By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A halftime adjustment served its purpose.
And East High girls’ basketball rediscovered its shooting touch just in time.
Darianna Weathers scored 10 of her 17 points in the third quarter when the No. 1 Eagles (17-4) rallied from 10 down to defeat No. 8 Honeoye Falls-Lima, 53-51 in Section V Class A action, Saturday afternoon.
“We’re built for this,” said East High head coach Moe Jones. “We had some games down the stretch that got us ready for this. We showed it today.”
Trailing 30-20 after two quarters of play, Weathers started the scoring. The next time the ninth-grade guard found the bottom of the net, East had made it a single-possession game at 34-31.
“She’s a baller,” Jones said. “It took her a while in the beginning of the season because she didn’t know what she was about to get into.”
Weathers followed with a 3-pointer, and Gabby Brown-Sturdviant’s layup made it a 39-37 game heading into the fourth.
“She’s that hidden piece of this team,” Jones said referring to how Weathers usually plays a supporting role for Brown-Sturdviant and Semaj Jackson. “That’s what it is. People don’t game for her.
Darianna Weathers hesi, cross to set up the floater for @GoEastEagles @SecVGBasketball pic.twitter.com/e0vQgcw0UZ
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) March 1, 2025
Weathers hit another triple on the opening possession of the fourth quarter to give East its first lead of the second half.
“I realized that this could be the seniors’ last trip,” she said. “I had to lock-in. I couldn’t be the reason why we lost. I had to put some points on the board. I couldn’t let them down.”
Brown-Sturdviant’s steal and layup gave East a lead it did not surrender at 43-41.
Hard-fought battles against Aquinas and Bishop Kearney that resulted in losses paid dividends on Saturday as did close wins over Brockport and Our Lady of Mercy.
“Those were games that got us battle-tested,” Jones said.
The Eagles needed that after 16 minutes of play.
Shaye Angelo and Caroline Smith combined for 11 points in the first quarter as the Cougars built the double-digit lead. Both connected on 3-pointers and were part of an overall effort that saw HF-L find the range from distance five times in the first half.
“We were playing man-to-man at first,” Jones said. “They were killing us, so I had to go to zone which is our specialty. Went to the zone and told everybody to tighten up the pressure, rebound the ball more and make shots but don’t settle for shots.”
East held HF-L to three field goals in the third quarter.
“Our defense gave us it energy, and it showed,” Jones said.
Brown-Sturdviant matched Weathers with 17 points. Jackson added 12. Nevaeh Grisham (3) Antwanette Coleman (2) and Layla Germany (2) also scored for East.
HF-L’s Angelo and Smith both accounted for 17 points. Sarah Smith added seven. Alysa Richards (6) and Kamryn Burdett (5) also scored the Cougars (12-10)
East will face No. 4 Pittsford Sutherland in the semifinals scheduled for Tuesday. A 7:45 p.m. tip-off is scheduled at Wayne Central Schools.
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