On Friday, February 2nd, the St. Anthony’s girls’ basketball team defended their home court in a decisive 68-41 victory over Sacred Heart Academy.
The Friars took control early in the game, scoring 24 points in just the first quarter. The Lady Spartans, with 12 points, struggled to keep up. By halftime, the Friars had widened their lead, with the score standing at 37-20.
Senior Lauren Hackett was a key element of the Friars’ dominance, scoring 11 points in just the first quarter.
“It feels good, it’s always good to score,” said Hackett. “It just boosts everyone else’s confidence and drive to score also. My team and I like to capitalize on any opportunities that we can get to score a quick bucket.”
However, even as the Friars entered the third quarter with a comfortable advantage, they refused to get complacent. They came back after halftime with renewed aggression, and added 20 more points in the third quarter. Sacred Heart only managed to score 8, leaving the score at a lopsided 57-28.
Head Coach Hughie Flaherty pointed to the Friars’ transition passes and overall control as a vital part of their success.
“We work on that in practice all the time,” said Flaherty. “We like to push the ball as much as we can.”
The fourth quarter saw a slight slowdown of the Friars’ momentum. They scored 11 more points, but also allowed the Lady Spartans to get away with 13 points. Nonetheless, the final score of 68-41 reflected the Friars’ control of the game overall.
Lauren Hackett was the game’s top scorer, adding 20 points for St. Anthony’s. Her teammate Sydney Taylor, with 15 points, also played an excellent game. Lawhorne and Toni Kinard were strong, too, adding 11 points and 7 points, respectively.
Coach Flaherty was satisfied with the outcome of the game, especially since the game was well attended by the Friars’ fans, but he also stressed that the team will continue to train hard.
“It’s always great to have a victory and it [the large crowd] really helps; it’s exciting for the girls,” said Flaherty. “But we never take anybody lightly…we really can’t be off our guard at any time, against anyone.”
Friday’s game marked the Friars’ tenth victory in the NSCHSAA league this season. So far, the St. Anthony’s team is the clear leader among the Long Island Catholic schools, and remains undefeated in that league.
About The Author:
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Danielle D’Alonzo Danielle has run cross country and track since freshman year. She reads the sports section every day and also writes for school newspaper, The Paduan. Danielle is also a member of NHS, Math Honor Society and English Honor Society. |
