Feb 12, 2018 3 min read

CHARLEROI – In a battle of top girls basketball teams in their respective classes, Charleroi handed West Greene only its second loss of the season Monday night in a non-section game, 67-40.

“We beat a good team and it is a good tuneup for the playoffs,” said Charleroi coach Kevin Lee. “It was a good way for our seniors to end their careers on the floor as it was a little emotional for them on this floor.

“There have been a lot of good times on this floor.”

West Greene coach Jordan Watson said the game will get his team ready for the Class A playoffs and was impressed with Charleroi (19-3), which is headed to the postseason in Class AAA.

“Charleroi is a real good team, is a 19-3 Triple-A team, a state-tournament team and they are really talented,” he said. “This game will help us moving forward in the playoffs, and I told the girls that we won’t face a team like this in Class A.”

Seniors Kaitlyn Riley (23 points), Maria Claybaugh (16) and Sierra Short (16) combined for 57 points to pace Charleroi while Kaitlyn Rizor (12) and Madison Lampe (10) hit double figures for West Greene (20-2).

Early in the fast-paced first quarter and up 7-5, Charleroi went on 12-4 run to take control and it led 21-13 after one quarter.

The Cougars, who easily beat the West Greene vaunted press early, eliminated any doubt of the Pioneers getting back in the game in the second quarter as it outscored the Pioneers 13-5 to take a 34-18 lead into halftime.

Up 23-15 a minute into the second quarter, Charleroi went on an 11-0 run to take a 34-15 lead, and West Greene didn’t score again in the quarter until Lampe hit a three-pointer with 1:22 to go in the half.

The teams played relatively evenly in the third quarter as Charleroi outscored West Greene 14-12 to take a 48-30 lead into the fourth quarter, when it opened up a 30-point lead with two minutes to play.

Both coaches talked about their respective outlook for the WPIAL playoff brackets that will be released tonight.

“This win and our win Saturday at Frazier, I am happy with both wins as we head into the playoffs,” said Lee. “We will see where the WPIAL places us and we will show up and play.”

“I think we will be the second seed,” said Watson. “But we will find out when everyone else does.”