Holding Court: Jeanette's Gregory enjoys a torrid start
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Ciara Gregory said she had a "terrible" shooting game Monday against Riverview.
She still scored 36 points.
Gregory, a 5-foot-7 senior guard at Jeannette, has been a scoring sensation early in the season. She led the WPIAL in scoring last year with an average of 26.7 points per game, but has taken her scoring to another level this year. Through Jeannette's first four games, she was averaging 37.3.
In those four games, Gregory scored 40, 39, 34 and 36 points. Her accuracy on outside shooting has been terrific. She had seven, six and six 3-pointers in the first three games. She had "only" three against Riverview Monday.
"My outside shot has been more consistent this year," Gregory said. "I think that's a big part of things. I'm making more 3's than last year."
Gregory, who already has signed with NCAA Division I Charlotte, will undoubtedly face a number of "junk" defenses to slow her down. In fact, she already has faced a few.
"Mount Pleasant played a triangle and two, but they put two girls on me," Gregory said. "But we have other people who can score, too."
Fast healer at Franklin
Baylee Buleca sustained a torn ACL in her knee in May. But she is already back in the starting lineup for the Franklin Regional girls team -- and doing well.
She had 22 points and 13 rebounds against Mars Monday. A few Division I colleges are showing interest in this 6-foot junior forward.
"Every game she's getting better and better," Franklin Regional coach Rick Klimchock said. "She's just getting more confident."
Tough times at Highlands
For the past two seasons, High-lands featured standout guard Micah Mason, who led the WPIAL in scoring as a junior and senior, averaging 34.1 and 29.1 points a game. Mason is now playing at Drake and the entire Highlands team scores only about 40 points per game.
Highlands is an inexperienced squad under first-year coach Tyler Stoczynski. Highlands is 0-7 and averaging only 40.3 points a game. Not one player was averaging in double figures. The team also had only 13 3-pointers in its first five games.
Tourney time
'Tis the season for basketball tournaments.
Just about every team in the district will play in a tournament in between Christmas and New Year's. One of the better boys tournaments is the eight-team C.J. Betters R.B.A. Holiday Classic at the Beaver Dome Dec. 27-28. Two of the Post-Gazette's No. 1-ranked teams are in the event -- New Castle (Class AAAA) and Lincoln Park (A). The tournament also includes some top individual talent, including Shaler's Geno Thorpe and New Castle's Shawn Anderson.
The Montour Tournament also has a good field with Hempfield, Fox Chapel, Beaver Falls and Montour.
Father-son coaches
A father and son are coaching WPIAL girls basketball teams this season.
Gary Kacsur is the coach at Fort Cherry and his son, Ryan, is at Sto-Rox. Both Kacsurs are in their first season as head coaches. Their teams do not play each other.
First Published December 21, 2012 12:00 am
