By Ben Magnotta, NEPABasketball.com
DUNMORE – Kaci Kranson scored 25 points as No. 3 Holy Cross defeated No. 5 Mid Valley, 63-39, in a Lackawanna League Division 3 girls contest Monday night between teams ranked among the top Small Schools in the My City Mortgage Super Six Power Rankings of District 2 teams.
Julia Goetz added 12 points for the Lady Crusaders. Kaylee Terranella led the Spartanettes with 13 points.
Kranson made 10 free throws while scoring 14 points in the first quarter.
Holy Cross drew eight fouls in the first quarter, which it closed with a 10-2 run. It reached the double bonus three minutes before halftime.
The Lady Crusaders scored the first nine points of the second quarter for a 25-8 lead with 3:28 to go in the half.
Kranson only played for the first minute of the second quarter. Coach Barry Fitzgerald pulled her out when she was called for her second personal foul.
The Spartanettes scored the first five points of the second half when Abbie Larson hit two free throws and a deep 3-pointer. The team finished the third quarter with 13 points, its highest of the game.
In the fourth quarter, Kranson regained command of the game. She scored nine points for Holy Cross in 90 seconds, with the help of a 3-pointer and two more free throws.
Midway through the quarter, Larson sustained a knee injury and did not return to play.
Both teams were playing the first of games on consecutive nights.
The Lady Crusaders used the win to reach 2-0 in the division and take a half-game edge on eight-time defending champion Dunmore heading into their Tuesday meeting at Holy Cross. The Lady Bucks, the No. 1 Big School in the Super Six, are 6-0 overall.
Mid Valley travels to take on Susquehanna in a non-league game.
Holy Cross improved to 4-4 overall. Mid Valley falls to 7-2.
