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 | Johannah Driscoll drops in three of her six points during the win against BFA-St. Albans |
The Hilltoppers came out a little flat and the Comets took advantage of this jumping to a 5-0 lead midway through the first quarter. Then St. Johnsbury began to make it a game and went on a 7-0 burst, thanks in part to a bucket from downtown by Johannah Driscoll, and took a slim 9-6 lead into the second quarter.
“We came out flat in the first quarter, but then our bench gave us a nice life and brought enthusiasm into the game, which we lacked from the start,” remarked St. Johnsbury head Coach Jack Driscoll.
The Hilltoppers were able to increase their lead by four points early in the second stanza after Driscoll nailed another three ball. The Comets however, climbed back into the game and took a 16-15 lead with 1:31 remaining after Shelby Labarge hit a basket from beyond the arc and Liesl Verderber sunk two free throws.
Adama Kay gave the lead right back to St. Johnsbury after she hit four consecutive shots from the charity strip, with just 26 seconds left in the half. Then Lane started to heat up from down town and tossed one in from deep giving the Hilltoppers a 22-16 advantage with just 10 second remaining.
Chelsea Abbott was able to throw in a lay-up as time expired and decreased St. Johnsbury’s lead to 22-18 heading into the second half.
Lane then took over, scoring nine of her team’s 14 points and widened the gap for the Hilltoppers. The senior started out by hitting a three right from the start and giving St. Johnsbury a quick 25-20 lead.
The Comets would continue to fight and were able to make it a three point game mid way through the third quarter. Then once again Lane stepped up and fired one in from down town extending the Hilltoppers lead to six with 3:00 minutes remaining.
Verderber sunk two more from the line to bring the Comets within four and then during the final 40 seconds it was a barrage of threes from both squads. Kay threw one in for the Hilltoppers; then Labarge erased it with a three of her own with just 23 seconds left. Lane was called upon once more before the period ended and hit a bomb as time expired to give St. Johnsbury a big 36-29 lead heading into the final frame.
BFA – St. Albans came out strong in the final stanza and quickly decreased the Hilltoppers lead to just one after they went on a 6-0 run thanks to Labarge and Verderber.
The Hilltoppers then went on a 6-0 burst of their own and increased their lead to 43-35 with roughly four minutes to play. But once again the Comets fought their way back and took their first lead, 45-43, since the second quarter.
Verderber, who was solid all night from the line, converted four free throws and Chelsea Hunt knocked down two jumpers to lead the Comets on a 10-0 spurt and took the small lead with 2:15 remaining.
Then once again Lane took it upon herself to change the game and she did so with her hustle and energy. The senior guard hit two free throws, followed by a steal then a lay-up which gave the Hilltoppers a slim 47-45 lead with 1:30 left to play.
The Comets cut the lead to just one with 1:20 remaining, but then the Hilltoppers made sure to seize their opportunities from the free throw line.
“We hit clutch free throws down the stretch, which was a nice way to help our cause,” noted Driscoll.
Ally Bruckner hit two shots from the line and then Britteny Regis, who has been hurt all season, converted 3-4 to increase the Hilltoppers lead to 52-46 with 35 seconds left.
BFA-St. Albans called a time-out with 26 seconds remaining and as soon as the play started again, Abbott nailed a bucket from down town and cut St. Johnsbury’s lead to 52-49.
Regis was fouled one more time and she was perfect hitting two attempts, giving the Hilltoppers a comfortable 54-49 advantage with little time left to play. The Comets were unable to make any noise and St. Johnsbury escaped with a close but important victory.
The Hilltoppers were nearly perfect from the line through out the contest, hitting 15-16 with most of them coming within the last 1:30 of the game.
Driscoll would go on to say, “That was the best free throw shooting we have done all season.”
Lane knocked down five three pointers on the night and Kay finished with 11 points for the Hilltoppers, while Driscoll and Regis chipped in five and six points respectively.
Verderber led the Comets with 16 points including 10-12 from the free throw line, while Labarge contributed 13 in the losing effort. Abbott chipped in with 11 points.
St. Johnsbury improves to 7-12 with the win and plays their last regular season game this Thursday when they host Rice for a 6:45pm contest. The Comets drop to 7-12 on the season with the defeat.
Score by Quarter
St. Johnsbury 9 13 14 18
BFA – St. Albans 6 12 11 20
Box Score
St. Johnsbury
Britney Lane 6-4-21, Adama Kay 3-4-11, Brittany Regis 0-5-5, Molly Moran 1-0-3, Hannah Rowe 1-0-2, Ally Bruckner 1-2-4, Johannah Driscoll 2-0-6, Emily Bruckner 1-0-2.
Totals – 15-15-54
BFA – St. Albans
Chelsea Hunt 2-1-5, Chelsea Abbott 5-0-11, Sammie Barrette 2-0-4, Shelby Labarge 3-5-13, Liesl Verderber 3-10-16.
Totals – 15-16-49 |
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