By Kim J. Harmon

There was hardly any scoring at all in the first quarter last Saturday, but the Pacers eventually set the pace and rolled to a 28-15 win over the Big Red in the Newtown Parks and Recreation Youth Basketball Junior Girls championship at Newtown High School.

Only Moira Collier and Katie Power of the Pacers popped in baskets in a low-scoring first period, but the offenses soon got on track – except it was the Pacers’ offense which got more on track than the Big Red’s.

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs defeated the Bulls, 25-22, for the Intermediate Girls championship.

After Collier and Power staked the Pacers to a 4-0 lead, things started to heat up a bit in the Junior Girls championship. Kristen Gucciardo and Renata Villareal hit baskets to open the second quarter to pull the Big Red into a 4-4 tie, but the Pacers went on a 7-0 run on baskets by Kelly Fagan, Power and Jaclyn Petrasanta, grabbing an 11-4 lead.

The Big Red answered back on a basket and foul shot by Meredith Palo, but the Pacers still managed to stay about six or seven points out in front. Collier hit 2-of-2 from the free throw line to help the Pacers close the first half with a 13-7 lead.

Fagan opened the third with a basket for the Pacers and after Kate Fulmer canned a free throw for the Big Red, Power hit a baseline jumper to give the Pacers a 17-8 lead. Monica Strzlecki closed the third quarter with a basket for the Big Red.

Fagan of the Pacers and Gucciardo of the Big Red traded baskets to open the fourth quarter, but after a Strzlecki foul shot inched the Big Red to within six points, 19-13, the Pacers went on a 9-0 run to put the game away. Power hit a couple of baskets (one after following up a missed free throw), Collier hit one (after a nifty steal) and Genna Scheuerell added her own (off a great pass from Power) and the Pacers had themselves a 28-13 lead.

The Big Red hit a basket to close the game.

In the Intermediate Girls championship, Casey Schulz scored 10 points and Caitlin Marsden dragged down four rebounds to lead the Bulldogs to the 25-22 win over the Bulls, Erin Fish made six steals to spark the defense. For the Bulls, Lisa Vendel scored 10 points while Michelle Davis, Alice Brewer and Marnie Thompson played well.

In Intermediate Boys semi-final action, the Bucks defeated the Lakers, 29-24, as David Bray canned 18 points. Mark Scheunemann and John Aminti combined for 15 points and Pete Wlasuk had 10 rebounds to pace the Lakers.

And the Wildcats defeated the Celtics, 48-30, as Jake DeVellis poured in 22 points. Ryan Murphy chipped in with eight while Spencer Williams and Mike Gabor played well on defense. For the Celtics, Joe Capiello and Christian Bietel combined for 15 points while Harrison Gillis dished off six assists.

In Junior Boys semi-finals action, Tyler Tarantino scored 14 points to lead the Yellow Submarines to a 36-32 win over the Hornets. Steven Kramer had a solid game. For the Hornets, Joe Greenfield canned 10 points as Mike Murphy, Kris Kling and Nick Ciarelli played well.

And the Lakers defeated the Celtics, 56-34, as Matt Mascolo scored 13 points and Aron Fay and Chris Meier played well. For the Celtics, Shaun Coakley scored 18 points and Joe DeVellis chipped in with 15.