Free throws key as Charleroi gives Wagner first win
CHARLEROI — Both Monessen’s Janine Vertacnik and Charleroi’s Bill Wagner coached their first game with their respective programs Friday night, and the Cougars prevailed in their Tipoff Classic, 41-34.
The coaches entered the game on the opposite ends of the experience spectrum as Vertacnik is in her 32nd season as a coach and the contest was Wagner’s first as a head coach.
“It is what I thought it would be and that is nerve-wracking. I relied on my assistants,” said a smiling Wagner, referring to his staff of Mickey Hornack, Mike Lucas and Trey Tilghman. “I have three great assistants to turn to.
“We didn’t match them well inside and did not rebound well, but I am happy for the girls to get the win.”
Vertacnik was proud of her team’s effort.
“I am happy with the effort overall, even though I think we were a little anxious and overaggressive at times,” she said. “We have to score points off of our press and our defense, so we will have to be aggressive because we are not ready to be a half-court team and will have to take chances.
“We turned the ball over and I should have settled them down, but I am happy overall with the effort. We have to crawl before we can walk.”
Monessen turned the ball over 29 times while Charleroi committed 18 turnovers.
Each team only made eight shots but Charleroi converted 21 out of 36 free throws while Monessen hit seven of 18.
“If we hit some shots on the block it would have been a different ballgame but we were nervous and excited,” said Vertacnik. “The girls have to experience close games to learn from them and this is a good learning experience.”
Bella Skobel, the lone Charleroi player with meaningful varsity experience, led the Cougars with 18 points. Sydney Caterino and Kendelle Weston led Monessen with eight points each.
Neither team led by more than four points in the first quarter, and Monessen’s Mercedes Majors hit a shot at the buzzer to give the Greyhounds a 14-13 lead going into the second quarter.
Both teams struggled offensively in the second quarter as Monessen made only two baskets, a Weston layup and a Jahnell Jackson layup, while Charleroi’s lone hoop was on a spin move by Bella Skobel with 2:20 to go in the half.
Monessen outscored Charleroi 5-2 in the second quarter to take a 19-15 lead into halftime.
In the first half, Monessen had 14 turnovers while Charleroi had 11.
Monessen struggled offensively in the third quarter and only managed two points while Charleroi tallied eight points in the quarter to take a 23-21 lead into the fourth.
In the final frame, Charleroi made 12 out of 20 free throws to pull away.
Wagner, Charleroi’s all-time leading scorer for the boys basketball, talked about the emotion in the locker room after the game.
“The girls were happy but we have some work to do and the girls understand that,” he said. “We are young and panicked, but it will improve with experience. Our team, and Monessen’s, will improve with experience.”
Both teams play again tonight as Monessen faces Beaver (1-0) at 6 p.m. and Charleroi faces Carmichaels (0-1) in the second game.