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Caballero lifts Byron-Bergen in overtime

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Dayanara Caballero scored seven of her 10 points in overtime as Byron-Bergen beat Elba 56-53 in Genesee Region action, Tuesday night. (Photo courtesy of @BBGirlsHoops)

By PAUL GOTHAM

BERGEN, N.Y. — For 32 minutes on Tuesday, Dayanara Caballero managed to score three points. The Byron-Bergen guard finished a drive early in the first quarter and then converted a free throw in the second stanza.

In overtime, the 5-foot-5 junior accounted for more than half of the Bees’ points in a 56-53 win over Elba in Genesee Region action.

“It was really my team that helped me get those looks,” Caballero said of her offensive production in overtime. “My team was shooting really well, so it opened up the middle. That allowed me to cut in and get to the basket.”

Caballero started overtime with a drive from the left wing for a layup. She followed with a pair of baseline drives. The second such play gave Byron-Bergen a 53-46 lead with less than a minute remaining in the extra period.

“It was a good time for her to do it; that’s for sure,” said Byron-Bergen head coach Rick Krzewinski. “She is really quick. She’s a scorer. At any minute, she can do what she did.”

After dropping an 18-point decision to Oakfield-Alabama in its previous outing, Byron-Bergen improved to 12-5 on the season with Tuesday’s win – its fifth in the past six games.

“I loved the effort tonight,” Krzewinski said. “We got three games left. We got to keep doing it.”

Byron-Bergen scored the game’s first points, jumped to a seven-point lead in the first quarter and only trailed once in the game.

“That was a nice win for us,” Krzewinski added. “When we play with the level of intensity that we had tonight, we’re good.”

Kendall Phillips connected on a trio of 3-pointers in the first quarter, the junior guard’s third bucket from distance made it a 13-6 game. Byron-Bergen eventually took a 17-13 lead into the second quarter.

The Bees led 22-17 at half, and Ava Wagoner gave B-B its largest lead of the night with a drive in the fourth quarter for a 38-29 advantage with 6:10 left in regulation.

But Elba didn’t go away easily.

Sydney Reilly and Laci Seward combined to scored 10 points as the Lancers pulled even.

Reilly finished in the paint to start the comeback. Adrianna Long went the length of the floor for a layup. Sewar got ahead of the defense for a basket. Reilly knocked down a three and then Sewar’s triple from the right corner tied the game at 42 with 37.3 seconds remaining.

Long converted a pair of free throws and gave the Lancers their only lead of the night with 5.1 seconds on the clock.

“We tried to give it to them I think,” Krzewinski joked. “We’ll take it for sure.”

Wagoner responded with two of her own from the charity stripe with 1.1 seconds remaining to send the game to overtime.

Caballero took over from there.

“She is really quick,” Krzewinski said of Caballero who came into the game averging nearly 10 points per contest. “The two drives to the basket, how nice were those shots. She got around the defense, got the ball up.”

Wagoner led the Byron-Bergen offense with 14 points. Phillips and McKenzie Senf added 13 apiece. Caballero finished with 10. Mikaylah Pocock scored four points, and Zoey Shepherd had two.

“Every win right now is huge,” Krzewinski said. “As long as we play like I know we’re capable of playing, we’re a good team.”

The Bees travel to Wheatland-Chili on Thursday for a 7 PM tip off with the Wildcats.

Reilly and Sewar scored 16 apiece for Elba (11-5). The Lancers had won nine straight heading into Tuesday’s matchup. Dakota Brinkman finished with 14 points. Long had five points, and Kennedy Augello accounted for two points. The Lancers host Batavia on Thursday for another 7 PM start.

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