By PAUL GOTHAM
LIVONIA, N.Y. — Five different players connected from behind the 3-point arc during the second quarter as the Waterloo girls’ basketball team pulled away from a single-digit game and went on to beat Elba, 92-44 in the opening round of the 2022 Great Livonia Shootout.
Morgan Caraballo found the range twice from distance and accounted for 13 of her game-high 26 points to pace a 32-7 point effort over the eight minutes to take a 48-18 lead into halftime.
In all, Waterloo hit seven treys in the frame and limited Elba to three field goals.
“Our defense ultimately leads to what you saw today,” Waterloo head coach Mike Bree said. “I didn’t think in the first quarter we were ready to play. A lot of that has to do with sitting around and waiting. Shots weren’t going in the first quarter.”
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM RON ANDREWS HERE.
Addison Bree contributed a pair of triples while Natalie DiSanto and Jazzmyn Lewis also dialed long distance. McKenzie Scutt came off the bench and added to the shooting effort.
At the other end of the floor, Waterloo’s created turnovers that led to open looks on offense.
“Like I tell the kids all the time, eventually you’re going to hit shots,” Bree explained. “It’s the defensive part that gets us those extra looks. We have a goal outshooting the opponent, taking more shots – 20-25 every game. We want to shoot the ball more, so that’s what we focus on.”
Morgan Caraballo buries a 3. @WaterlooAD cruising with a 48-13 lead in the second quarter. @SecVGBasketball pic.twitter.com/w9fye9RcJV
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) December 28, 2022
Waterloo (No. 4 NYSSWA Class B) improved to 7-0 with its fifth straight double-digit win and sixth overall this season.
The Tigers will face host Livonia (No. 9 NYSSWA Class B) in Thursday’s championship game.
In all, Waterloo connected on 17 3-pointers.
“When we shoot the ball like that, we’re pretty tough. Today was probably the first game this year where it just all clicked.”
Addison Bree hit six 3-pointers and finished with 18 points in the win. DiSanto had two triples and 17 points. Lewis also had a pair of shots from long range as part of a 12-point night. Maci Mueller had three threes and 11 points. Logan Amidon (3) and Davonti’a Loucks (2) also scored for Waterloo.
A state finalist a year ago, Waterloo is a combined 46-1 over the past three season.
“These kids just have that mentality,” Bree said of his squad’s ability to play defense. “We practice it yes, but you got to have that mentality. They anticipate so well. They see the pass before the opponent throws it. They see it, and they go get it. We work on that stuff every day, but they’re really good at it, and they’ve been good at it for a long time.
Sydney Reilly led Elba (2-3) with 22 points including nine in the first quarter to keep the Lancers close. Adison Norton and Halie Deville had six apiece. Lydia Ross (5), Ava Chatt (4) and Mariah Ognibene (1) also scored for Elba.
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