Houghton Academy fires off scoreless 1st quarter run, wards off A-A with 30-20 win; GV/Belfast girls win defensive battle at Fillmore, C-R, And/Whi girls also tally victories
By CHRIS BROOKS, managing editor, wellsvillesports.com, STEVE HARRISON photos
ALMOND — All the noise that the Lady Panthers of Houghton Academy needed to make was right from the start. Jess Prentice helped that cause and much more, as the visitors in blue posted a scoreless run in the first eight minutes of play to set the tone automatically against host Alfred-Almond on Monday, weaving their way towards an ultimate 30-20 win.
Prentice lent a heavy hand in Houghton Academy’s (4-11) offense out of the gate, digging her way inside against the Lady Eagles defense to provide eight of the team’s first 10 points. The Lady Panthers would also keep the hosts at bay on the other end of the floor through it all in the process, as they posted a scoreless 10-0 run to make all the room they needed to secure the win through a dead even exchange of pleasantries through the second half.
At game’s end, Prentice wound up leading all scorers on the hardwood with a game-high 21 points to couple with a spectacular showing off the glass, grabbing 20 rebounds to complete a humongous double-double for the Lady Panthers. Jessica Adenuga had seven points, while Laura Maya had the team’s last two points off a basket inside.
Houghton Academy is back home Wednesday night for a 5 p.m. battle with New Life Christian.
Houghton Academy 10 8 6 6 – 30
Alfred-Almond 0 5 5 10 – 20
HOUGHTON ACADEMY: Jess Prentice 8 4-8 21, Jessica Adenuga 2 3-3 7, Laura Maya 1 0-0 2, Abby Reitnour 0 0-4 0. Totals: 11 7-15 30.
ALFRED-ALMOND: Kayli Clark 1 0-0 2, Chloe Hann 2 0-0 6, Chloe Bracken 0 2-2 2, Isabel Badeau 1 2-4 4, Paige Marlatt 2 0-0 6. Totals: 6 4-6 20.
3-point goals: HA 1 (Prentice), A-A 4 (Hann 2, Marlatt 2).
Total Fouls: HA 10, A-A 14. Fouled out: None.
PHOTO GALLERY BY STEVE HARRISON:
Genesee Valley/Belfast 28, Fillmore 22
FILLMORE — Points were at an absolute premium between both Genesee Valley/Belfast and Fillmore on Monday, as both foes dialed in for a 32-minute defensive engagement.
Because of it, the majority of the game’s points provided a big finish down the homestretch in the last eight minutes of play. In the end, Genesee Valley/Belfast was able to collect just enough cushioning against the host Lady Eagles to remain out in front, garnering a massive road victory on Monday by a 28-22 count to hit the 10-win plateau for the season.
“Needless to say that points were at a premium tonight. At times, the game was sloppy on both ends, but I’d also credit two teams who are very familiar with each other that played pretty tough defense,” said Lady Eagles coach Tom Parks. “Genesee Valley/Belfast is very long, and they make scoring inside very difficult. When we got some clean looks inside, we couldn’t get them to fall. They stretched out to a six-point lead late, and they matched baskets with us down the stretch to hold on.”
Leading the way for Genesee Valley/Belfast’s (10-7) offense was Anna Drozdowski, who recorded a game-high 17 points out of the team’s 28 in all. Harley Proctor and Mary Hamer each chipped in four points along the way, as the visitors took a 15-12 lead going into the fourth quarter. A frame where they were able to grab an upper edge of at most six points before the dual for baskets was on with Fillmore, as they held onto their lead in the end.
The Lady Eagles (9-5) were led by Hope Russell and her 12 team-high points. Amelia Rose added in nine points, while Mattie McCumiskey recorded the team’s final point from the charity stripe. Fillmore will look to rebound on the road tonight with a 7:30 p.m. contest in Hinsdale.
Genesee Valley/Belfast will look to use the newly-garnered momentum in their return home on Thursday, hosting a big League clash with Andover/Whitesville, starting at 7:30 p.m. in Belfast.
Genesee Valley/Belfast 5 4 6 13 – 28
Fillmore 3 4 5 10 – 22
GV/BELFAST: Anna Drozdowski 5 5-7 17, Abby Sullivan 0 1-2 1, Harley Proctor 2 0-0 4, Adison Grusendorf 1 0-2 2, Mary Hamer 2 0-0 4. Totals: 10 6-11 28.
FILLMORE: Hope Russell 4 1-2 12, Amelia Rose 3 1-2 9, Mattie McCumiskey 0 1-2 1. Totals: 7 3-6 22.
3-point goals: GVB 2 (Drozdowski), Fillmore 5 (H. Russell 3, Rose 2).
Total Fouls: GVB 14, Fillmore 11. Fouled out: Proctor (GVB), H. Russell (FIL).
