Belpre's Haley Alloway (32) and teammate Larissa McDaniel (2) go after a loose ball along with Breann Kerr of Newcomerstown during the Golden Eagles' 66-34 victory Thursday afternoon in the River City High School Classic at Marietta College's Ban Johnson Arena. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Belpre forced 31 turnovers and bolted to a 41-15 halftime advantage here Thursday afternoon during the River City Classic at Marietta College’s Ban Johnson Arena en route to posting a 66-34 victory versus Newcomerstown.

The now 6-3 Golden Eagles of first-year head coach Austin Cunningham were led by player of the game Haley Alloway, who finished with 12 points and five assists.

The Trojans’ (4-3) player of the game honors went to Laynie Matchett, whose game-highs of 15 points and 18 rebounds to go along with a quartet of steals weren’t nearly enough.

Belpre not only drained 10 of 17 from the floor in the opening stanza, but the Golden Eagles scored the first eight points. Gracie Bills, who was in foul trouble and went for six points, four assists and four steals, recorded her first swipe on the opening possession and assisted on Alloway’s deuce to put BHS ahead for good.

Although Abby Fauver drained a 3 for part of her eight counters thanks to a Kenzie McKim assist, which made it 10-5, Shy Miller and Alloway canned a pair of treys to help Belpre push ahead 22-6 after one.

Belpre's Gracie Bills gets double teamed by Newcomerstown's Laynie Matchett (10) and Kenzie McKim (11) during the Golden Eagles' 66-34 victory Thursday afternoon in the River City High School Classic at Marietta College’s Ban Johnson Arena. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Madison Lauer had a triple and Khloe Cooper a deuce in the final minute of the second quarter to help the Golden Eagles go up by 26 at the break.

Breann Kerr, who finished with seven points, opened the third with a bucket 1:44 in, but the Golden Eagles responded with an 8-0 spurt that included a Julia Way hoop for part of her eight markers.

Matchett made it 53-24 entering the final eight minutes when she banked in a jumping runner before the buzzer.

Belpre freshman Addy Stewart, who had six caroms and four steals, entered the fray with one career point, but joined Miller (11) in double figures with 10.

Larissa McDaniel chipped in four points for the victors, who watched freshman Savannah Cross bank in a 3 with 1:43 remaining for her first career varsity points.

Belpre's Shy Miller applies pressure to Newscomerstown's Breanna Kerr during the Golden Eagles' 66-34 victory Thursday afternoon in the River City High School Classic at Marietta College's Ban Johnson Arena. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

The Golden Eagles return to action at 11:30 a.m. today back at Marietta College versus Philo.

Marietta 82, River 41

Alyssa Baker drained seven 3-pointers, dished out a game-high six assists and led all scorers with 27 points to help Marietta stay perfect with an 82-41 victory over River to open the annual River City High School Classic Thursday at Marietta College’s Ban Johnson Arena.

Baker finished 7 for 10 from beyond the arc and 9 for 12 overall to help the Tigers, who play Liberty Union at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at MC, improve to 9-0 on the season.

Head coach Ryan McClain’s squad saw five total players reach double digits in the scoring column.

Frontier's Keeley Barrows drives against Brenna Leach of Shenandoah during the Zeps' 65-37 victory Thursday afternoon in the River City High School Classic at Marietta College's Ban Johnson Arena. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Leigha Lauer had 13 points, a game-high nine rebounds and five assists. Jacey McKnight added 13 points of her own to go along with three dimes, while Kendall VanderWal also had 13 points plus five boards, three assists and a game-high three steals. Braxtyn Kroft came off the bench to produce 12 points and four rebounds, while Lauren Elliot grabbed five boards off the pine.

The Tigers, who shot 59% (33 for 56) from the floor, outscored the Pilots 25-7 in the second quarter to take a 47-21 lead into halftime. With a 69-34 advantage after three, the Tigers triggered a running clock in the final period.

River (4-6) received 16 points, five rebounds, three assists and two blocks from Reese Hobbs. Kaylee Hagan added 12 points and eight boards while Maci Isaly chipped in six points and four dimes.

River committed 16 turnovers and was held to just two makes from the 3-point line on 17 attempts.

Baker and Hagan were selected as the players of the game.

Frontier's Elaney Cisler (23) is called for a foul as teammate Kelsey Dye (5) blocks the shot of Shenandoah's Emily Moore during the Zeps' 65-37 victory Thursday afternoon in the River City High School Classic at Marietta College's Ban Johnson Arena. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Shenandoah 65, Frontier 37

Frontier missed all nine of its field goals and committed seven turnovers in the first quarter and never got on track Thursday afternoon against Shenandoah, which posted a 65-37 triumph versus the Cougars in the River City Classic at Marietta College’s Ban Johnson Arena.

Anna Bowersock, who had 17 points and 10 rebounds en route to being named the FHS player of the game, made 1 of 2 from the charity stripe at the 2:46 mark, which snapped a 15-0 run to start the game by the now 7-3 Zeps.

The Shenandoah duo of Emily Moore (18 points, game-high 10 rebounds, game-high seven steals) and Brenna Leach (game-high 20 points, four steals) were too much for Frontier, which also watched Zep Kendal Snyder knock down a trio of 3s and finish in double figures with 11 points.

Head coach Mike Cisler’s Cougars, who dropped to 5-2 and return to action at 2 p.m. Saturday at Wood County Christian, trailed 22-1 after one and 38-12 at halftime. Bowersock converted to close the first half scoring thanks to an assist from Alexis Livingston, who had a team-high three steals.

Frontier's Anna Bowersock is defended by Shenandoah's Emily Moore during the Zeps' 65-37 victory Thursday afternoon in the River City High School Classic at Marietta College's Ban Johnson Arena. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Frontier managed its best run to open the third quarter after falling behind by 30, 43-13. A 12-2 spurt featured a Willow Smitley 3, a three-point play by Kelsey Dye as well as a pair of trifectas from Bowersock.

Despite cutting it to 20 at 45-25, the Zeps ended the period on a 16-1 run and led 61-26 heading to the fourth. Leach, who watched teammate Molly Van Fleet go for five points and a game-high 10 boards, had a pair of three-point plays in the run.

Smitley finished with nine points while Dye had five counters and six caroms.

The point guard Moore, who helped the Zeps force 31 turnovers, was named the player of the game.