By: Joe Blystone
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
SWANTON (February 2, 2026) – On Senior Night, Swanton recognized Lauren Bettinger and Carli Lagrange in a pre-game ceremony.
During the contest, Bettinger and Lagrange combined for 34 points. They seemingly made every big play as the Bulldogs won their fourth game of the season, 48-46 over Pettisville.
The Bulldogs’ senior duo combined for 11 first-quarter points, including a Bettinger triple off an offensive rebound at the buzzer, to give Swanton a 13-12 lead.
Becca Strauss hit a baseline scoop to put Pettisville on top 33 seconds into the second quarter. Lexi Yeager answered by banking one off the glass to regain a Bulldog advantage.
Bettinger’s weaving drive, along with Lagrange going 2-for-2 from the line, extended Swanton’s lead to 24-17 with 1:52 left in the half.
Strauss went coast-to-coast on a press breaker, bringing the Blackbirds back to 24-20 at intermission.
To start the third quarter, Bettinger took over. The Bulldogs point guard scored off a turnover, then flipped one in on a baseline drive, and nailed a three-pointer with 5:01 on the clock to put Swanton up 31-22.
Strauss scored off a Bulldog miscue, and Madison Miller drilled a triple to get the ‘Birds back to 31-28.Yeager hit a deep two from near the top of the key with 6:30 to go in the game to make it 35-30. Pettisville then rallied.
A flurry of Swanton turnovers led to a wing jumper by Brynnley Schwartz. Miller and Strauss combined to go 4-for-4 from the foul line. Then, a third-chance hoop from Strauss put the Blackbirds on top 38-35 with 4:25 on the clock.
However, some ill-advised Pettisville shots led to Bettinger racing to the rim for a score. Bettinger then found Madelyn Pelland on a fast break for the go-ahead basket at the 3:12 mark.
Lagrange scored off a turnover on the next sequence to make it 41-38, putting Pettisville back in chase mode.
Two buckets from Strauss, followed by a split at the line by Miller, forged a 43-43 tie with 1:07 left. Lagrange nailed two from the line 18 seconds later to give Swanton the lead for good.
With the score 47-46, Lagrange split free throws with 6.1 seconds to go. Miller’s desperation heave at the buzzer was off-line.
Bettinger had 20 and Lagrange 14 to pace Swanton. Strauss scored 19 and Miller 10 for Pettisville (7-12).
The Bulldogs (4-14) shot 16-for-50 from the field and had 15 turnovers. Pettisville was 17-for-54 and turned the ball over 12 times.
PETTISVILLE (46) – Rice 0; Strauss 19; Fox 6; Hastings 3; Schwartz 2; Miller 10; Davis 6; Bieber 0; Totals: 12-5-7 – 46
SWANTON (48) – Yeager 9; Hamrick 2; Pelland 3; Rominski 0; Bettinger 20; Lagrange 14; Ventimiglia 14; Totals: 13-3-13 – 48
PHS 12 8 8 16 – 46
SHS 13 11 11 17 – 48