By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — With his squad missing a pair of players on Saturday afternoon, Our Lady of Mercy basketball coach Tom McDonough was looking for production.
Natalie Casale and Robin Jones took advantage of the opportunity.
Casale staked the Monarchs (No. 4 NYSSWA Class A) to an early lead, and Jones finished a rebound shy of a double-double as host Mercy defeated Dundee/Bradford, 55-44 in non-league action.
“It was good for some of the girls who normally don’t play,” McDonough said. “They were able to step up and get in there.”
Casale hit a pair of 3-pointers and converted on three free-throw attempts in the first quarter when the Monarchs grabbed a 13-6 lead.
“Offensively, I thought we were bigger and that helped us,” McDonough said. “With the competition we’ve played this year, we’ve done very well with that, and it showed today.”
Jones scored seven of her game-high 13 points in the second quarter. The junior guard grabbed an offensive rebound and finished then she drove the baseline for two more buckets late in the quarter.
Robin Jones gets baseline to give Mercy a 22-12 lead. pic.twitter.com/9eatn3txpM
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 18, 2025
Robin Jones grabs a defensive board and catches Laura Kosten in stride for a layup. pic.twitter.com/e1eKx0AwKb
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 18, 2025
Laura Kosten finds a cutting Robin Jones for an and-one. Heading to the fourth: Mercy 39 Dundee/Bradford 23 @SecVGBasketball pic.twitter.com/pA5MW8xeIh
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 18, 2025
Laura Kosten finds a cutting Robin Jones for an and-one. Heading to the fourth: Mercy 39 Dundee/Bradford 23 @SecVGBasketball pic.twitter.com/pA5MW8xeIh
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 18, 2025
“My teammates were finding me and getting me the ball,” Jones said. “I was able to take advantage when I had the chance.”
With Mercy leading 26-12 at halftime, Jones opened the third-quarter scoring with a 3-pointer from the left corner. She put a bookend on the offensive effort for the frame when teammate Laura Kosten found her cutting along the right wing for another basket.
In between, Joes set up Kosten for a layup in transtion.
“Sometimes, I get in my head,” she said. “But my coaches kept encouraging me, and I was able to get to the basket for a couple of and-ones.”
Jones connected five times from the floor and was 2-of-2 from the free throw line for the game.
“Robin is probably the biggest gym rat you will ever find,” McDonough said. “She’s a smart basketball player. Last year on JV, she wanted to play point. This year, we told her you’re down low. You could be the point forward, but we need you down there to get offensive rebounds and hit some threes. She’s a good defensive player.”
The win was the third straight for Mercy (9-3). The Monarchs only loss in the past month came to Bishop Kearney (No. 4 NYSSWA Class AA).
“They’re playing well,” McDonough said. “I’m proud of them for being able to do that while being shorthanded.”
Mercy’s Mia Lusardi (a star also on the school’s lacrosse team) was on a recruiting trip at University of Louisville. Allison Barone was sidelined with an illness.
Dundee/Bradford (No. 9 NYSSWA Class C) had won nine straight heading into Saturday’s contest.
“This was an opportunity to see what the top competition is like,” said Dundee/Bradford co-head coach Michael Strait. “We’re going to see Keshequa, York, Arkport-Canaseraga and Oakfield-Alabama in sectionals. They’re all tough. They all play with the same kind of intensity that Mercy does. It was good for us to see that level of competition.”
Korrin Yeoman pulls up in transition for two. pic.twitter.com/2YeeGblE4C
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 18, 2025
Korrin Yeoman led the BraveScots (9-2) with 13 points. Kendall Parker added 11.
“We don’t see a lot of man defense in our league,” Strait said. “It was good to see more of that. A lot of those better teams play man. It’s a great opportunity for us to get the practice against what we need.”
DUNDEE/BRADFORD (9-2)
Korrin Yeoman 5 0-0 13, Kendall Parker 3 5-10 11, Cheyanne Grandall 2 0-1 4, Riley Stinson 1 0-0 2, Meredith Doan 1 0-0 3, Madalyn Knapp 1 2-2 5, Carsen Larrison 2 0-0 4, Danica Hall 1 0-0 2 TOTALS – 16 7-13 — 44
OUR LADY OF MERCY (9-3)
Krista Harnischfeger 2 1-5 6, Robin Jones 5 2-2 13, Angelina Borelli 2 0-0 4, Laura Kosten 4 0-0 8, Emerson Wandtke 4 0-0 8, Natalie Casale 3 3-3 12, Bianca Iacovangelo 0 0-0 0, Bridget Wise 3 0-1 6, Madelyn Goetz 0 0-0 0, Ella Rogala 0 0-0 0 TOTALS – 23 6-11 — 55
DUNDEE/BRADFORD 6 6 11 21 — 44
OUR LADY OF MERCY 13 13 13 18 — 55
3-point goals: DUNDEE/BRADFORD 5 (Yeoman 3, Doan 1, Knapp 1); OUR LADY OF MERCY 5 (Harnischfeger 1, Jones 1, Casale 3).
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