FITCH GIRLS TOP CHANEY, 40-34

Fitch rallied from a scoreless first-period to turn back Chaney.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
AUSTINTOWN -- You can't judge the Austintown Fitch and Chaney high school girls basketball teams by their first three quarters of play Friday in the season opener for both teams.
Although Fitch didn't score until the second quarter before surging to a 14-4 halftime lead and 25-14 third-quarter command, both teams showed what they could do with some game-time experience by combining for 45 points in the final quarter.
Chaney rallied to within 35-30 behind strong free-throw shooting, but Fitch drew late fouls and prevailed at the charity stripe for a 40-34 victory, even though the Cowgirls outscored the Falcons in the final quarter, 20-15.
After Nicole Artis' goal pulled Chaney to within 35-30, Danielle Storey plugged a basket and free throw and Megan McDermott and Krista Mayes each added a foul shot to seal Fitch's verdict.
Leaders
Storey and McDermott each finished with seven points to lead Fitch, while Mayes had all six of her points in the final quarter. Mayes also had eight rebounds and three blocks, while Storey chipped in with five rebounds and three steals.
Chaney made a game of it behind Shenae Jenkins, who scored all six of her points in the last period, and Adrienne Peace, who added six of her game-high 12 points.
Peace had four free throws and a 3-point goal in the last period.
Courtney Williams grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds for Chaney, while Quiana Faison added eight and Artis six.
"We started to foul down the stretch and they capitalized on it. They are a good free throw shooting team," said Dave Ward, Fitch's second-year coach.
But he said his team was able to control the ball after committing a rash of turnovers early in the game, and regrouped to run the offense well.
"It all boils down to pass and catch and taking care of the ball. If you do that, good things will happen," said Ward. "We also were patient on offense and worked the ball around to get a good shot. We were just being smart with the ball and not turning it over.
Chaney inexperienced
Chris Maga, Chaney's first-year coach, said Chaney is inexperienced and learning.
"We're putting in a new system. The kids have to learn to follow and trust each other and what the coaches say, and I think they will be fine," said Maga. "We have a lot of new faces and we have to keep it simple."
Maga said Chaney showed that it can work the offense for points in the second half.
"In the first half we played tight. We didn't play well. We started to run the offense a little bit in the second half. We started to get into it," said Maga. "We did a better job defensively."
Ward said Mayes and Alexis Hall, both tall players, turned in strong inside performances.
"Mayes and Hall did some nice things for us, particularly under the basket," said Ward. "Hall did a good job on the offensive boards. Mayes got some key rebounds when we needed them down the stretch."
Ward also lauded the play of McDermott, Savnik and Bre Aueman.
"McDermott is a hustler. She was diving for loose balls. She gets after everything loose," said Ward. "Savnik played well down the stretch and did some good things with the ball." And, "Aueman gave us some good time."
Down the stretch
Storey had four points early in the third quarter to help Fitch break open to a 23-10 lead.
But after the Falcons hit six straight foul shots early in the third quarter for a 31-18 spread, Chaney rallied behind Jenkins' six straight points, Tieana Jones' two foul shots and Adrienne Peace's seven points to keep in close down the stretch.
kovach@vindy.com