By PAUL GOTHAM
PITTSFORD, N.Y. — Jackie Funk scored seven of her game-high 26 points during overtime including the go-ahead basket with 28.6 seconds remaining as No. 2 Penfield knocked off reigning champion, Bishop Kearney, 56-54 in Section V Class AA Girls’ Basketball action Wednesday night at Pittsford Sutherland High School.
Funk used a spin move along the left side to set up her game winner in the lane.
“We knew they were in foul trouble, and I was just going to drive to the basket,” the senior guard said. “Driving left, I saw no one to the right, so I went to the right. There was an opening.”
In an overtime session with four lead changes, Funk gave Penfield the final swing of the pendulum.
Jackie Funk spin cycle. Penfield 55-54 28.6 to go. pic.twitter.com/dZbwAJzKZf
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) March 2, 2023
“She spun back and the lane just opened wide,” Penfield head coach Mark Vogt said. “She was so open, I was like ‘take your time.’ I didn’t want her to clank it off the back iron.”
Penfield (20-2) had a two-point edge going into halftime and only trailed briefly in the third quarter at 32-33 before entering the fourth with a one-point lead at 40-39.
Saddled with four fouls, Funk sat the first four minutes of the fourth quarter. Kearney took advantage and with less than three minutes remaining in regulation, the Patriots found themselves trailing, 46-42.
Kearney’s Klarissa Goode hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 42. Amaia Jackson finished a layup in traffic, and Goode converted a pair of free throws. Kearney (16-4) had a 46-42 lead.
Amaia Jackson slices through the lane to give Kearney a 44-42 lead. pic.twitter.com/OG5P4QdNg1
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) March 1, 2023
“These guys are just incredible at battling through things and staying in the moment,” Vogt said of his team. “We’ve been doing that all year. They were in the moment asking “What are we going to do next? What are we doing next?'”
Penfield’s defense forced three turnovers (one on a shot clock violation another when Grace Alexander collected a steal) and held Kearney scoreless over its last five possessions.
“Even when we were turning the ball over a bunch early in the fourth, we were still playing good D,” Vogt said. “If you’re playing good D, you’re going to be in it.”
Ashley Kalvitis scored a pair of baskets to send the game to extra time.
Ashley Kalvitis pulls Penfield within 2. pic.twitter.com/Cf6KYvBlUo
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) March 1, 2023
Funk opened overtime with a 3-pointer and followed with a pair of free throws.
Jackie Funk opens the scoring in overtime Penfield 49-46 pic.twitter.com/08mjHOqjW6
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) March 1, 2023
Kearney, the reigning New York State Class AA champion, had made 13 straight trips to sectional finals until falling to Penfield on Wednesday night.
BK has lost two games to Section V teams over the past four seasons – both of those setbacks to Penfield. The Patriots defeated Kearney in the 2021 Class AA final.
“They’re a really tough team,” Funk said. “They’ve got a solid five players. They’re all Division I. We’ve just been playing together really well lately. We’re all best friends, so that helps a lot too. We play for each other.”
Emily Fordham scored 10 points in the win. Kalvitis added seven. Grace Alexander (5), Cassidy Cone (4), Anna Coyle (2) and Lena Lipani (2) rounded out the scoring for Penfield.
Goode led Kearney’s offense with 22 points. Jackson scored seven of her 15 points in overtime. Caydence Hadley accounted for 10 points. Allie Hall (5) and Asia Wilson (2) also scored for BK.
Penfield will face top-seeded Webster Schroeder (21-1) in Saturday’s championship game.
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