By TIM IRVING
East Rochester’s girls basketball team graduated their only true center last year when Zoe Zutes moved on to SUNY Brockport.
So, matched up with Pavilion’s 6-foot-2 junior Lauren Kingsley, the Bombers had some figuring out to do.
“The big girls are a challenge because they’ve got a high-low game, “ East Rochester coach Mark Florack said. “Credit to their girls and their coaching staff, seven girls and they basically play five the whole game.”
East Rochester went on a 29-10 run from the middle of the first quarter until halftime and won the Class C Girls’ Regional Qualifier, 56-42 over the Golden Gophers at Bloomfield on Wednesday night. The Bombers now play Frewsburg in the NYS Class C Far West Regionals at 3:00 on Saturday at Rush-Henrietta High School.
Kingsley scored ten points in the first quarter and Pavilion had an 11-5 lead after Paige Landers stuck a three-pointer.
The Bombers took off their press and their half-court defense started to create turnovers.
“We kinda realized it wasn’t going to be as easy as we thought it was. We were careful on defense and taking care of the ball on offense, running the floor, “ ER sophomore guard Zarriah Eldridge said.
Lily Funk scored on a drive late in the first quarter and it was tied at 15.
Then the Bombers got things going behind Eldridge’s shooting and Lebria Hickman down inside.
East Rochester built a 34-21 lead by halftime with Eldridge leading the way with 10 points.
Florack said of Eldridge, “She’s tough and when she handles the game like that…look, people forget still a young team and we have lapses but we’re getting better.”
In the third, the Bombers got back into transition and wore Pavilion down. Funk, who has taken over for Zutes in the middle of the 2-3 zone, handles the ball as well.
Sam Lewis, the lone senior, coming off a 34-point effort against Alexander, played an all-around game with 15 points and 13 rebounds.
The Golden Gophers closed the gap to under ten points a couple of times but in the final three minutes, East Rochester was able to get extra possessions with Hickman working the offensive boards.
Kingsley finished with a game-high 18 points for Pavilion and Karlee Zinkievich added 12. Lewis and Eldridge and 15 each and Hickman added 13.
“Basketball. You make some stops on the defensive end and you can turn around and score half the time off those stops, you’re gonna be successful.” Florack said.
And now, the Bombers will try and make the run they couldn’t make last year with Zutes.
“We miss her, I feel like we could’ve gone far with her but this year, it’s different, it’s a different make-up.” Eldridge said.
The Bombers (23-1), ranked fourth in the State, face Section 6 Champion Frewsburg.
“I’ve seen them play. They’re quick, I think they match up with us pretty well but that’s why you play the game, right?” Florack said.
SCORING
Pavilion 42
Karlee Zinkievich 12, Paige Landers 5, Shea Amberger 7, Lauren Kingsley 18.
East Rochester 56
Sam Lewis 15, Zarriah Eldridge 15, Emma Romach 2, Lebria Hickman 13, Lily Funk 8, Aniyah Eldridge 3.
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