and we can see the improvement, but it’s tough against a good team like Bellaire,” Purple Riders head coach Paul Matuska said. “We feel good about the direction we’re heading, but the first part of the season has been a buzzsaw and caused us to have to grow up really fast.”

Martins Ferry handled the Big Reds’ pressure quite well early. The Purple Riders turned the press into layups, many of which were converted by Madison Ging, who had 11 of her team-high 19 in the first quarter.

“Ferry did a heck of a job against the press early, especially,” Farrier said. “They were patient, made some passes and got layups. I told the girls not to worry because our will would eventually wear on them.”

Indeed it did.

As the game moved along, the turnovers began to mount and the lead continued to grow. With a 19-15 lead after one, the Big Reds expanded the margin to 39-26 at the half and owned a 58-41 upperhand at the final break.

“The press didn’t hurt us quite as badly as it did the first time against (Bellaire), so we’re making progress,” Matuska said. “We were in the game at halftime , but a couple of turnovers in the third quarter allowed them to stretch it out on us.”

Crozier, who recently surpassed 1,000 career points, finished with 21. Stoner, who is closing in on one grand for her career, also netted 21. Davis, who could also eventually be a 1,000-point scorer, added 19 and supplied relentless energy on both ends.

Richella Spielvogel complmented Ging’s production with 10.

The Big Reds return to the court on Dec. 27 against Buckeye Local, while Martins Ferry closes out the pre-Christmas portion of the schedule Saturday at Bridgeport in a 1 p.m. jayvee clash.