By JOHN LIKANJE
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Lexi Green scored a game-high 25 points as Pittsford Mendon pulled away to defeat Pittsford Sutherland, 71-49, in the 19th annual Rainbow Classic on the campus of the University of Rochester.
Green netted six points during a 12-0 run near the end of the third quarter in which the Lady Vikings extended their slim margin into a 20-point lead. The junior guard made 1-of-2 free throws, a layup and a long-range shot over three consecutive possessions.
.@SecVGBasketball – @SutherlandBball vs. @mendonGVBB: Defense to offense. A Bridget Miller block leads to a Lexi Green 3. Green has 21 after 3 quarters. @PickinSplinters pic.twitter.com/MUk3clhynv
— John Mitchell Likanje Junior (@jml5798) December 21, 2019
Bridget Miller netted 1-of-2 foul shots and Danielle Strauf backed her up with a three-pointer off the missed attempt. Katie Bischoping capped off the run with a layup as the Lady Vikings took a commanding 56-36 advantage.
“I thought we picked up our defense,” Pittsford Mendon head coach Todd Julien stated as his squad forced three missed field goals and a turnover during the run. “They stopped getting good looks and free throws. We made a conscious decision that we don’t want to put them on the foul line. Just play defense with our feet. Then we got out. We get good looks and all of a suddenly, a close game is up to 20 points.”
“When we can pressure the ball and only give them looks that are not penetrating passes, we’re in good shape.”
.@SecVGBasketball – @SutherlandBball vs. @mendonGVBB: Lexi Green finds Katie Bischoping. @PickinSplinters pic.twitter.com/LXCwhUBBsn
— John Mitchell Likanje Junior (@jml5798) December 21, 2019
Green knocked down 7-of-10 shots from the charity stripe and a pair of long-range bombs as part of her performance. The junior forward scored nine points in the first quarter as well in which the Lady Vikings raced out to a 10-0 start.
“We were playing against a really good player and I just wanted to help my team win,” Green commented.
“She can play one through five for us,” Julien said about Green. “She can guard forwards and play forward offensively. She’s strong. She’s also got great guard skills. She’s a really tough matchup and really kind of makes us go offensively.”
Strauf scored nine of her 17 points in the final period in which the Lady Vikings outscored the Lady Knights, 15-12. Bischoping netted all 11 of her points in the first three quarters.
.@SecVGBasketball – @SutherlandBball vs. @mendonGVBB: Katie Bischoping putback. @PickinSplinters pic.twitter.com/czayA7B6LU
— John Mitchell Likanje Junior (@jml5798) December 20, 2019
Sydney Gordon (8), Miller (5), Anaya Coleman (3) and Ellen Henry (2) rounded out the scoring for the Lady Vikings.
For Pittsford Sutherland, Maley Garcia scored 16 of her team-high 18 points after the opening period. Six of the junior forward’s seven made field goals were layups. Garcia was 4-of-5 from the charity stripe as well.
Lara Brandt netted nine of her 12 points in the first half. The freshman forward made 4-of-4 free throws and a pair of long-range shots. Ellie Bergin (8), McKenna Davis (5), Allie Renica (3), Brooke Pestorius (2) and Erika Newcomb (1) rounded out the scoring for the Lady Knights.
.@SecVGBasketball – @SutherlandBball vs. @mendonGVBB: Maley Garcia kicks it out to Allie Renica. @PickinSplinters pic.twitter.com/Z8JpEyujlz
— John Mitchell Likanje Junior (@jml5798) December 20, 2019
Pittsford Mendon will enjoy the holiday with 10 days off before traveling to East High December 30 at 12:30 p.m. Pittsford Sutherland’s next game is January 3 at home against Brighton. Tip off is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
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