ANOTHER BIG DAY — Big Red’s Nylah McShan puts up a layup past Carrollton defenders during Tuesday’s game inside the Crimson Center. McShan netted a game-high 21 points and 14 rebounds to lead Big Red. - Andrew Grimm

Using the pressure defense that has sparked what is now a 9-0 start to the season, Big Red pulled away to impressively win another challenging matchup over visiting Carrollton Tuesday afternoon inside the Crimson Center, 69-44. 

“I’m super proud of the effort, we played hard for 32 minutes of basketball,” Big Red head coach Angie Forte said. “The effort that these girls are putting in at practice is translating to games and that’s showing with wins.

“We’re taking nothing for granted, they are showing up every day focused and working hard to win.

“Being 9-0 at the Christmas break is great, it’s a Merry Christmas.”

Big Red’s Mikah Taylor drives towards the hoop against Carrollton on Tuesday afternoon. - Andrew Grimm

Big Red forced the Warriors (6-4) into 25 turnovers and used a big second quarter to take control, turning a seven-point lead after one quarter into a 25 point margin by halftime. 

“We talked about it coming in — we wanted to control the tempo of the game,” Forte said. “Carrollton does a good job of controlling the tempo of their games, we wanted to get after it and force the tempo on them. The girls were able to get after it early on, and because they were able to get after it early, we were able to control the tempo and that was a big part of the game.”

That margin never dropped below 20 again and went as high as 32 in the fourth quarter. 

“Carrollton is a good team, every time we felt like we were pulling away they kept pushing back and kept coming and making some shots,” Forte said. “Our girls just kept pushing through and did not let up, I’m very proud of them for that. They finished. Defensively the girls got after it and put on the pressure. Sometimes its high risk and we get burnt, but they did not get discouraged when Carrollton knocked down a shot, they just kept coming back the other way and scoring.

“The girls kept making the adjustments we needed to make and got the transition offense going.”

Big Red’s Phynyx Fleming takes a shot from the paint after grabbing a rebound against Carrollton. - Andrew Grimm

Leading the way, as she has for much of her four years in Crimson and Black, was senior standout and reigning East District Player of the Year Nylah McShan with game-highs in points (21), rebounds (14) and steals (six) while also adding a block and an assist. 

The Clarion University signee continues to average better than a double-double. 

“She’s playing lights out,” Forte said of McShan. “She is playing with confidence. She is getting her teammates involved, and as part of that, she can let the offense come to her and doesn’t have to force anything. She is playing a little more relaxed, getting those rebounds in the paint and distributing the ball. She is playing all parts of the game at a high level right now.”

As has also been the case on the great start to the season it was far from just McShan scoring. Sophomore Phynyx Fleming tallied 13 points, seven rebounds, two steals and an assist before fouling out in the second half, while senior Bailee Beall knocked down three 3s and finished with 11 points, five steals, four rebounds and two assists. Sophomore Lucy Saccoccia added seven points and a game-high seven assists, while freshman Brynn Bowers came off the bench and hit a pair of treys in finishing with eight points while dishing six assists with two steals and a rebound. 

“They trust each other, they’re starting to build that chemistry,” Forte said. “We don’t have one kid we feel like has to have the ball, they know they can trust their teammates and distribute the ball. Everyone is doing a good job of knocking down shots and creating opportunities for their teammates. It’s a collective effort from everyone on both ends of the floor.”

UP NEXT 

Carrollton: Is off until Jan. 3 when it hosts Howland.

Big Red: Travels to Wheeling Central after the Christmas break, taking on the Maroon Knights in a big game on Monday. 

Steubenville 69, Carrollton 44

C 10-6-12-16 — 44

S 17-24-16-12 — 69

CARROLLTON (6-4): Em. Shafer 3 2-2 9; Ujcich 4 3-4 13; Roudebush 2 1-2 6; Bishop 1 0-0 3; Shaw 0 3-4 3; Bowie 1 0-0 3; Kuba 0 0-0 0; Hanankrat 0 0-2 0; Burgett 1 1-1 3; Shepherd 1 2-2 4; Eddy 0 0-0 0; Er. Shafer 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 13, 12-16; 44. 

STEUBENVILLE (9-0): Saccoccia 1 4-5 7; Fleming 6 1-2 13; Taylor 2 3-3 7; McShan 7 7-9 21; Beall 4 0-0 11; Bowers 3 0-0 8; Thompson 1 0-0 2; Scurry 0 0-0 0; Green 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 24, 15-19; 69. 

3-POINTERS: Carrollton 6 (Ujcich 2, Em. Shafer, Roudebush, Bishop, Kuba); Steubenville 6 (Beall 3, Bowers 2, Saccoccia). ASSISTS: Carrollton 10 (Ujcich 3); Steubenville 17 (Saccoccia 7). REBOUNDS: Carrollton 33 (Bowie 6, Kuba 6); Steubenville 35 (McShan 14). STEALS: Carrollton 6 (Em. Shafer 2); Steubenville 21 (McShan 6). BLOCKS: Carrollton 6 (Em. Shafer, Ujcich, Bishop, Bowie, Kuba, Hanankrat); Steubenville 1 (McShan). TURNOVERS: Carrollton 25; Steubenville 12.