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By TIM IRVING
After making just four baskets in the first half, Churchville-Chili girls basketball rallied to defeat rival Gates Chili, 45-40.
Gates Chili started the game on a high note as senior guard Paris Anthony scored the first seven points of the game for the Spartans, reaching 1,000 for her career.
“She’s always been the tempo runner for our team, “ coach Rachel Leonard said. “Such a hard worker, great kid, first one in the gym, last one to leave.”
Led by sophomore Layla Jackson, the Saints started chipping away at their 9-2 deficit and got it to 14-14 as Rachel Kabaka and Haley Leonard scored on consecutive trips with three minutes left in the half.
“The girls have been pressing, trying to do too much and just trying to settle down,” coach Todd Esposito said. “We had a meeting last night and they took ownership, they really knew the things they had to improve.”
Jessica Wittman came out with five early points in the third quarter and the Saints took their first lead of the game.
Esabella Smith converted a three-point play and Emma Voglewede ran the floor, hitting Rachel Kabaka and the lead got to seven Churchville dominated inside.
It might have been a blowout from there if Dani Mayer hadn’t hit two clutch three-pointers for Gates and allowed the Spartans to keep the game 30-27 heading to the fourth quarter.
Then Haley Leonard found her spot on the floor, on the left side baseline for eight of her team-high 14 points in the fourth.
“Haley’s a really talented kid and put so much time into over the summer. I think it’s just growing pains, she’s growing and starting to get more confident,” Esposito said.
The Saints built a nine-point lead as the interior players; Jackson, Smith and Leonard, worked together.
The Spartans again shot their way back into the game and then Anthony scored and drew a foul with 42 seconds left to cut the lead to two, but missed the free throw.
Voglewede made two key free throws for a 44-40 lead and the Saints defense, led by Smith with ten rebounds and nine steals as Churchville locked up their first victory of the season.
“Churchville-Gates is a very hard game, “ Esposito said. “It came down to senior leadership,” he added, referring to Kabaka, Smith and Voglewede.
SCORING
Churchville-Chili
Emma Voglewede 4, Rachel Kabaka 8, Esabella Smith 7, Layla Jackson 7, Jessica Wittman 5, Haley Leonard 14.
Gates Chili
Paris Anthony 20, India Williams 2, Dani Mayer 6, Emily McManus 10.
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