By CHUCKIE MAGGIO
Todd Julien felt a sense of pride during halftime of the Section V Class A girls title game on Saturday. His Pittsford Mendon Vikings were held to just 10 points in each of the first two quarters but still led by nine.
“I was so proud of our kids defensively,” Julien remarked. “We had a lot of good shots in the first half that didn’t go, but you look up, we’ve got a great Schroeder team at 11 points. So defensively, we stayed in it. We just wanted to run the same stuff.”
The shots immediately started to fall for Mendon, which produced a 30-point third quarter flurry to push the margin to double-digits. The Vikings won 58-39, earning their sixth consecutive sectional title.
The Vikings made two 3-pointers in the first half. They made three 3-pointers in fewer than two minutes in the third quarter, stretching their lead to 17. Seniors Lily Kennedy, Danielle Strauff and Anaya Coleman each made multiple 3s during the third as their team outscored Schroeder by 12.
A scoring output that large in an eight-minute period surprised even Kennedy and Coleman, who did not recognize they had scored so many.
“We really focused on shutting down Mariah and the defensive play,” tournament MVP Lily Kennedy said, referencing Warriors’ leading scorer Mariah Watkins, “then just letting the offense come to us.”
Mariah Watkins tallied 10 points, 14 below her season average, while Bria Watkins led Schroeder with 14. The duo accounted for all 18 points in the third quarter, representing the bulk of the Warriors’ scoring.
Sarah Ferruzza made three 3-point shots, highlighted by a personal 6-3 start to the game. Kennedy followed Ferruzza’s second 3-pointer with a 3 of her own, beginning a 7-0 run to close the first quarter. The Vikings held Schroeder scoreless for the first 3:43 of the second quarter, surrendering just two Warrior field goals in the second stanza.
Julia Peraless recorded six points in the fourth quarter as Schroeder trimmed its deficit to 15 points with three minutes remaining.
As well as the Vikings performed on the offensive end, they also held the Warriors to their second-lowest point total in a single game this season.
“The shots fell from the same set,” Julien noted, “but our defense, our defense carried us. That’s what we’re built on and that’s what carried us.”
Kennedy and senior classmate Anaya Coleman combined for 32 points, while Danielle Strauf converted three 3-pointers in the third quarter and finished with 11. Bridget Miller won the duel in the post, scoring 13 points, including four of the team’s 10 in the first quarter. Katie Hennessey sank a two-point field goal in the second quarter.
“I love them,” Julien commented of his seniors. “They bring a lot of experience. They poured their heart and soul into getting ready for moments like this, and boy did they come through.”
Mendon has not lost since Dec. 14 and has now extended its championship streak another season. While Julien said he is only focused on the current team and season ahead of him, the coach acknowledged his program’s impressive achievements.
“Six in a row, from a program standpoint, it’s just humbling,” Julien said. “It’s a humbling feeling.”
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