By PAUL CIFONELLI
No. 3 Brockport (9-3) used multiple presses, an aggressive zone and white-hot three-point shooting to secure a 60-50 win over No. 6 Honeoye Falls-Lima (8-4) and advance to the Class A semifinals. The Blue Devils buried 11 threes in the victory, including seven in the first half.
This philosophy of increasing the tempo has been a staple for Brockport all season and a key to its success.
“Our team chemistry is based on pushing the ball, controlling the tempo and forcing the defense to get back every single possession,” Brockport coach Justin Laureano said. “Our belief is that if we do that, we’re going to wear the opposition down over time, and tonight we were able to do that.”
The second quarter was the turning point in the game, as Brockport went on a 13-4 run that spanned most of the quarter. Hannah Selke scored three points in a row for Honeoye Falls-Lima to get the Cougars back to within three, but Ava Velletri countered with five of her own to get the Blue Devils a 31-23 lead at the break.
Ava Velletri scored five points in the final minute 20 seconds to give @BrockportGVB a 31-23 halftime lead over @HFLCSDAthletics @PickinSplinters pic.twitter.com/1UYEMplPIW
— Paul Cifonelli (@PCifonelli) March 9, 2021
Brockport put the game away in the third by outscoring the Cougars 19-12. Ella Fadale scored eight of the points in that frame, but it appeared that the Blue Devils’ press had worn out Honeoye Falls-Lima. Selke netted seven of the Cougars’ points despite their offense stalling at times.
The Blue Devils’ found the bottom of the net from deep six times in the second and third quarter. This shooting display hasn’t always been there for the Blue Devils, but was much needed.
“The shooting was obviously fantastic tonight and that’s not going to happen on a regular basis,” Laureano said. “Some nights you’re going to shoot it well. We just came off a game against Irondequoit where we didn’t shoot the ball well. I knew based on that game that we would be better. I never thought we would be as good as we were in terms of shooting tonight.”
Gisela Allen opens the scoring here for @BrockportGVB. 2-0 2 minutes in. @PickinSplinters pic.twitter.com/HEo1UO6MzV
— Paul Cifonelli (@PCifonelli) March 9, 2021
Defensively, Brockport were able to hold Teagan Kamm to 12 points, below her average of 16.1 per game. Selke ended up with 19 points on five made threes, with 13 of those points coming after halftime.
“I want to focus on what Emily Vergari was able to do in handling Teagan Kamm,” Laureano said. “She was really going through with out game plan, sandwiching her and trying to keep her at a minimum because they go as she goes.”
Velletri scored 18 points to lead Brockport by making four triples, two twos and two free throws. Fadale registered 16 points with three makes from behind the arc and Gisela Allen had 13 points. Emma Laureano was the final Blue Devil to score in double figures, netting 11 points on three threes. Vergari scored two points to round out Brockport’s scoring.
Selke and Kamm led Honeoye Falls-Lima’s scoring, but Olivia Friedlander and Mari Spitz aided them with eight points apiece. The Cougars also made nine threes, with Selke making five, and Friedlander and Spitz both making two. Brooke Alexander (2) and Alice Russo (1) also scored for Honeoye Falls-Lima.
Hannah Selke cans two threes in a row for @HFLCSDAthletics to bring the Cougars to within 12. 44-32 @BrockportGVB with 2:41 left in the third. @PickinSplinters pic.twitter.com/Wv7SLS6H5w
— Paul Cifonelli (@PCifonelli) March 9, 2021
With Brockport winning, it sets up a rematch in the Class A semifinals with No. 2 Canandaigua on Wednesday. The game is at Canandaigua at 7 p.m. The Braves gave Brockport two of its three losses this season and gives the Blue Devils a chance at redemption.
“The first matchup wasn’t as close as the final score (47-41 Canandaigua),” Justin Laureano said. “We were trying to control the pace and they have super athletes that get up and down the floor and you’re not going to tire that team out. You’re going to have to technically be fundamentally sound to be able to beat them and you’re going to have to have a great game plan. They’re fantastic.”
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