By TIM IRVING
“We were planning on not playing with her but she returned to practice two days ago.”
Bishop Kearney head coach Kevan Sheppard figured Sectional MVP Aniya Rowe wouldn’t be a factor against Lancaster in the Class AA Far West Regional at Rush-Henrietta but the sophomore fought off illness to score 13 first half points and lead the Kings to a 64-55 victory and a spot in the NYSPHSAA semifinals in Troy.
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM RON ANDREWS HERE.
Rowe looked like she never left the Rush-Henrietta floor last week, scoring six points in the first quarter. The Goode sisters, senior captain Kaia and freshman Klarissa combineD for seven and the Kings led 15-10 after one quarter.
In the second, those three Kings continued to press the Legends with Rowe getting two straight baskets to force a Lancaster time out midway through the second quarter.
“They really haven’t played too many teams that have pressured them, so we game them that pressure,” said Kaia Goode.
Klarissa hit two three-pointers in the latter part of the second quarter and the lead hit 20, 37-17, at the half with Rowe leading the way with 13 points.
“Other teams look at the stats and I’ve said to Klarissa, you should be close to 20 every game and she’s capable of that,” Sheppard said.
Sheppard expected the Legends to come out in the second half and led by 6’1” freshman Madison Francis and the shooting of junior Rachel Kamrowski, the lead got down to eight late in the third quarter. Add in the fact that Rowe sat out the early part of the third.
But Kearney kept running at Francis, getting some key baskets and free throws inside from Allie Hall and Caydence Hadley.
“Most teams she plays, they don’t want a part of her and we had to do something different, a different would be, go right at her,” said Sheppard.
The Goodes then worked it inside out the rest of the way and kept on that stifling press.
“That’s Bishop Kearney basketball,” Sheppard said of the press.
After a two-year absence, the Kings return to Hudson Valley and the State semifinals.
“That’s always the goal from day one. You gotta win Sectionals, then Regionals and then that first game in Troy,” Sheppard said. His senior captain, Goode, the only true veteran of Hudson Valley Community College plans to tell her teammates, “Just keep your heads on straight. It’s a big platform but if we keep our composure, we can get the win.”
SCORING
Lancaster 55
Madison Maciag 2, Rachel Kamrowski 16, Brooke Bauer 10, Casey Mahony 3, Madison Francis 24.
Bishop Kearney 64
Klarissa Goode 19, Aniya Rowe 14, Kaia Goode 16, Amaia Jackson 4, Caydence Hadley 6, Allie Hall 5.
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