wpial basketball

PHOTOS: Wolverines Falter In Fourth, Fall to Neshannock

After pacing most of the game and leading 37-33 heading into the fourth quarter, Ellwood City could not manage a field goal and only two points – Steve Antuono free throws – in the final frame, letting the lead, and game, slip away in falling 47-39 to Neshannock. Ellwood City opened up their long-awaited regular season play Friday night and held leads after the first three quarters over the visiting Lancers, including a 25-19 halftime edge. However, Neshannock bounced back, scoring 28 points in the second half to claw back and earn its road victory. Alexander Roth led the Wolverines…


Riverside Girls Basketball Ready To Ball With First-Year Head Coach

The Riverside Lady Panthers will travel to face Mohawk on Monday, January 11th before settling in to its first home game on Thursday, January 14th versus the Laurel Spartans.  The team will welcome the long overdue season and begin with new faces, players and coach, on the bench. “We lost a lot of scoring due to graduation, so we will need players to step up into the role of scoring production,” said first year head coach Renee Drake. Drake was appointed head coach of the girls basketball team by the Riverside School Board in June.  Former head coach John Wolf…


Balanced Scoring Attack Leads Wolverines to Riv-Ell Victory

Snowfall and icy cold conditions may have cancelled classes at Riverside and Ellwood City schools on Friday, but a heated rivalry game warmed the gymnasium court at Lincoln High School. Four Wolverine starters reached double figures in scoring to round out a balanced scoring attack that led the visiting Wolverines to its 61-55 victory Friday night at Riverside. Steve Antuono led Ellwood City with 15 points (three 3-pointers) while Nate Coonfare (14 points), Alexander Roth (13 points, three 3-pointers), and Ryan Gibbons (12 points) helped the Wolverines. Ellwood City led by seven at halftime and survived a 23-point third quarter…


PHOTOS: Chesko Pours In 25 Points, Lady Panthers Defeat Wolverines

Brielle Chesko drained four 3-pointers en route to a game-high 25 points to lead the visiting Panthers to a 51-31 Section 1-3A victory over rival Ellwood City on Thursday. Marley Wolf added 13 points for Riverside (11-11, 4-10). Chesko easily paced the victors, accounting for nearly half of the team scoring totals. Kyla Servick led the Ellwood City (3-17, 1-13) with 17 points in defeat.  The Lady Wolverines struggled offensively in the second quarter scoring only four points and allowing a four-point first-quarter deficit swell to a fourteen-point halftime deficit. The Panthers girls swept the Riv-Ell season series, having earned…


Roundball Roundup: Antuono, Kolesar Erupt In Victories

Steve Antuono erupted for 27 points to help the Ellwood City earn a 58-47 road victory over New Brighton on Tuesday. The Wolverines used a decisive fourth quarter to pull away from the Lions. Ellwood lead by one point and halftime and after the teams exchanged 13-point third quarters, continued to hold a one-point lead until the Wolverines outscored New Brighton 27-17 in the final frame to secure victory. Nate Coonfare chipped in with 16 points for the Wolverines.  Antuono finished 11-15 from the free-throw line and connected on two 3-pointers. On Wednesday, the Wolverines were met with a dose…


Riv-Ell Split: RHS Girls, LHS Boys Victorious

In what could amount to a collective draw between rival districts this week, the Riverside girls basketball team collected victory on Monday while the Ellwood City boys team was victorious last night. Both home teams won their host games in the Riv-Ell match-ups. For the girls, Panther Marley Wolf led all scorers with 15 points as the Lady Panthers (7-6 overall) raced out to a comfortable lead early and won 43-21 on Monday. Ellwood City was held to four point in the first half and collected only three field goals in the contest.  Kyla Servick finished with nine points for…


Ticket Sales For Riv-Ell Basketball Game

Ellwood City will be pre-selling basketball tickets for the Tuesday, January 14th basketball game against Riverside. Ellwood City High School will presale Student tickets for $2.00. ALL ELLWOOD STUDENTS must have the BLUE ticket or a season pass to sit in the Ellwood City student section.  Ellwood City will also presale Adult tickets for $5.00 and  Riverside has received 150 student tickets for presale. They are $2.00 apiece. All Riverside students must have the GREEN presale ticket to sit in the RHS student section. Riverside has also received 100 Adult General Admission tickets for presale. They are $5.00 apiece. Ellwood…


Wolverines Stun Aliquippa On Road, Win 51-50

In what comes as a surprise to many, but also may be a sign of things to come, the young Wolverines boys basketball team stunned and upset Aliquippa Friday night, winning 51-50 on the road. Sophomore Alexander Roth led all scorers, finishing with four 3-pointers and 22 points, to lead the Wolverines in their come from behind victory. Ellwood City, who trailed 26-22 at halftime, outscored Aliquippa 18-11 in the final frame and cemented the one point victory with clutch free throw shooting late. Roth scored 10 points in the pivotal fourth quarter. Junior Ryan Gibbons collected all four of…


PART 2: High School Basketball Athlete Q&A; Boys Basketball

When the temperature drops and the roads become white with snow, school athletics turn to the great indoors to continue their competitive play. Within the two schools that reside in our small town, one of the most prominent indoor sports is boys and girls basketball. To give our winter warrior athletes their time to shine, EllwoodCity.org has decided to sit down and provide a Q&A with selected basketball student/athletes from each school district. We conclude our two-part series recognizing the boy’s basketball teams and their respective student/athletes. To view part one of our series, CLICK HERE. ELLWOOD CITY WOLVERINE BOYS…


PART 1: High School Basketball Athlete Q&A; Girls Basketball

When the temperature drops and the roads become white with snow, school athletics turn to the great indoors to continue their competitive play. Within the two schools that reside in our small town, one of the most prominent indoor sports is boys and girls basketball. To give our winter warrior athletes their time to shine, EllwoodCity.org has decided to sit down and provide a Q&A with selected school district’s basketball student/athletes. We begin our two-part series recognizing the girls basketball teams, while part-two will feature the male athletes. ELLWOOD CITY LADY WOLVERINES Maria Ioanilli: Player Name: Maria Ioanilli, Forward Grade:…