BLACKSVILLE – The Trinity Christian girls’ basketball team traveled across Monongalia County to visit the Clay-Battelle Cee-Bees in Blacksville on Friday night.
The Warriors defeated the Cee-Bees 49-30 behind a mix of aggressive defense and efficient offense in a game the visitors never trailed.
Trinity Christian was led by senior Kaylin Kurilko, who finished with a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds. She was joined in double figures by Marlo Flecker, adding 13 points and five rebounds off the bench.
Clay-Battelle was paced by sophomore Ali Hellyer with 14 points and Breanna Debolt with 11. C-B freshman Mckenzie Toothman scored three points to go along with six steals and eight rebounds.
The Warriors improve to 4-7 on the season, while the Cee-Bees fall to 3-10. The two teams will meet on Monday in Sabraton as Trinity Christian hosts Clay-Battelle in an OVAC consolation game.
“We came into the game wanting to push the ball down the floor and win the rebounding margin, and we did both of those things well this evening,” TCS head coach Chad Williams said. “We also shot the ball better in this game than we have. I thought Kaylin and Kate (Williams) did well leading the team tonight as our seniors, and I’m proud of the effort.”
The game saw a slow start offensively, as the Warriors led 6-2 three minutes into the game. However, they found their footing through the remainder of the quarter, and Trinity Christian led 18-7 after the first frame.
The Cee-Bees responded well in the second quarter, cutting the lead to single digits midway through, but Trinity Christian ended the half on a small scoring run and led 31-14 at the break.
“We are a young team; I start four sophomores and a freshman, so we just need to get the experience playing together,” C-B head coach Sherry Patterson said. “Only two of our girls played basketball together before the season and I believe we have the pieces we need to win games.”
Patterson’s ladies managed 13 steals and grabbed 24 rebounds in the game, and played solid defensively in the second half, showing signs of what could be in store for the Cee-Bees in the future with only one senior on the team.
Trinity Christian extended its lead to 42-21 after the third. Kurilko achieved her double-double with six minutes left in the contest, but Clay-Battelle won the final quarter 9-7.
Trinity Christian returned to Sabraton with a crucial victory on its quest to return to .500.
The Warriors will host the Cee-Bees on Monday evening in Sabraton for an OVAC tournament contest.
BOX SCORE
Trinity Christian 49, Clay-Battelle 30
TCS 18 13 11 7 – 49
C-B 7 7 7 9 – 30
Trinity Christian (4-7) – Kurilko 6 2-2 15 Flecker 4 3-4 13 K Williams 3 2-4 9 Moorehead 2 0-0 4 L Williams 1 0-0 2 Conn 0 3-6 3 Deal 1 0-2 3
Clay-Battelle (3-10) – Hellyer 6 2-2 14 DeBolt 3 3-6 11 Toothman 1 0-0 3 Clemens 1 0-0 2
3pt goals made – Trinity Christian 5 (Flecker 2 Williams 1 Kurilko 1 Deal 1); Clay-Battelle 3 (DeBolt 2 Toothman 1).
