PORTVILLE, N.Y. — What a start for the Smethport High girls basketball team in the Portville Tip-Off Tournament.
Behind 21 points from Molly Lord and 15 from tournament MVP Morgan Okerlund, the Lady Hubbers topped host Portville 58-36 for the tournament title Saturday afternoon.
“It’s a good start,” said Smethport coach Eric Lutz. “We’re still doing some things wrong, but it’s early in the season and I like the way we’re progressing.”
Lord got hot early from three-point range, drilling five as Smethport jumped out to a 7-point lead in the first quarter and 33-20 advantage at halftime.
“She had a good tournament,” Lutz said. “Her and Morgan both, I’m proud of them. They deserved to make the all-tournament team.”
The lead continued to grow in the third quarter, as a 16-3 spurt made it 49-23.
“Everyone was able to play and contribute,” noted Lutz.
It certainly was an impressive opening weekend for Smethport, as they now have a week off before embarking on a difficult two-game stretch, hosting Port Allegany on Dec. 16 and traveling to Coudersport Dec. 19.
Port Allegany is ranked No. 10 in the state in Class A while Coudersport is honorable mention.
“We have a whole week off now,” Lutz said. “We’ll be ready.”
SMETHPORT (58)
Taggart 3-0-0-6, Molly Lord 6-4-4-21, Alfieri 0-2-4-2, Morgan Okerlund 4-6-8-15, K. Treat 1-0-0-2, Duffy 1-0-0-2, E. Treat 2-0-0-4, Gross-Benjamin 3-0-0-6, Szarowicz 0-0-0-0, Totals 20-12-16-58
PORTVILLE (36)
VanCuren 2-2-3-7, Doty 1-4-6-6, Welty 2-3-5-9, Hall 0-5-6-5, Shaw 0-0-0-0, Colligan 3-3-5-9, Totals 8-17-25-36.
By Quarters
Smethport 12 21 16 9—58
Portville 5 15 3 12—36
Three point FGs: Smethport – Lord 5, Okerlund 1; Portville – Welty 2, VanCuren 1
