Home 
Athletics Athletics News Girls Basketball team advances to 1/4 final round
Athletics Athletics News Girls Basketball team advances to 1/4 final round
| Girls Basketball team advances to 1/4 final round |
 |
 |
 |
|
St. Paul fends off scrappy Terryville But in the end, the undersized Kangaroos fell victim to St. Paul’s superior height and experience as the Falcons posted a 53-35 victory to advance to next Thursday’s quarterfinals against No. 6 Wamogo, a winner over Canton. “We didn’t box out in the second half like we did the first half and allowed second and third scoring opportunities,” said Terryville head coach Angie Suffridge, whose plucky club finished the season 12-10. “We played hard but size has always been an issue for us. We have great guards, but most of the points in a basketball game are scored in the paint and St. Paul was able to do that against us tonight.” The Falcons, who won their 20th game of the season against only two losses, beat the ‘Roos up on the boards, especially during the last period and a half when the contest was decided. The home club also shot 14-of-18 from the free throw line, while Terryville missed its only attempt from the charity stripe. Despite its lack of size and inability to get to the free throw line, Terryville, thanks to some especially gritty play from junior Kaitlyn Natzke, was only down three points, 32-29, with 1:15 left in the third period. But St. Paul senior Claire Consonni nailed a three-pointer to start a 13-0 Falcon run that was spread over the end of the third period and midway through the fourth, and the visitors had a firm grasp on the game. St Paul helped itself by hitting 12-of-14 free throws during the final nine minutes of play. “We’re a senior-laden team that has been here before,” said St. Paul head coach Joe Mone. “I challenged them at halftime to pick up their defense and they did. We were double-teaming way too much in the first half and giving them open shots. We stopped doing that in the second half.” He added, “I have to give Terryville credit. They played us tough even though we were a lot bigger than they were. But when you get to this point it’s survive and get to the next game. You just want to be able to have a practice the next day and we’ll do that.” Terryville raced out to a 7-3 lead before another of Mone’s seniors, Adele Rule, scored three straight baskets to give her team a two-point lead. Terryville built its advantage back up to three points, 13-10, when senior Samantha Hanlon banked in a shot late in the opening period. Terryville built its advantage back up to three points, 13-10, when senior Samantha Hanlon banked in a shot late in the opening period. The visitors held a one-point advantage when Terryville senior Meghan Skidmore nailed a jumper with 3:10 left in the first half, only to have the hosts score six unanswered points to take a 26-21 lead into the locker room at intermission. Down seven with 2:26 left in the third period, Natzke scored and senior Shelby Bissonette drove for two to pull the Kangaroos to within three, 32-29. But it was all St. Paul from that juncture on, with junior Amber Litwinko scoring seven of her 11 points in the final period. “We just got fatigued in the fourth period,” said Suffridge. “That’s what happens when you are going against a taller team. They wear you down and you start making mistakes and missing shots.” Natzke’s 13 points were a game-high total, while Ruel and Litwinko had 11 apiece and Courtney Lobo and Chelsea Mone 10 each for the Falcons. Add this content to your social site.       |