The Lions sweep tonight

Providence Christian High basketball fans had a rare opportunity to raise their voices in song Wednesday evening, and if they did it would have sounded something like "The Lions Sweep Tonight," (after first being given the appropriate number of "oh wim-o-weh's"). That's because for the first time this season, both the boys and girls teams won in a varsity doubleheader played "in their jungle, the mighty jungle" also known as Corning's Maywood Middle School, where Providence plays its home games.

The boys squad took an early 6-0 lead in the first quarter and never trailed in their match-up, as six points from big-man Micah Danley, three by Caleb Skelton, and a bucket apiece by Joshua Reese and Leland Prior staked the Lions to a 13-6 advantage after the opening eight minutes.

The two teams mirrored their first quarter scoring performance to see Providence enter the locker room with a 26-12 lead at the break.

Danley finished with eight points in the first half, most resulting from simple shots at the low post, resulting from simple spin moves without putting the ball on the floor.

Any hopes Herlong entertained of staging a massive second-half comeback were dashed when the Lions sprung out for a 13-2 third quarter. Providence also ignored superstition by putting up its fourth 13-point quarter in the final period.

Prior's 15 points paced Providence, with Skelton drilling a three-pack of treys among his 13. Danley finished with nine, and Ben Manthei pitched in with six. Prior also double-doubled by cracking the boards for 10 rebounds.

The Viking's Devin Mooney led all scorers and rebounders with 17 points, and 20 boards.

In the matinee match-up, the Lady Lions used a 10-0 run to begin the second quarter and flip a 4-3 deficit into a 13-4 lead en route to a 37-27 win.

Neither team shot the ball very well, but Providence moved the ball more effectively and opened up driving lanes or good looks for its shooters.

Alyssa Peterson led the Lions with 15 points, many from close-range on the receiving end of give-and-go's, and Alexis Edmondson followed with nine points, including sinking Providence's only two shots from behind the arc.

Peterson also fought for 10 rebound to complete a double-double, with Rebekah Ball grabbing a team-high 10 boards.

The two teams combined to make 49 turnover, with 24 of them coming from the Lions.

The boys (5-12, 3-1 Pioneer League) and girls (14-2, 4-0) played Friday at Princeton. They wrap up the regular season next week at Downieville Tuesday, and hosting Elk Creek on Friday, although Downieville did not have enough to field a boys team this season.

Craig Purcell is sports editor for Tri-County Newspapers. Contact him at 824-1036 or cpurcell@tcnpress.com.

Girls

Providence 37, Herlong 27

Herlong 4 7 4 12 -27

Providence 3 16 10 8 -37

Herlong (27): Owen, 11; Berry, 5; Silva, 5; Harryman, 4; Bania,

Providence (37): Peterson, 15; Edmondson, 9; Ball, 6; Ramirez, 4; Cleek, 2; Verboom, 1

Boys

Providence 53, Herlong 33

Herlong 6 6 2 19 -33

Providence 13 13 13 13 -52

Herlong (33): Mooney, 17; Vazquez, 8; Victory, 3; Beckett, 2; Woodell, 1

Providence (52): Prior, 15; Skelton, 13; Danley, 9; Manthei, 6; Reese, 4; Field, 3; Parker, 2