By Tom Robinson, NEPAElite.com
UNCASVILLE, Conn. – The season concluded for NEPA Elite Macciocco 16U and Rini 15U teams Friday with consolation games at The Hoop Group Girls Live in New England tournament at Mohegan Sun Casino.
The Macciocco team played twice and the Rini team played once in bracket games for teams that had finished third in their four-team pools during Wednesday and Thursday’s games.
A recap of the Friday action:
NEPA Elite Macciocco 16U girls
The NEPA Elite Macciocco 16U girls fell to the New Jersey Shoreshots-Carman, 59-38, then Lone Wolf Athletics, 30-24, in the 16U Orange Division.
Lizzie Mitchell made six 3-pointers and Shoreshots hit 10 total during the bracket semifinal.
Mitchell had four of the baskets as the team made five 3-pointers in a row in the first 6:03 for a 20-8 lead. She had 18 of her game-high 24 points in the first 9:28 as the lead swelled to 26-11.
Greg Butler, serving as the team’s head coach at the event, praised NEPA Elite’s improved defense in its second game of the day and season finale, but offensive struggles kept it from taking advantage of that effort.
Gabby Marsola made two 3-pointers while scoring all eight of her team-high points by the 3:30 mark of the first half of the game against New Jersey.
Mackenzie Schirg had a strong all-around effort in the second half when she scored all 6 of her points, grabbed 9 of her 10 rebounds, had 3 of her 5 steals and 1 of her 3 assists.
Sophia Talutto and Jenna Luciani had seven points each.
Talutto, Marsola and Addison Kilmer all grabbed five rebounds.
Ella Cooper had three assists.
Finley Bittenbender made three 3-pointers for a team-high nine points against Lone Wolf.
Kilmer had five points, five rebounds and three blocked shots.
Luciani also grabbed five rebounds.
Kennedy Bittenbender had three assists and Finley Bittenbender made two steals.
The Bittenbenders are from Scranton. Marsola is from Wyoming Valley West, Schirg from Lackawanna Trail, Talutto from Dunmore, Luciani from Holy Cross, Kilmer from Mountain View and Cooper from Valley View.
NEPA Elite Rini 15U girls
The NEPA Elite Rini 15U girls team had two shots at the potential tying basket, but was unable to connect in a 43-40 loss to Mid-Atlantic Magic 2025 HGSL in the 15U Orange Division game.
There was no third-place game scheduled in that bracket.
The Rini team actually outscored its opposition while going 1-3 in New England with the losses coming by one, two and three points.
In the season finale, Maggie O’Shea scored 12 points, dished out 3 assists and made 2 steals.
Jenna Hillebrand scored 10 points.
Bella Dennebaum had nine points and four rebounds.
Ella Smith scored eight points and Maggie Coleman pulled down eight rebounds.
Hillebrand and Dennebaum are from Scranton Prep. O’Shea is from Scranton, Smith from Wallenpaupack and Coleman from Abington Heights.
MORE FRIDAY COVERAGE
17U team in semifinals, finals: Clark 17U team finishes in second place – NEPA Elite Basketball.
13U team wins championship: Youngest NEPA Elite group continues to excel – NEPA Elite Basketball.