By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — In a game featuring two of Western New York’s premier post players, it was a pint-sized guard who delivered the game winner.
Kaia Goode’s late 3-pointer capped a fourth quarter rally as the Bishop Kearney girls’ basketball team edged Williamsville South (VI), 57-53 in non-league action from Ed Nietopski Gymnasium Friday night.
Goode took a pass from teammate Marianna Freeman with less than 25 seconds remaining and connected on a corner three as Kearney snapped a two-game losing streak.
“I saw the defender trying to cherry pick from up top,” Goode said of the game winner. “I drifted to the corner and I saw it was going to be an open shot, so I took it.”
The bucket was the 5-foot-2 guard’s third of the night and second from long range.
Kaia Goode from the corner gives @BKHS_Sports GBB a 55-53 lead with 19.0 remaining pic.twitter.com/DbcYOipL9N
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 24, 2020
Freeman started the play at the top of the key where she drove the lane, but 6-foot-5 Amari DeBerry stood in her path.
“I knew I had to get a bucket soon or create for others,” Freeman explained. “Amari was not going to let me have a free basket, and I knew Kaia would be open. I gave her a bounce pass. I trusted her and she made it.”
DeBerry and Kearney’s Saniaa Wilson battled in the post throughout the contest.
DeBerry, a University of Connecticut commit, scored on the second possession of the third quarter to give Will South a 31-30 edge – a lead they didn’t surrender until late in the game. DeBerry’s rebound and putback off her own miss made it a 51-48 game with less than four minutes remaining.
Gretchen Dolan feeds Amari DeBerry to give Williamsville South a 31-30 lead over @BKHS_Sports GBB early in the 3rd quarter. pic.twitter.com/bbZpCKz7E6
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 24, 2020
Wilson, who came into the game averaging 16.5 points per outing, managed just five points through the first 22 minutes of play. She exploded for 10 points in the final nine minutes.
“Their main focus was to not let me get the ball at all,” the junior forward explained. “I let it take its toll because I got four other teammates on the floor with me. If they’re focused on me, there is somebody else open.”
Wilson converted a rebound and putback late in the third quarter and again early in the fourth. With DeBerry having four fouls, Wilson went to work and scored in the lane on back-to-back possessions midway through the fourth. Emily Tytler then fed Wilson along the baseline, and BK (No. 18 NYSSWA Class AA) had its first lead of the fourth quarter at 52-51.
From earlier: Emily Tytler feeds Saniaa Wilson to give @BKHS_Sports GBB its first lead of the fourth quarter at 52-51. pic.twitter.com/TMf2uMwVkk
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 25, 2020
Hannah Dolan responded two possessions later as Will South (No. 1 NYSSWA Class A) regained the lead with less than a minute remaining.
Freeman and Goode took over from there.
Wilson denied a late Will South attempt with a blocked shot in the lane.
This Saniaa Wilson block followed by a pair of Marianna Freeman free throws clinch a 57-53 victory for @BKHS_Sports GBB over Williamsville South pic.twitter.com/G8wbMgLSY6
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 24, 2020
“My teammates can score,” Wilson stated. “I trust that whatever decision they make is going to be a good one. Eventually they got off me, and that just gave me the opportunity.”
DeBerry finished with a game-high 16 points. Gretchen and Hannah Dolan had 14 apiece for the Billies (8-2). Sarah Foster added nine.
Neither team led by more than six with Kearney grabbing the game’s largest advantage on a Taylor Norris basket to open the second quarter. BK led 19-13.
Taylor Norris feeds Saniaa Wilson, but @BKHS_Sports GBB trail 29-28 pic.twitter.com/sa9cgGIgGP
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 24, 2020
Norris and Wilson both scored 15. Freeman added 11. Klarissa Goode hit a pair of 3-pointers and finished with six points on the night. Tytler had three, and Caydence Hadley scored two points.
Marianna Freeman connects from behind the arc. 2:31 to go in the 3rd: Williamsville South 37 @BKHS_Sports GBB 36 pic.twitter.com/yiKGcXBCGa
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 24, 2020
Kearney travels to play St. Mary’s of Lancaster on Saturday. BK (9-3) lost to Shenendehowa (61-57) and Queensbury (62-50) earlier in the week.
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