By PAUL GOTHAM
PITTSFORD, N.Y. — Rhylin Fehrenbach and Devin Livingston combined to scored 18 fourth-quarter points including the last 11 for top-seeded Victor as the Blue Devils outlasted reigning state champion Webster Schroeder, 55-51 in Section V Class AA semifinal action, Wednesday night at Pittsford Sutherland High School.
Trailing 45-44, Fehrenbach converted a pair of free throws to give Victor a lead it did not surrender, and Livingston added back-to-back baskets in the lane as the Blue Devils outscored Schroeder 11-6 over the final 2:42 of the contest.
“They locked in when they knew they had to lock in,” said Victor head coach Ashley Zahn. “They got stops when they had to get stops. It was more of heart. It wasn’t really an adjustment. It was just a lot of heart and a lot of hustle to finish the game.”
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After trading five leads through the first five minutes of the fourth quarter, Victor’s defense held Schroeder without a field goal for the last 2:42 of the game.
“That’s just who we are,” Zahn said. “We play fast, and we defend. That’s our bread and butter.”
Fehrenbach and Livingston connected on free throws over the last four possessions of the game. Fehrenbach hit two from the charity stripe with 6.7 seconds remaining for the final margin. The sophomore guard finished with a game-high 26 points.
Back-to-back runners in the lane from Devin Livingston give @VictorBLDevils a 50-45 lead with 1:24 remaining. pic.twitter.com/PMJIKwrBp1
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) February 29, 2024
“The girls said to me ‘get her the ball, we want her shooting free throws.’ That’s what they said to me when they came to the sidelines. She did a great job. She missed a couple and then made the second. She made two when it mattered. She’s phenomenal. She plays hard, and she plays within herself.”
It was the third meeting between the two teams this season with Victor (21-1) taking the previous two head-to-head matchups by one point apiece.
“We call it unfinished business this year, and that’s how they have played,” Zahn said. “They’re hungry. They wanted this.”
Rhylin Fehrenbach gives it up, gets it back, but @VictorBLDevils trail @Schroedergbball 30-27. pic.twitter.com/Ut4HuvcTVu
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) February 29, 2024
Livingston scored 21 in the win.
Vanessa Chumacero hit a 3-pointer to give Victor a 44-43 lead. Allie Disano (2), Abbie Murphy (2) and Morgan Livingston (1) rounded out the scoring for the Blue Devils.
Victor will play No. 2 Hilton in Saturday’s championship game. A 5 PM tip-off is scheduled at Finger Lakes Community College.
Sarah Ferruzza and Bria Watkins scored 13 points apiece to lead the Warriors (15-8).
Ferruzza hit three threes in the contest including a triple midway through the fourth quarter to give Schroeder a 43-39 lead.
Addie Morgan finds Kylie Clement ahead. After 3: @Schroedergbball 35-33. pic.twitter.com/10G3skvN87
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) February 29, 2024
Watkins opened the night’s scoring with a free throw – the 1,000th point of the junior guard’s career. She joined her sister, Mariah, in reaching the milestone. The elder Watkins missed the season due to an ACL injury.
Addie Morgan scored nine points for Schroeder. Ava Gallup (8), Kylie Clement (6) and Mya Perales (2) also scored for the Warriors.
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