November 17, 2007

The Tri-Village Lady Patriots found themselves playing in the consolation bracket of their own Bill Burkett Tournament against the Ansonia Tigers as they fell last night 43-37 to Franklin Monroe.

In the opening quarter TV got on the board first with a goal by Tina Allison. The Patriots would however struggle to find any offense going 5 minutes without scoring until Hillary Frech was able to knock one down from the corner with 50 seconds to play. Meanwhile the Lady Tigers were able to put 8 points on the board. A Kaila Burns basket would close the period with the PATS trailing 8-6.

The Patriots remained close for the first few minutes of the second period two free throws by Shawnda Stamps made the score 12-8. Foul trouble soon became a problem with three Patriot players and at 5:03 the Ansonia Tigers were in the double bonus. They would take advantage from the line building a 23-8 halftime lead while holding the Patriots to just two points in the quarter.

Ansonia would increase their lead to 17 points to open the third period off a steal and a fast break to make it 25-8. Slowly Tri-Village was able to whittle away at the Tiger lead. It started with a three-pointer by Burns, two free throws by Allison, one by Fisherback, a goal by Erin Bundy and finishing off the run another Burns basket as TV pulled to within 7 trailing 25-18.

The Patriots continued to chip away at the lead finally getting to within one point trailing 28-27 to end the third period.

“At the half I told the girls we aren’t out of the game yet but we have work hard, we won’t be able to get the lead back in one quarter,” said Coach Gray. “The girls almost made a liar out of me.”

In fact Coach Gray was right… but in the opening minutes of the final stanza Tri-Village would go up 29-28 on a Hillary Frech fielder. The Tigers regained the lead once more… but Amelia Frazier nailed two free throws to put TV up 31-30, a lead they wouldn’t relinquish the rest of the way.

The Patriot’s then sealed the game from the free throw line for a 46-34 win. Amelia Frazier would make 8 of 8 and as a team the Patriots shot 18 for 30 for the game.

I asked Coach Gray what he said to his team at halftime to get his team going in the right direction. “I really didn’t scream and was calm, we talked about making adjustments offensively flashing players in the middle of their zone,” said Gray. “Our defensive intensity was poor at the start of the game, it was probably due to the fact our girls were disappointed they weren’t playing in the championship game.”

“Ansonia played hard, they were the aggressors in the first half… but I thought we were the aggressors in the second half and the girls played like the team I know. This is the same team I’ve seen in practice and scrimmages. Now we just need to play like this for a whole game. It’s good to get the win,” concluded Coach Gray.

Scoring by Quarters:

Tri-Village 06 02 20 18 – 46
Ansonia 08 15 06 05 – 34

Tri-Village
Allison 06
Bundy 06
Burns 13
Fisherback 07
Frazier 08
Frech 04
Stamps 02
Totals 46

Ansonia
Schmidt 05
Hemmelgarn 02
Billenstein 05
Mayo 01
McEldowney 02
Platfoot 07
Pitsenbarger 06
Swabb 06
Totals 34