Lions spoil Lady Cards home opener, post 54-32 win

The Minerva Lions girls basketball team travelled to Magnolia Nov. 22 for the season opener with Sandy Valley and came away with a 54-32 victory. The Minerva Lions forced the Cardinals into 13 turnovers and did not allow a field goal in the third quarter. The game started slowly with the score tied at four with just over four minutes left in the first quarter. Minerva went on a 7-0 run, including a three pointer by Ireland Kirkpatrick, to take an 11-4 lead after one
The visitors stretched the lead to 27-10 at the half on the scoring of Kyleigh Lippincott and Madelyn Morckel, who each had seven points.
The Lady Lions defense kept the Cardinals from finding the net from the field in the third quarter, but Sandy Valley was 11-13 from the line, including Athena Ritter, who was 8-10. She fouled out early in the fourth. Minerva sank five three pointers in the second half, cruising to the 54-32 win. Lippincott led the scoring for Minerva with 12 (5 1-2) with Ireland Kirkpatrick right behind with 11 (4 0-0). They winners sank 10 shots beyond the three-point arc, led by Kirkpatrick with three and two each off the hands of Lilah Sanor and Lillian Stoltzfus. Leading scorers for Sandy Valley were Ritter with 10 (1 8-10) and Cali Eckinger with 7 (2 3-8)Sandy Valley tallied half of their points from the free throw line shooting (8 16-28 32). Minerva finished (20 4-11 54). Minerva led in fouls 20-16.
Minerva (1-0) will travel to West Branch on Nov. 29. Sandy Valley (0-1) will travel to Malvern Dec. 2.
Minerva won the JV game 18-5. Only one half was played.