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Pucci scores 1,000th career point; Fairport wins third straight

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Fairport’s Bella Pucci (20) finished with 20 points including the 1,000th point of her career. (Photo: DENNIS JOYCE)

By PAUL GOTHAM

CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. — Friends and family crowded into the bleachers in anticipation of a career milestone.

Bella Pucci didn’t disappoint.

And the Fairport senior guard didn’t waste any time.

Pucci finished with a game-high 20 points including the Red Raiders’ first 14. The 13th of which gave the SUNY Binghamton commit the 1,000th of her career.

“I always dreamed of this as a kid,” Pucci said after Fairport’s 59-45 win over Canandaigua in a game played at Finger Lakes Community College. “I’ve worked hard and I was excited to get it with my team. Without them, I wouldn’t have gotten to this point.”

Pucci scored the first basket of the game on a steal and layup. Getting into the open floor helped the 5-foot-9 guard settle in.

“Huge exhale,” she said of the feeling after that first basket. “I was very relieved at that point. I was happy.”

Next trip down the floor, she buried a catch-and-shoot three from the left corner and followed with a left-handed layup on a leak out for a 7-0 Fairport lead.

VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM DENNIS JOYCE HERE. 

Pucci converted pairs of free throws on two separate occasions.

The milestone occurred on a 3-pointer from the top of the key. Teammate Ella Meabon set her up for the bucket.

Play stopped with 3:23 remaining in the first quarter. Fellow Red Raiders mobbed her near center court.

“She’s a great teammate,” Fairport head coach Patrick Muldowney said. “You can tell by the way her teammates wanted this for her. They are all so happy for her.”

The assist was Meabon’s second in the early going and that’s not counting the one occasion when Pucci ended up at the free throw line because of a Meabon pass.

“Before the game, she’s like ‘Bro, I got you,'” Pucci said referring to her teammate. “I was so nervous. I just wanted to get it over. It just came naturally to be honest.”

Fairport led by as many 15 points in the first half and took a 30-20 advantage into the locker room at halftime.

Canandaigua rallied. Back-to-back buckets from Mya Herman – the second when Kyleigh Chapman found Herman cutting through an open lane for an easy layup – made it a one-possession game at 32-29 with 2:54 to go in the third quarter.

“Sometimes we need to be reminded of what we do well,” Muldowney said. “A timeout is good for that.”

Meabon responded with an and-one. Pucci converted another steal and layup. Ne’vaeh Buntley connected on a corner three and followed with a runner in the lane.

The Red Raiders closed the third on a 12-2 run and eventually scored on a 11 of 13 possessions to put the game away.

“That run is what this team can do,” Muldowney stated.

Fairport improved to 8-2 with its third straight win.

“Coach was just like ‘guys let’s keep our heads up,'” Pucci said of the decisive run. “‘We’re still in this game just keep the pressure on and at some point, we’ll pull away.'”

Pucci had six rebounds and four assists in the win. Buntley added 18 points and seven rebounds. Meabon had nine points, seven rebounds and five assists. Sarah Hirschler (4), Liv Amadori (3), Lola Pucci (2), Jada Crocker (2) and Sophia Lapp (1) also scored for Fairport.

Herman led Canandaigua (5-2) with 17 points. Chapman had 12. Elly Hubler contributed seven. Ari Buchiere (3), Liv Schorr (2), Brooke Rizzo (2), Julia Geitner (1) and Ava Read (1) rounded out the Canandaigua scoring.

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