By ASHTON TOWNSEND
CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. – A third-quarter run pushed No. 1 Lyons over No. 2 Marcus Whitman as the Lions grabbed a 55-46 win in the Section V Class B2 title game. Jayla Bell earned Tournament MVP with an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double.
The top-seed found themselves down eight coming out of the half and outscored Marcus Whitman 23-8 in the quarter to grab a 43-36 lead. Leading the way was freshman Car’Mella Parker who scored eight of her game-high 21 points in the quarter.
“I had to take the press off and that’s what really changed the momentum,” Lyons head coach Richard Hill said. “We just played half-court basketball, tried to get stops, get rebounds and once we did that it was over.”
The Lions took the lead halfway through the third quarter off a Parker layup which capped a 9-0 run. Parker scored six more after the bucket and helped Lyons keep the lead the rest of the way.
“I really wanted it bad,” Parker said. “I wanted to prove to everybody that we could do it and coming into the quarter we kept our head high and stayed focused.”
Bell also scored eight in the frame including a pair of threes. Bell and Parker combined for 16 points in the third.
“We knew we had a size advantage down low,” Hill said. “My assistant coaches said we got to get Mel (Car’Mella Parker) the ball and we did and she responded on the blocks. She might not be tall in stature, but she’s got a big heart, she works hard for us and she’s young.”
The first quarter was all Lyons as they took a 16-10 lead with Parker scoring eight in that frame as well.
Moving to the second quarter it was a 18-4 quarter for the Wildcats. Marcus Whitman went 8-0 run to close out the quarter to grab a 28-20 lead going into halftime. Maddie Daggett led the Wildcats with six in the frame. But it proved to not be enough.
For Lyons, it’s the fourth title in school history.
“It feels amazing, I’m so grateful and blessed to be here right now,” Bell said. “It was finally our chance to do it and we didn’t let up, we brought it home.”
For Lyons, Ja’Niyah Bell added seven points and nine rebounds. Kamryn Bonnell ended with five points. Addison Jones and Areyanna Carter each added two points in the win.
Leading the way for Marcus Whitman was Lily Carroll with 13 points. Daggett and Sophie Snyder each hit for 11 points. Aliysiah Clark (5), Evy Royston (4) and Helen Snyder (2) also scored.
Lyons advances to face Hornell in the regional qualifier on Tuesday, March 11 at a neutral site. Time is still to be announced.
“We know what we got to do, work hard, stay focused and stay out of our heads,” Bell said.
Kamryn Bonnell (Lyons), Car’Mella Parker (Lyons), Madison Daggett (Marcus Whitman), Lily Carroll (Marcus Whitman), Bailey Mullen (Canisteo-Greenwood) and Gabriella Zitz (Le Roy) were all named to the Class B2 All-Tournament team.
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