JUMPER — Big Red’s Lucy Saccoccia releases a jump shot over Indian Creek’s Rylee Sadler, McKenna Scott and Cam Ketron while Steubenville’s Nylah McShan positions for a potential rebound. – Andrew Grimm

STEUBENVILLE — A couple of things have keyed a surge by the Big Red girls basketball team going into the holidays — Nylah McShan’s all-around game developing her into an even more dominant force, and her teammates continuing to improve around her.

Both were on display Monday night as Big Red earned an impressive 61-34 win over visiting Indian Creek, it’s fourth-straight victory to go into a few days off for Christmas with a 5-3 record.

“I’m proud of the kids and how hard they played,” Big Red head coach Angie Forte said. “They stayed together and did not let up. We talked at halftime about not getting complacent and not being satisfied and continuing to push through in the second half and that’s what they did. It’s nice to go into a few days off for the holiday with a win.”

McShan, who was an All-Ohioan a year ago, scored 24 more points Monday and has been over 20 in every game during the win streak, while continuing to be a force rebounding. Now, however, she’s dishing out assists and becoming a force on the defensive end, too.

Behind her, six other players scored baskets for Big Red. Phynyx Fleming was back in double digits with 10, Lucy Saccoccia tallied eight, Gabby Vein knocked down three triples for nine points and Bailee Beall sunk a pair from range for six.

“We talked to Nylah about exactly that, getting the ball to her teammates and trusting her teammates,” Forte said. “If she’s doubled, (we tell her) look for the open player, and she’s done a great job of making that adjustment to her game, adding the assists to her package. She’s going to score, she’s going to rebound, but now to see the floor, and be able to distribute the ball, that makes her more versatile.

“It’s also big having kids that are willing to come in and get off extra shots in practice, so when she’s kicking it out, they’re able to knock those shots down (in the game). It’s a whole package, a collective team effort and everyone is stepping up.”

While the offense is coming together for Forte, the defensive end has been bringing it as well. It is the third time in Big Red’s five wins it has held an opponent under 40 and the second time in the last three games.

“It has started with defense,” Forte said. “We’re a little low on numbers, so we switched up our defense a little bit and it’s working for us. We’ve been working on it in practice and it’s showing and the kids are buying into what we’re doing. They’re working hard to make the adjustments and I’m proud of them.”

After leading 11-5 after the first quarter Monday, Steubenville went on a 15-2 run in the second quarter to lead by as many as 21 before a late 3 from Creek (5-5) standout McKenna Scott made it a 33-15 Big Red lead at the break. Scott had 13 of Creek’s 15 points in the half.

That lead grew to as many as 28 following an 8-0 Big Red run in the third quarter and Steubenville was on its way from there.

“The hoop has been very big for a lot of teams we’ve played, and a lot of that is probably our defense not making teams uncomfortable,” said Creek head coach Steve Eft, whose team dropped its fourth-straight after starting the season 5-1, though all coming against strong competition. Creek’s opponents in those games (5-3 Big Red, 8-0 Wheeling Central, 5-1 Wheeling Park and 9-1 Union Local) are a combined 27-5. “We’re letting teams do what they want to do. It doesn’t matter who you’re playing, if you’re letting teams take shots they’re comfortable with, they’re going to knock them down. We’ve got to figure some things out, and that starts with me.

“Angie has done a great job with her team this season and has them playing really good basketball. They played a great game. I have to do a better job of getting my girls ready to play and put them in better positions to be successful.”

Scott led Creek with 18 points, while Kaydence Walker hit a pair of 3s and had eight.

“We have a couple days off to regroup, but we’re right back at it Saturday against another good team in Dover so we’ve got to get back to work,” Eft said. “We’re going to take a look in the mirror and figure out what we want to get out of the rest of the season. Our goals are still out there, there’s a lot of season left, but we have to start making changes, grow up a little in some areas and keep getting better.”

UP NEXT

Indian Creek: Will look to regroup during the break before traveling to Dover on Saturday afternoon.

Big Red: Is off until Friday when it hosts Catholic Central in the annual Watt/Nese Classic inside the Crimson Center.

Big Red 61, Indian Creek 34

IC 5-10-11-8 – 34

BR 11-22-17-10 – 61

INDIAN CREEK (5-5): Walker 3 0-0 8; Scott 6 3-3 18; Wiley 2 0-2 5; Sadler 0 0-0 0; Klinesmith 1 0-0 3; Cozart 0 0-0 0; Miller 0 0-0 0; Tiriak 0 0-0 0; Ketron 0 0-0 0; Florczak 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 12, 3-5; 34.

BIG RED (5-3): Saccoccia 4 0-0 8; Fleming 5 0-1 10; Vein 3 0-0 9; McShan 11 2-4 24; Beall 2 0-0 6; Green 1 0-0 2; Bickerstaff 1 0-0 2; Scurry 0 0-0 0; Lewis 0 0-0 0; Youale 0 0-0 0; Montgomery 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 27, 2-5; 61.

3-POINTERS: Indian Creek 7 (Scott 3, Walker 2, Wiley, Klinesmith); Big Red 5 (Vein 3, Beall 2)