By PAUL GOTHAM
PITTSFORD , N.Y. — Four days ago, Penfield girls’ head basketball coach Mark Vogt commended the balance on offense that his Patriots showed in a season-opening win over Webster Schroeder.
Tuesday night, Vogt’s squad showed its balance on the defensive end of the floor.
And the result was the same.
“Everything we do comes off our defense and our pressure,” Vogt said after Penfield’s 60-50 victory over Pittsford Mendon. “All our offense is really generated by defense.”
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Penfield’s defense was at its best in the opening of the third quarter when the Patriots held Mendon to one field goal over the first eight possessions of the second half – a stretch that lasted nearly four minutes of game time. Penfield again limited the Vikings to two field goals ( a pair of Dani Strauf 3-pointers) over the final 4:05 of the game.
“In the first half, I thought we played pretty passive and we kinda let them take it to us,” Vogt said. “We didn’t get any transition points and we weren’t getting any rebounds.
“We talked about what we had to do at halftime. We needed to put more pressure on their guards. The girls were doing double-teams and traps in the corners. Even when we weren’t getting steals, it forces teams to play faster than they want.”
Eva Elliot scored eight points in the win.
Eva Elliot 3. pic.twitter.com/L8tuY8e71D
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) December 15, 2021
“With our pressure, we were able to catch them off guard,” the senior guard said. “It helped us to get those transition points and steals.”
Grace Alexander was one of three Patriots in double figures with 12 points.
“Grace Alexander’s defense was so great in the second half,” Vogt said. “They were starting their offense just over half court. Nobody wants to start their offense there because you’re so far away. I really think Grace picking up the ball hard took them out of their rhythm.”
“Even if we did get beat, we knew all of our teammates were in the paint helping us out,” senior guard Elisa Faklaris said. “That was our big focus there.”
Jackie Funk slips through traffic for the first points of the third quarter. pic.twitter.com/iuuaWvv6uj
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) December 15, 2021
Jackie Funk led Penfield with 15 points. Kennedy Cone had 13. Emily Fordham (5), Faklaris (4) and Leah Fusilli (3) also scored for the Patriots (2-0).
Drive and dish: Grace Alexander to Kennedy Cone pic.twitter.com/KG2rtaX3rF
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) December 15, 2021
Strauf connected on three 3-pointers and paced Mendon (3-1) with 15 points. Strauf’s triple with 1:43 remaining made it a six-point game at 53-47. The Vikings led 27-23 at halftime and had a 36-35 edge late in the third quarter before Penfield scored seven straight and did not trail again.
Dani Strauf with the shake into the floater. HALFTIME: @mendonbball 27 @mvogtpenfield 23 pic.twitter.com/tZwoCdEdnw
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) December 15, 2021
“We said at halftime, if they’re better than us and they beat us, that’s fine,” Vogt stated. “But at least let’s do it our way. I didn’t feel like we played Penfield defense in that first half.”
Kate Hennessey scored nine points for Mendon. Bridget Miller and Ella Peyre added six apiece. Jess Robinson and Hailey Giordano both scored five. Anaya Coleman, who was limited because of foul trouble, ended up with four points. Mendon was still without starting guard Lily Kennedy who has not played in a game yet this season due to an injury.
Dani Strauf finds Ella Peyre inside for 2 and an 18-15 Mendon lead. pic.twitter.com/zb1Jw1U1l0
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) December 15, 2021
The Patriots held the five-time sectional champion to a season-low point total and the fewest points the Vikings have scored in a game since January 31st of 2020. The loss snapped a 30-game winning streak. Penfield was the last team to beat Mendon on January 14th of 2020.
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