Cuba-Rushford 54, Bolivar-Richburg 38
CUBA — The Lady Rebels of Cuba-Rushford used the first eight minutes to take the early advantage out of Bolivar-Richburg’s grasp on Monday. With it, Taylor Searle helped ignite the offense for bigger and better things to close out the opening half, as they garnered enough room to break away from the Lady Wolverines to hop back above .500 on the season with a 54-38 home win in the Wighthouse.
“We were solid defensively in the first half, and that allowed us to build a comfortable lead. I was pleased with how we scored tonight. To have four different girls scoring like they did, in the nine to 10 point range, is very huge for us.” said Lady Rebels coach Aaron Wight.
It began with a 10-4 lead that Searle ignited for the Lady Rebels (8-7), scoring six of the points. It would lead to bigger things in the second quarter with their biggest run of the game against Bolivar-Richburg, led by four of their five three-pointers from downtown, two of which off the hand of Searle to put towards what was a 19-6 run to pull ahead even farther with a 29-10 lead at the break.
A lead they would not relinquish, despite a late second half comeback from the Lady Wolverines (5-9), who posted a 16-point offensive spurt — led by Malayna Ayers and Raegan Giardini, who combined for 11 of the points.
Searle would lead all scorers with a game-high 22 points for the Lady Rebels. Following behind was Brynn Lavery and her 10 additional points, while Cloey Larabee and Shae Maples each had nine.
Bolivar-Richburg was paced by Carmen Crowley, who recorded 14 team-high points. Caitlyn Steiner bucketed seven points, while Ayers had six total to chip in. The Lady Wolverines will continue their road swing on Wednesday, visiting Alfred-Almond for a 7:15 p.m. tip-off.
Cuba-Rushford will look to keep the momentum swinging in their favor with a trip to Hinsdale on Thursday, beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Bolivar-Richburg 4 6 16 12 – 38
Cuba-Rushford 10 19 13 12 – 54
BOLIVAR-RICHBURG: Nadia Baldwin 2 0-0 4, Emma Sisson 1 0-0 2, Raegan Giardini 2 0-0 5, Carmen Crowley 6 2-4 14, Malayna Ayers 3 0-0 6, Caitlyn Steiner 3 1-2 7. Totals: 17 3-6 38.
CUBA-RUSHFORD: Cloey Larabee 4 0-2 9, Shae Maples 3 2-2 9, Emma Retz 1 0-0 2, Brynn Lavery 5 0-0 10, Taylor Searle 9 1-2 22, Raegan Poore 0 2-2 2. Totals: 22 5-7 54.
3-point goals: B-R 1 (Giardini), C-R 5 (Searle 3, Larabee, Maples).
Total Fouls: B-R 13, C-R 5. Fouled out: None.
Andover/Whitesville 68, Friendship/Scio 15
WHITESVILLE — After taking a season-sweeping loss to the hands of Fillmore last week, what better way for Andover/Whitesville to pick up where they left off than by hitting all strides once again on Monday back home, as they held Friendship/Scio to no more than five points across all four quarters while capitalizing on all fronts along the way in their 68-15 victory in Whitesville.
Andover/Whitesville (11-4) came out of an opening quarter that saw them escape from Friendship/Scio’s grasp, building momentum towards a strong first half finish, building a big 20-3 run to pull away towards victory.
Vanessa Hall was one of the big propellers for the home offense, as she posted a game-high 32 points. Following behind was Kennedy Bledsoe, who had 11 points. Zoe Baert chipped in with seven points.
Friendship/Scio (9-7) was led by Nevaeh Ross and her team-high eight points. Up next, Friendship/Scio will return home to Scio to welcome in the Mount Morris Lady Blue Devils for a 7:30 p.m. visit, next Monday night.
Andover/Whitesville now hits the road on Thursday for a trip to Belfast, as they now get set to take on Genesee Valley/Belfast.
Friendship/Scio 5 3 2 5 – 15
Andover/Whitesville 13 20 20 15 – 68
FRIENDSHIP/SCIO: Claire Calhoun 1 0-0 2, Morghyn Ross 0 2-4 2, Lexi Crossley 0 0-2 0, Nevaeh Ross 2 4-8 8, Kiara Grover 1 0-0 3. Totals: 4 6-14 15.
ANDOVER/WHITESVILLE: Lexy Palmatier 2 0-0 4, Vanessa Hall 13 4-8 32, Graci Lewis-Ellison 2 0-0 5, Gabby Terhune 3 0-0 6, Zoe Baert 2 3-4 7, Gabbi Hall 1 0-0 3, Kennedy Bledsoe 5 1-1 11. Totals: 28 8-13 68.
3-point goals: F/S 1 (Grover), A/W 4 (V. Hall 2, Lewis-Ellison, G. Hall).
Total Fouls: F/S 9, A/W 15. Fouled out: None.
