Lady Cougars defeat visiting Uniontown, 55-34
FALLOWFIELD TWP. — Charleroi won its third game in four days to open the season, albeit it in sluggish fashion, as the Lady Cougars downed Uniontown Monday, 55-34.
“That wasn’t pretty,” said Charleroi coach Kevin Lee with a grin. “I thought that we looked a little sloppy on offense, and the fact that we are not finishing layups is hurting us.
“We can’t get into our press if we don’t score.”
Despite his team’s third loss in as many games, Uniontown coach Jason Winfrey was happy with the effort of his team.
“I feel like we are growing and learning how to be a team,” he said. “A lot of that comes with accountability, discipline, enthusiasm, and I am trying to build that rapport.
“We will be okay.”
Maggie Albert (14), Adrianna Gottheld (13) and Sierra Short (12) hit double figures for Charleroi (3-0) as they combined for 39 points, while Mya Murray and Kierra McCargo each scored 12 points for Uniontown (0-3).
Lee talked about the boost that Albert gave off the bench.
“She sparked us and shot the ball well,” he said. “Thank goodness for that.”
The junior hit four 3-pointers in the first half.
Charleroi jumped out to a 7-0 lead, led 18-9 after the first quarter, and used a 9-0 run midway through the second quarter to take a 30-12 lead. Uniontown never got closer than 13 points the rest of the way.
Lee pointed out the play of Short, who is back in action after missing all of last season following knee surgery.
“She always battles and give 100 percent,” he said. “And, think about it, she is just rounding into form from having to sit out a whole year.”
Maria Claybaugh grabbed 10 rebounds and had four steals for Charleroi, while Aislyn Lee added four steals, as well.
Murray, a 6-2 freshman, had 12 rebounds and four blocks for Uniontown.
Winfrey said that his team will keep fighting.
“I feel like there are some things offensively that we need to work on, but we did pretty well on defense,” he said. “It just seems that we are always on defense.”
Both schools are back in non-section action Thursday as Charleroi heads to highly-touted Chartiers-Houston, while Uniontown has its home opener against Southmoreland.