Riverside faced a ranked District 2 opponent for the first time Tuesday, but the result looked much like the rest of the first 11 days of the season for the Lady Vikes.
Kylie Lavelle scored 30 points, without playing in the fourth quarter, and Riverside ran past North Pocono, 70-28, in the girls half of the Lackawanna College Dual Enrollment Classic.
Lavelle scored 13 first-quarter points to help the Lady Vikes take control early. In addition to her second 30-point effort of the season, the Drexel University commit grabbed six rebounds and made three steals in the game at Lackawanna’s Student Union Center.
“I’m glad we don’t have to guard Kylie on a big floor like that,” Riverside coach Jack Mekilo said of playing at the former Scranton Catholic Youth Center. “She’s just getting better every day and it’s fun to watch.”
Riverside, the top-ranked Small School in the My City Mortgage Super Six Power Rankings of District 2 teams, improved to 5-0. The Lady Vikes have outscored opponents by an average of 60.8-24.2.
North Pocono, the No. 6 Big School in the Super Six, was playing its season opener and the first game under new coach Lauren Carra.
Riverside took command in a span of 4:32 during the first quarter.
Lavelle had four points to help the Lady Vikes to a 5-0 lead.
Alicia Goldenzeil hit a 3-pointer for North Pocono to make it 5-3.
Lavelle then scored nine points during a 15-0 run to make it 20-3 with 1:53 left in the first quarter.
During the run, Lavelle converted offensive rebounds into a basket and a trip to the line where she made one of two. She scored twice in transition, including once on her own steal at the top of the key. The other basket came on a give-and-go with Kayla Rose, who also scored four points on a putback and a steal during the run.
Rose finished with 10 points, 8 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 assists.
Alese Karpinski had the other basket during the first-quarter streak.
Karpinski went 6-for-6 from the line in the second quarter when she scored 8 points. She had all 11 of her points in the first half, which ended with Riverside in front, 43-14.
Lavelle added seven points and Emily Taylor had six in the second quarter.
“They tried to go triangle-and-two in the second quarter and Emily Taylor immediately stepped up and buried two threes.
“She’s one of many players doing their job at a high level.”
Two others are Bella McKeefery and Morgan Antoniacci.
“Bella McKeefery played another outstanding game and I love the role she’s filling for us,” Mekilo said. “She’s been coming off the bench, but playing starter minutes and she’s been one of the glue players that keep everything together.”
McKeefery and Morgan Antoniacci, who had a game-high four assists, joined Lavelle in handling the team’s playmaking. They made a variety of contributions while committing just one turnover.
“That’s great basketball against a team that is going to win a bunch of games this year,” Mekilo said.
Lavelle, who finished 8-for-10 from the line, made all 4 of her attempts during the third quarter when she scored 10 more points while Riverside built the lead to 59-25.
Carena Colo scored 10 points and Goldenzeil added 9 for North Pocono, the Lackawanna League Division 3 favorite.
Riverside held North Pocono to one field goal in the first quarter and none in the fourth.
BOYS ROUNDUP: Tuesday's games set up Wednesday battle of unbeatens. https://nepabasketball.com/2020-21/articles/BoysRoundup012021
