by TIM IRVING
Sophomore Sydney Postell scored nine of her game-high 19 points in the second quarter as Churchville-Chili opened the girls basketball season with a 39-28 win at Webster Thomas.
Postell ran off seven straight points to break a 14-14 tie and the Saints defense held the Titans to just eight second half points.
“She’s got a good spirit to her, a really good demeanor on the court, she doesn’t get rattled, she’s learning how to play harder and harder each week,” said Churchville head coach Todd Esposito.
The Saints’ full court press and half court defense, spearheaded by sisters Hannah and Mikayla Shipley and anchored by Postell and Esa Smith inside, shut down a Titans team that shot the ball well in the first half from behind the arc.
Three-pointers from Mady Kelly and Bella Fanale allowed Thomas to take an early lead.
But once Postell started going to the basket and Mikayla Shipley turned defense into fast break points, Churchville took the lead for good late in the first quarter.
Down 23-20 at half, the Titans had a chance to take the lead when the Saints ran into some foul trouble early in the third before Shipley and Postell hit to baskets in the paint and built the lead the back to 30-24.
Early in the fourth quarter, Hannah Shipley drained a three-pointer and the lead grew to double digits.
Mikayla Shipley finished with ten points for the Saints.
Esposito said, “I thought Mikayla did a great job of keeping us balanced, poised. Her sister hit a big shot late but I think one person that helped us a lot was Esa Smith. She got some really big rebounds for us.”
Churchville plays their home opener on Thursday against four-time defending Class A Champion Pittsford Mendon.
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