By JOHN ANDERSON
After a stunning 60-35 win over rival Hornell Saturday night, if there was any concern of a Wellsville girls’ basketball letdown before a rematch with Bath, it was erased early Tuesday night against visiting Cuba-Rushford.
The Lions held C-R to single baskets in the second and third quarters on their way to a 71-24 victory.
Wellsville (11-2) will have a chance to avenge a loss on Tuesday at home against Bath.
Wellsville senior Jaelyn Knapp had a game-high 16 points with four rebounds and shot a blistering 67% from the field.
Senior guard Emily Costello also had a monster game, scoring 11 points to go with her 10 rebounds, eight assists and four steals. She found Knapp for eight points on layups
“Jaelyn Knapp is a great player,” Costello said. “She knows how to get open and always makes the right cuts at the right time,” She knows where I like to pass it and lays it in perfectly every time.”
Makenna Dunbar had 12 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal.
Junior guard Emily Robbins, who had eight points and three rebounds, was impressed with the freshman. The duo have come off the bench all season on the senior-heavy team to provide a spark.
“Makenna had a great game tonight, she is a great player,” Robbins said. “She always looks for the best shots and lays them in. I think she contributes a lot to this team.
As for the defense, Costello said, “Our defense, I think that’s the biggest perk to this team. We stress defense. Tonight we knew we needed to contain #23 and we did it with our help. We always know where we need to be.
Robbins said she is looking forward to playing Bath at home with the student section and said “it’s a good environment to play Bath in.”
Costello said of this season, “This year has been the best year I’ve played. I have all of my friends with me, I have Em on the team this year who I played with forever. I feel like we’ve all ben waiting for our senior year to pop off and that’s what we’ve been doing.
Wellsville senior Jaylynn Mess had another strong game with 10 rebounds, four points and three assists while senior Kaylee Coleman had five points, five rebounds, an assist and a steal and junior Sara Reitz had five points.
Unselfish Senior Marley Adams had four points and five rebounds as her freshman sister Natalie Adams outscored her with six. Each had two assists and something to joke about on the ride home.
For Cuba-Rushford, Taylor Searle had a team-high 11 points and Aleah Demick added 10.
In the JV game, Wellsville won, 55-20 as Lindsay Stuck had a game-high 18 points, Jaden Dunbar had 14 and Averee Palmiter scored 11.
Cuba-Rushford 10 2 2 10 – 24
Wellsville 13 14 18 26 – 71
CUBA-RUSHFORD: Cloey Larabee 1 0-0 2, Gabby Kranock 0 0-2 0, Aleah Demick 5 0-0 10, Taylor Searle 4 3-6 11, Destiny Darrin 0 1-4 1. Totals: 10 4-12 24.
WELLSVILLE: Marley Adams 2 0-2 4, Jaylynn Mess 2 0-0 4, Emily Costello 4 0-0 11, Jaelyn Knapp 8 0-0 16, Natalie Adams 3 0-0 6, Emily Robbins 3 0-0 8, Sara Reitz 2 0-0 5, Kaylee Coleman 2 1-2 5, Makenna Dunbar 6 0-0 12. Totals: 32 1-4 71.
3-point goals: Wellsville 6 (Costello 3, Robbins 2, Reitz).
Total Fouls: C-R 2, Wellsville 9. Fouled out: None.
