MOUNT PLEASANT - In Wednesday's game against Brownsville, the Mount Pleasant girls basketball team did what it's done best all season. The Lady Vikings got the ball to Jessica Kovacs, who drained a game-high 19 points to lead Mount Pleasant to a 67-46 Section 3-AAA win over the visiting Lady Falcons (6-5, 7-9). Kovacs wasn't the only high scorer in the game, though, as Jenna Park continued to cash in for the Lady Vikings, racking up 18 points. "We're getting other scoring, too (in addition to Kovacs)," Mount Pleasant coach Ron Miller said. "Jenna Park has been in double figures the last couple games, and that's largely due to Laura (Way)'s return." Way returned to action recently after missing much of the season with a knee injury, and despite tallying only six points herself, she spent much of the night feeding Park, who then finished off the play. "Laura's made a big improvement on the team, even though she's only playing half of each quarter," Miller said, noting that Way shouldn't expect to be back at her former scoring level just yet. "She'll get her points, but she's got to bide her time and be patient right now." Mount Pleasant wasn't too patient when it came to scoring, as the team jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead to start the game. Four of those points came from Kovacs, who also sparked a second six-point run in the period. When the first quarter ended, Kovacs already had eight points, and the Lady Vikings had a 16-8 lead. Mount Pleasant pulled even further away in the second quarter, thanks to six points each from Kovacs and Park. Trina Orlando sank a 3-pointer at the buzzer as the Lady Vikings rolled to a 23-point period. Jillian Rice tried to keep the Lady Falcons in the game, putting in six of her 10 total points in the quarter, but by half-time, Brownsville trailed 39-16. Way and Emese Gyuricza started the third-quarter scoring, but the Lady Falcons went on a streak of their own, outscoring Mount Pleasant 12-3 to close the gap to 46-28. The Lady Vikings put up eight straight points, though, before Brownsville's Gina Pelehac was able to finish off her eight-point quarter with a trey. Pelehac paced the Lady Falcons with 16 points. Kovacs got in the last shot of the period for a 56-31 Mount Pleasant lead. Angie Smith picked up her game in the final period, scoring six points for Brownsville, including the opening basket of the quarter, but the Lady Vikings rebounded with a nine-point run. The Lady Falcons responded by rattling off 11 consecutive points, but it wasn't enough to pull the team out of its hole, as Mount Pleasant clinched the win. "I think we're playing better as a team," Miller said, noting that he still hopes to give Gyuricza more scoring opportunities. "She didn't get enough looks at shots tonight, but all in all, she's improving." The Lady Vikings (9-2, 12-7) will host Yough tonight before taking a break from section competition to visit Uniontown on Friday.

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