Spotlight on Sports: Two Wildcats earn conference athlete-of-the-week honors

Last week in review: The early-season fortunes of the basketball teams continued in opposite directions, with the women posting a 2-1 week and the men losing twice. Also, the wrestling team opened its dual match season, going 1-1.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Last week’s highlights: Breana Valentine, of Fairfield, poured in 23 points, and Gigi Parlante, of Williamsport, scored 18 points and pulled down 10 rebounds as the Wildcats overcame a 10-point halftime deficit to defeat Penn State Altoona on Monday and extend their season-opening win streak to five. The victory was Penn College’s first against Altoona after five losses dating to 2021.

Seeking a program record-tying sixth straight win to open the season on Wednesday against Elmira College, and looking to end a 16-game drought dating to 2005 against the Soaring Eagles, Penn College fell just short on a game-ending, buzzer-beating trey. Parlante led the squad with 13 points, and Valentine added 10 points. The one-point loss was the closest final score ever between the two teams.

At Mount Aloysius College on Saturday, Lexi Troup, of Huntingdon, scored 22 points, and Valentine added 17 points in an 11-point Wildcat win.

Also, for the second week in a row, Valentine was named the United East Offensive Player of the Week for Nov. 10-16, after she averaged 16.5 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals per game in wins over Penn State Mont Alto and Pitt-Bradford.

SCHEDULE/RECORDS
Overall: 6-1
UEC: 0-0
Monday, Nov. 17 – host Penn State Altoona, W, 68-61
Wednesday, Nov. 19 – host Elmira College, L, 52-51
Saturday, Nov. 22 – at Mount Aloysius College, W, 66-55
Tuesday, Nov. 25 – at Penn State Berks, 3 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 3 – host Penn State Abington (UEC), 7 p.m.

MEN’S BASKETBALL
Last week’s highlights: Hosting Penn State Altoona on Wednesday, Penn College had its highest offensive output of the young season, 94 points, in a seven-point loss. Leading the Wildcats were Brian Rivera, of Shenandoah, with 20 points and 14 rebounds, Ethan Roman, of Bethlehem, with 17 points, and Jay Henry, of Warminster, with 14 points.

Hosting Lebanon Valley College on Friday, Landon Reeder, of Montoursville, scored 17 points, Octavio Alexander, of Dallas, Texas, scored 11, and Colby Bost, of West Nottingham, New Hampshire, scored 10 in a losing effort. The team’s 0-6 start is its worst since the 2018-19 squad opened 0-8.

SCHEDULE/RECORDS
Overall: 0-6
UEC: 0-0
Wednesday, Nov. 19 – host Penn State Altoona, L, 101-94
Friday, Nov. 21 – host Lebanon Valley College, L, 89-78
Tuesday, Nov. 25 – host Penn State Mont Alto, 5 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 3 – host Penn State Abington (UEC), 5 p.m.

WRESTLING
Last week’s highlights: Hosting the PCT Duals on Saturday, Wildcats Blake Dergham, of Slatington, at 133 pounds; Chase Shaner, of Hughesville, at 141; and TJ Martin, of Honesdale, at 157 and 149, all ended the day 2-0 in their bouts, while Nicholas Woodruff, of Wyalusing, at 197, was 1-0.

In the Nov. 21 National Wrestling Coaches Association Region 2 Rankings, Martin is second at 149, Carter Davis, of York, is second at 165, and Nic Brotzman, of  Marietta, is fifth at 285.

Also, for the second consecutive week, a Wildcat was named the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Wrestler of the Week as Davis went 4-0 at 165 in the Shenandoah Invitational on Nov. 16. Martin, the prior week’s honoree, finished 5-0 at 149 on Nov. 7-8 at the Ithaca Invitational. Both wrestlers claimed individual titles.

SCHEDULE/RECORD
Overall: 1-1
AMCC: 0-0
Saturday, Nov. 22 – Penn College Duals at Bardo Gymnasium vs. Penn State Altoona (AMCC), ppd.; vs. Averett University, W, 30-13; vs. Alvernia University, L, 31-13
Friday-Saturday, Dec. 5-6 – at York College New Standard Invitational, 3 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. Saturday.

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Freshman outside hitter Lilly Stockum, of Dauphin, was named to the United East All-Conference third team, the first Wildcat to be so honored since 2014.

MEN’S/WOMEN’S SOCCER
Juniors Garrett Gill, of Florida, New York, and Makayla Bucks, of Palmyra, were named to their respective United East All-Sportsmanship teams.

For additional information about Wildcat Athletics, visit pctwildcats.com. For more about the United East Conference, visit gounitedeast.com .