Austin girls out to 2-1 start

Rayna Valenti exploded for 26 points, and Austin needed every one of them in a 59-57 girls’ basketball victory at Galeton Tuesday night.

Austin (2-1) saw a 20-point lead almost disappear, but had enough of a cushion to hold on for the win.

“We played good team basketball,” said long-time Panther coach Dick Logue. “We did real well at finding the open player and I was pleased with the way we held our composure”

Sarah Jeffers had 11 points and eight rebounds for the Panthers. Ashley Kio and Whitney Crosby pulled down seven rebounds each. Crosby had seven assists.

Logue’s girls were coming fresh from their season debut in the West Branch Tip-Off

Tournament over the weekend in Morrisdale. They beat Glendale 64-41 in the opener, behind Valenti’s 27 points and a 15-point, 11-rebound performance by Crosby. West Branch broke open a close game with a fourth-quarter charge to beat Austin for the championship, 46-38. Jeffers (13), Valenti (10) and Crosby (10) led the Panther offense.

Valenti and Crosby were named to the all-tournament team.

Logue’s girls returned to action Thursday with a lopsided 62-22 win at Cowanesque Valley. A full-court press led to a 41-11 lead at the break.

Crosby (5 steals) tallied 24 points, while Valenti (14), Casey Boucher (13) and Kio (11) were also in double figures.