By RON PONIEWASZ JR.
rponiewasz@ncnewsonline.com

County basketball teams will take a break over the next several days from section play.

Holiday tournaments will dominate the action as boys and girls teams attempt to build some momentum outside of loop play.

A trio of contests highlight the action Saturday, two of which being boys matchups.

The Mohawk High girls team will square off against Western Beaver at 3:30 p.m. in the Penn State-Beaver Christmas Tournament.

The Warriors’ boys team, paced by Matt Lorello, will also oppose Western Beaver at 5 p.m. Lorello leads the county in scoring at 24.8 points a contest.

“Hopefully Matt will be able to sustain what he’s done so far,” Mohawk coach Kevin Wrona said. “He’s a player that has improved immensely; he was a pretty good player last year, too.”

Mohawk (7-0) is the lone county school, boys or girls, that is undefeated.

New Castle (4-4) will meet Erie Strong Vincent at 6 p.m. in the Farrell Christmas Tournament.

“We don’t know much on them at this point,” Red Hurricane coach Mark Stanley said. “Usually, at a tournament like this, we’re going up there to work on the things we’re strong at and make them guard us.

“We’re going to get after them and give them some different looks defensively. After the tournament, we have a whole week to get better. We’ll be in the gym working.”

The ’Canes will finish off the tournament on Sunday.

The holiday slate kicks into high gear on Monday.

On the boys side, Shenango (4-4) battles Wilmington (3-2) at 4:30 p.m. and Laurel (3-4) will square off against Union (4-4) at 8 p.m., both of which will be in the Union Booster Tournament.

“It’s always nice to play the local teams around the county,” Scotties coach Dave Smialowski said. “Since it’s just us and Neshannock in our section (1-A), it will be nice to have a bunch of county teams playing each other.”

Neshannock (4-3) will meet Reynolds (6-0) at 6:30 p.m. in the West Middlesex Tournament and Mohawk will compete on the final day of the Penn State-Beaver Christmas Tournament.

Ellwood City Lincoln (3-5), which is not competing in a holiday tournament, travels to Monaca (4-4) at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

In girls action, six games highlight the docket on Monday.

New Castle (5-1) looks to get back on the winning trail when it tangles with Burrell at the Pine-Richland Christmas Tournament. The Lady ’Canes lost their first game on Monday to WPIAL Section 2-AAA foe Ambridge, 58-56.

Laurel (0-7) will tangle with Wilmington (2-3) at 3 p.m. and Moniteau visits Union (3-5) at 6 p.m., both battles will take place in the Union Booster Tournament.

Neshannock (5-4) entertains Cornell (4-4) in the Lady Lancers Christmas Tournament at 7:30 p.m. and Shenango (4-5) squares off with Ellwood City (2-6) at 7:15 p.m. in the Riverside Tournament.

Mohawk (6-2) will participate on the final day of the Penn State-Beaver Christmas Tournament as well.