By PAUL GOTHAM
MACEDON, N.Y. — Gananda girls’ basketball coach Karin Meuwissen didn’t have on her daily list the task of managing a game without her leading scorer.
With six-and-change remaining in Wednesday’s league matchup, though, that’s the situation Meuwissen and her squad faced when Kaylee Marvin was assessed her fifth foul.
The Blue Panthers passed the test.
Madi Dohse netted 12 points, and Ava VanAntwerp added 11 as host Gananda defeated East Rochester, 52-39 in Wayne County action.
“One of the things that’s great about our team is we have depth,” Meuwissen said. “I know that they can finish out a game. They have that experience, and they did a good job today.”
The depth in particular on Wednesday was that of VanAntwerp who at 6-foot provided a capable compliment to Marvin (6-foot-1).
“There are not a lot teams that have two six-footers. We happen to have two six-footers. It’s a great thing to have.”
VanAntwerp scored five points in the second quarter to help Gananda build a 32-19 lead heading into the locker room.
Madison Dohse from Kaylee Marvin for that and-one. @GanandaGhoops out to an early 10-2 lead. pic.twitter.com/5OqUK6MfIo
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) December 14, 2023
In the third quarter when Marvin picked up her third foul less than two minutes into the frame, VanAntwerp responded with five more points.
“Kaylee’s a senior. I trust her implicitly. It didn’t go our way. That’s okay. I know that they can finish out a game.”
Equally as impressive was that Gananda was able to turn the tables on an East Rochester squad that on two occasions last season erased double-digit deficits and went on to beat the Blue Panthers.
“That’s growth,” Meuwissen said. “I have a whole bunch of seniors on my team. That showed today, absolutely because they were able to continue to push and continue to push the tempo.”
Dohse scored eight in the first quarter including a 3-pointer late in the frame to give Gananda a 17-9 lead.
Dohse got ahead of the defense for two points to give Gananda (4-0) its first double-digit lead of the night early in the second at 19-9. Two trips down the floor later, VanAntwerp converted a rebound and putback. When the junior forward hit one of two from the free throw line, Gananda had a double-digit advantage it did not surrender at 22-12.
“I’m really proud of them for learning, for growing and continuing to be the bunch of seniors and leaders that I expect them to be.”
Eva Jenny led Nyah Cruz into the open court for two more.
Leah Buffan came off the bench and hit back-to-back threes to give Gananda its largest lead of the half at 30-14.
Ball movement and splash! Leah Buffan gives @GanandaGhoops a 27-12 lead. pic.twitter.com/SBHNdOXtnv
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) December 14, 2023
The Blue Panthers eventually pushed the advantage to 19 at 40-21 early in the third when Jenny went the length of the floor for a layup.
Evangeline Jenny goes the length of the floor for a 40-21 @GanandaGhoops lead. pic.twitter.com/IF2L5zB5PB
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) December 14, 2023
The senior point guard hit a wing jumper off an inbound play for a 47-28 advantage early in the fourth.
Jenny, who had three fouls, finished with seven points, but more importantly she directed traffic on the court.
“Eva is a very good point guard,” Meuwissen said. “She’s always looking to push the pace. She’s always looking to have the ball in her hands. You want a player like that on your team that when the going gets tough, she wants the ball in her hands and wants to make the play.”
Marvin, who committed to play at Division II Wheeling University earlier in the fall, recently eclipsed the 1,000-point, 1,000-rebound mark of her career.
Sisters Aniyah and Zarriah Eldridge scored 12 points apiece to lead East Rochester (5-1).
Zarriah Eldridge gets the floater to fall for an and-one, but @ERBombers trails @GanandaGhoops 17-9 heading to the second quarter. pic.twitter.com/io3cJdXMHt
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) December 14, 2023
The same two teams meet again on January 30th.
EAST ROCHESTER
Aaliyah Carmichael 0 3-4 3, Aniyah Eldridge 2 8-9 12, Zarriah Eldridge 5 2-5 12, Emma Romach 1 1-2 3, Ella Romach 1 0-0 2, Gianna Romach 3 0-1 7. TOTALS 12 14-21 39
GANANDA
Leah Buffan 2 0-0 6, Nyah Cruz 2 2-3 6, Eva Jenny 3 1-2 7, Katie Rothwell 1 0-0 2, Nicole Cruz 0 1-2 1, Madi Dohse 5 1-2 12, Ava VanAntwerp 4 3-6 11, Kaylee Marvin 3 1-4 7 TOTALS 20 9-19 57
EAST ROCHESTER 9 10 9 11 — 39
GANANDA — 17 15 13 7 — 52
3-point goals — East Rochester 1 (Gianna Romach 1); Gananda 3 (Leah Buffan 2, Madi Dohse 1)
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