By TIM IRVING
Churchville-Chili girls basketball held their Senior Night and it was seniors Jasmine Gibbs and Jordan Loewke playing big minutes that led the Saints to a 53-33 victory over Brighton.
A slow-moving first quarter saw a lot of fouls called and only four field goals made between the two teams. Jessalyn Taylor hit the only three-pointer of the first half for the Saints and Kiara Anglin scored five of the Bruins’ eight points, with Churchville up 9-8.
In the second quarter, with regularly starting center Esa Smith in foul trouble, Gibbs went to work inside, scoring five points, including three free throws and the Saints led 18-17 at the break.
Anglin opened the second half with a three-pointer and Kaiya Larkins scored on a drive and Brighton took a 22-18 lead.
Then the Saints’ defense flipped the switch.
The Shipley twins, Hannah and Mikayla, each made three-pointers and Esa Smith converted two straight three-point plays, during a 15-2 run, spearheaded by a press the prevented the Bruins from getting their offense set up.
“The whole team, everyone on the bench, just the focus. I think our defense helped us get some easy baskets and we were off and running,” said Saints coach Todd Esposito.
Foul trouble plagued both teams and particularly Loewke getting out in transition off the bench had Churchville out to a 40-28 lead going into the fourth quarter. The Saints out-scored Brighton 35-16 after halftime.
Taylor led the way with 11 points and Smith scored 10 points in a short amount of time on the floor.
Esposito said of Taylor, “She’s our energizer, one of our hardest workers. She just loves to play.”
Anglin led all scorers with 15 points for the Bruins.
Scoring Totals
Brighton: Kiara Anglin (15), Katie Hardie (3), Kaiya Larkins (6), Sadie Scott (2), Allie McInroy (7).
Churchville-Chili: Jessalyn Taylor (11), Mikayla Shipley (9), Hannah Shipley (5), Jordan Loewke (6), Jasmine Gibbs (6), Sydney Postell (6), Esa Smith (10).
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