By PAUL GOTHAM
VICTOR, N.Y. — Lily Kennedy finished with a game-high 23 points, and Anaya Coleman added 12 as the Pittsford Mendon girls breezed past, Pittsford Sutherland, 57-30 in Section V Class A semi-final action Monday night at Victor High School.
The duo combined to score 21 points in the first half when Mendon jumped to a 28-13 advantage.
Coleman hit a pair of 3-pointers, Kennedy connected four times from the floor over the first 16 minutes of the game.
Anaya Coleman pulls up for 3. @mendonGVBB takes a 28-13 lead into halftime of tonight’s second Class A semi. pic.twitter.com/UCQhiC4eWO
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) March 1, 2022
Mendon’s defense, though, set the tone holding Sutherland without a field goal through the first quarter of the contest.
“We’re a good defensive team,” Mendon head coach Todd Julien said. “That first quarter was great. We played really well.”
The Vikings’ offense fed off its play on the other end of floor creating opportunities on the break.
“We’ve got three or four really good finishers in there,” Julien said noting Coleman and Kennedy along Dani Strauf. “We’re good in transition because we’re a good passing team. Those passes are lasers and they’re right on the money. They’re right in stride.”
Textbook, Dani Strauf to Lily Kennedy in transition. pic.twitter.com/beUowsYZAP
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) March 1, 2022
Strauf had four points in the game. Kate Hennessey accounted for six. Allie Gent (3), Bridget Miller (3), Brooke Bowler (2), Hailey Giordano (2) and Jess Robinson rounded out the scoring for Mendon.
Sutherland’s Ellie Bergin scored 10 of her 16 points in the third quarter when the Knights doubled their offensive production of the first half.
Annie Dodge added seven points for Sutherland. Leora Cook (5), Sadie Bush (1) and Eden Lewis (1) also scored for Sutherland.
The win was third this season for Mendon over its cross-town rival. The two programs have combined for nine sectional titles since 2011.
“It’s been a great rivalry for a long, long time,” Julien said. “It’s another hurdle to get over.”
Mendon has won eight of those sectional championships including five straight.
The Vikings will be making their eighth straight finals appearance when they face Webster Schroeder on Saturday. A 5 PM tip-off is scheduled at Rush-Henrietta High School.
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