×

Vinskovich fuels Union Local past Fort Frye

T-L Photo/SETH STASKEY UNION LOCAL junior Reagan Vinskovich goes up for a shot as Fort Frye's Mackenzie Dalton defends during Saturday's game at Harrison Central in the WVU Medicine Women's Health Classic. The Jets picked up a 52-42 victory.

CADIZ — Union Local is well aware that it’s very early in the girls basketball season.

But, that doesn’t detract from Saturday’s victory in the nightcap of the annual WVU Medicine Women’s Health Classic held Saturday at Harrison Central High School.

The Jets, who had lost their last three meetings with perennial power Fort Frye, built a lead as big as 15 in the first half, watched the Cadets claw within five in the third quarter, but pulled out a 52-42 victory.

“This is a big win for these kids,” first-year Union Local coach Scooter Tolzda said. “(Fort Frye) has been a thorn in Union Local’s side for a long time.”

The Jets were able to control the game basically from the outset because of their decided size advantage on the interior thanks to junior pivot Reagan Vinskovich.

“We (scouted) them and we wanted to kind of treat their man-to-man defense like a zone,” Tolzda continued. “We thought we could do some things and isolate Reagan down low, and it was working like a charm in the first half.”

Indeed.

Vinskovich, who surpassed the 1,000-point mark during a game on Tuesday at Linsly, scored the first 10 Jets points of the game and finished with 31 in the game. Using her 6-2 frame and innate ability to play even bigger because of her low-post skills along with some nifty post-entry passes, Vinskovich scored 24 of those points in the first half.

“It was a struggle,” Fort Frye head coach Dan Liedtke said. “We’ve not gone up against size like (Vinskovich) since last year. She’s good and when she gets the ball as she did down on the block, she’s going to be hard to stop. We knew that coming in.”

After Vinskovich basically dominated the first 16 minutes of action, the Cadets adjusted. They limited her to one field goal in the second half, which came on a put back. Limiting her touches and opportunities along with better shooting allowed the Cadets (2-2) to outscore the Jets, 12-5 in the third.

Union Local, however, erased any hopes of a Fort Frye comeback by scoring the first seven points of the fourth. All told, the Cadets didn’t record their first points in the final chapter until there was just 91 seconds to play in the game.

“We knew they would adjust (defensively) and they did,” Tolzda said. “Plus, they made some 3-pointers, which we also knew they would do. We showed some resolve and hung in there. This is a big win for the girls.”

Vinskovich’s scoring led everyone in the game. She also collected 16 rebounds and blocked a couple of shots. Her top support came from senior Hannah Merritt. She posted eight points, all of which came in the first half. Senior Keira Gregor had six points and played solidly on the defensive end.

Fort Frye was led by senior Hannah Archer, who connected on six bonus goals for 18. Mackenzie Dalton and Kiana O’Brien added nine and eight, respectively for the Cadets.

Union Local, which played five scrimmages and its first four games on the road, will finally make its home debut on Monday against Martins Ferry.

“We’ve been on the road a while, so it’ll be nice to go home,” Tolzda said. “I think our first two games have helped us and now I am hoping that more good things are to come.”

Here’s a look at the other games:

Wheeling Park 74, Steubenville 23

The Patriots (2-0) wasted little time in establishing themselves thanks to a vaunted press and brilliant perimeter shooting, which led to a 33-7 lead after one. The entire second half was played under the OHSAA mercy rule.

Park’s balanced attack was led by impressive freshman Alexis Bordas, who drilled six bonus goals, and finished with a game-high 28. Sophia Abraham added 11, while Lala Woods, who turned in a brilliant floor game with seven assists and five steals, scored eight.

Big Red was led by Aniya Warner’s nine.

Shadyside 51, Malvern 50

Senior Paige Gorby got one of two at the line with just over eight seconds left and the Tigers held on for their second consecutive victory.

Gorby actually ignited the final 5-0 run with a steal and run-out bucket after the Hornets had taken a four-point lead with 60 seconds to play.

For the game, Gorby and junior running mate Gentry Brown each scored 18 to pace the Tigers.

Malvern was paced by talented junior Maddie Powers, who went for a game-high 26.

Tusky Valley 51, Harrison Central 16

The Trojans scored the first 12 points of the game and never looked back en route to the decisive victory.

The Tusky Valley defense limited Harrison to 10 of 34 shooting from the floor and forced 28 turnovers.

The Huskies were led by senior McKayla Dunkle’s 10 points.

WVU Medicine Women’s Health Classic

Wheeling Park 74, Steubenville 23

STEUBENVILLE (23) — Jones 2, 0-0 4; Warner 4, 0-0 9; Matyas 0, 0-0 0; Criss 1, 1-2 3; Cucarese 1, 0-0 2; Matteson 0, 0-0 0; Smith 1, 0-0 2; Cooper 0, 0-0 0; Purdue 0, 3-4 3; Totals: 9, 4-6 23. WHEELING PARK (74) — Woods 4, 0-0 8; Abraham 5, 0-0 11; Lekandous 2, 1-2 5; Marling 1, 0-0 2; Delk 2, 1-2 5; Daugherty 3, 0-0 7; Bordas 10, 2-2 28; Walker 3, 0-0 6; Huffman 1, 0-0 2; Stone 0, 0-0 0; Totals: 30, 4-6 74.

3-point goals: S — Warner. WP — Abraham, Daugherty, Bordas (6).

Shadyside 51, Malvern 50

SHADYSIDE (51) — Stewart 0, 0-0 0; Zdunczyk 0, 0-0 0; Fulton 0, 0-0 0; R. Fulton 3, 0-0 9; Sims 0, 0-0 0; Brown 8, 2-2 18; Hendershot 2, 0-0 6; Gorby 6, 6-12 18; Totals: 19, 8-14 51. MALVERN (50) — Bower 4, 5-8 15; Powers 10, 3-6 26; Radtka 0, 1-2 1; Smith 0, 2-2 2; Debo 2, 0-0 6; Totals: 16, 11-18 50.

3-point goals: S — R. Fulton (3), Hendershot (2). M — Powers (3), Debo (2), Bower (2).

Tusky Valley 51, Harrison Central 16

HARRISON CENTRAL (16) — Nemeth 0, 0-0 0; Dunkle 5, 0-1 10; Fischer 1, 0-0 3; Banal 1, 0-0 3; Butler 0, 0-2 0; Ferri 0, 0-0 0; Lewis 0, 0-0 0; Harbold 0, 0-0 0; Ledger 0, 0-0 0; Totals: 7, 0-3 16; TUSKY VALLEY (51) — Stutz 5, 0-0 12; Stump 1, 0-0 2; Bourquin 2, 1-2 5; Levengood 4, 0-0 8; Norris 2, 1-4 5; Merrick 9, 1-3 19; Totals: 23, 3-9 51.

3-point goals: HC — Fischer, Banal. TV — Stutz (2).

Union Local 52, Fort Frye 42

FORT FRYE (42) — Archer 6, 0-0 18; O’Brien 2, 2-2 8; Dalton 4, 0-0 9; Rauch 0, 0-0 0; Ross 0, 0-0 0; Duskey 3, 0-1 7; Totals: 15, 2-3 42. UNION LOCAL (52) — Kildow 0, 2-2 2; Vinskovich 12, 7-11 31; Merritt 3, 0-0 8; Gregor 3, 0-0 6; Miller 1, 0-0 2; Kellaway 0, 3-4 3; Totals: 19, 12-17 52.

3-point goals: FF — Archer (6), O’Brien (2), Dalton, Duskey. UL — Merritt (2).

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today