Girls’ Basketball: Marek, Fritz propel Marian past Minersville
Marian's Deanna Pugh (5) drives around a Minersville defender during Tuesday's non-league game in Hometown (Photo by James Gelatko).
HOMETOWN — Addy Marek is making quite a first impression for the Marian girls’ basketball team.
The 5-foot-11 freshman hit double digits for the second straight game, pouring in 20 points and pulling down seven rebounds as the Fillies rolled past Minersville 70-32 in a non-league contest Tuesday at the Jack Malarkey Gymnasium.
Addy Fritz also tallied 20 points as Marian opened the game on a 10-0 run and never looked back in improving to 2-0 on the season.
“She’s very athletic, both offensively and defensively,” Marian coach Damian Fritz said of Marek. “On the defensive end she can disrupt shots inside. Her getting the rebound, she can take it the length of the floor, dribbles with her head up, sees her teammates.
“On the offensive end, I think she compliments Addison (Fritz) in the paint along with (Olivia) Serfass, Deanna’s (Pugh) penetration and kick … when that is on, that’s a pretty difficult decision for defenses to match up with.”
Marek is very polished for a freshman. Her height makes her a force down low, but she has good ballhandling skills, moves well without the basketball, plays well on the perimeter and can bury the long-range jumper.
All of those traits were on display early against the Miners, who were making their season debut for new head coach Emily Mealey.
Marek opened the game with a conventional three-point play off an offensive rebound, then did the same thing moments later. After another follow-up bucket later in the frame, she took a feed from Olivia Serfass and drove to the basket for a layup.
Her 10 first-quarter points helped Marian open up a 20-6 lead after one frame.
Marek canned a 3-pointer in the second quarter, then scored seven points in the third quarter off a drive to the basket, a 3-pointer from the right wing and a follow.
Marek, who hails from Drums, said playing AAU for Team Pennsylvania out of Harrisburg has helped her hone her skills to get ready for the rigors of the Schuylkill League.
“They develop us very well,” Marek said. “You get to go play and do your thing. The competition is really good, just like the Schuylkill League.”
Addy Fritz scored 18 of her 20 points in the middle quarters, helping Marian pull away. Fritz and Pugh are the two holdovers from last year’s club, which won the Schuylkill League Division III title and qualified for the PIAA Class AA playoffs.
Addy Fritz said the addition of Marek, Lehighton transfer Olivia Serfass, freshman Sofia Serfass and sophomore guard Emily Carone has been a seamless transition. The Fillies don’t have a senior starter, with reserves Olivia Thomas and Carley Hasara the only seniors on the roster.
Olivia Serfass also reached double figures Tuesday, scoring 13 points.
“We have such a big team chemistry and so much energy,” said Addy Fritz, who is nicknamed “Juice.” “You can tell that we all just want to play for each other.
“They’ve helped so much. They’ve blended in perfectly.”
Jenna Cullen scored 12 points to lead Minersville, which committed 17 turnovers in the first half trying to solve Marian’s full-court zone press.
The Fillies led 41-11 at intermission, bringing a running clock for the second half.
“I thought tonight, along with Saturday, our energy level was very, very high,” Damian Fritz said. “For the first time in quite some time, this team is really aggressive defensively. I think that’s what has been missing the past.
“They want to get after it. They want to create those turnovers that lead to easy buckets.”
