FROM UNDERNEATH — Big Red’s Mikah Taylor shoots from underneath past defense from Weir High’s Alea White on Monday. - Andrew Grimm

It did for the Big Red girls basketball team on Monday night.

After trailing early in the first quarter, Steubenville rattled off 15-straight points to take over in a hurry and did not look back, cruising to a 73-16 victory on the road at Weir High.

“I’m very proud of the effort,” Big Red head coach Angie Forte said. “One thing we talk about is not taking anything for granted and showing up every night to play hard and that’s what they did. We really played hard together and shared the ball, played hard defensively and got the transition offense going.

“We got a couple of transition buckets and got rolling from there.”

REBOUNDING — Big Red’s Nylah McShan reaches for a rebound against Weir High on Monday. - Andrew Grimm

After Weir High led 5-4 early in the first, Big Red out-scored them 43-5 the rest of the first half and 69-11 the rest of the game.

“It’s a different ball in West Virginia than we use in Ohio, so sometimes it takes a little bit to adjust,” Forte said. “It took us a little bit to get going but they made the adjustment and pushed through. Once a couple of shots went in, they got some confidence and got going.”

Nylah McShan led Big Red with a game-high 26 points. The Clarion signee and reigning East District Player of the Year netted 11 of her points in the first quarter and 22 of them in the first half in helping Big Red open leads of 22-7 and 47-10.

Phynyx Fleming tallied 16 points, while Lucy Saccoccia and Mikah Taylor each netted nine.

Big Red is off to its first 6-0 start in over a decade.

Big Red’s Lucy Saccoccia makes a pass to a teammate. - Andrew Grimm

“It’s pretty exciting,” Forte said of being 6-0. “They’re working hard in practice and doing the things I’m asking them to do. They deserve it.”

The youthful Red Riders, who were playing a fourth-straight game against an undefeated opponent, were held to single digits in all four quarters.

“We get a break coming up to regroup and gather ourselves, we only play twice in the next 15 days after a real packed schedule to start out,” Weir head coach Rick Stead said. “We’re six games in and still making a lot of the same mistakes. Physically, I think we’re a little tired, we’re a little banged up with a girl out and two with injuries.

“I’m a little disappointed, I thought we could have played a little bit better, but I understand it. We have a lot of girls that are playing varsity for the first time, some made the jump from junior high to varsity, and playing varsity against some very good teams. It would have been a tough stretch for anyone.

“We’re going to go back and work on the little things. We’re going to keep going and keep working and keep together. I’m confident that we will put it together.”

Weir High’s Ryann Jeter drives to the paint against Big Red’s Nylah McShan. - Andrew Grimm

Weir was led by 12 points from freshman standout Ryann Jeter.

UP NEXT

Big Red: Returns home Wednesday to take on John Marshall in a big game in the OVAC Class 5A standings.

Weir High: Has a much needed break as it is off until Dec. 22 when it travels to rival Oak Glen.

Big Red 73, Weir High 16

Weir’s Lili Ascencio holds the ball looking for an open teammate. - Andrew Grimm

BR 22-25-2-4 — 73

WH 7-3-4-2 — 16

BIG RED (6-0): Saccoccia 3 2-2 9; Fleming 7 1-3 16; Taylor 4 1-2 9; McShan 12 2-4 26; Beall 1 0-0 3; Bowers 1 1-4 3; Thompson 1 0-0 2; Lewis 1 0-0 3; Younce 0 0-0 0; Scurry 0 0-0 0; Green 0 0-2 0; Montgomery 1 0-0 2. TOTALS: 31, 7-17; 73.

WEIR HIGH (1-5): Ascencio 0 0-0 0; Siegel 1 0-0 2; M. White 0 0-0 0; A. White 0 0-0 0; Jeter 4 1-2 11; Cooley 0 1-2 1; Hans 0 0-0 0; Devore 0 0-0 0; Doggett 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 5, 4-8; 16.

3_POINTERS: Big Red 4 (Saccoccia, Lewis, Fleming, Beall); Weir High 2 (Jeter 2).