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Mattozzi’s 3-point goal lifts Fitch past Poland
The sophomore gave the Falcons a 51-48 win in the season opener for both teams.
AUSTINTOWN — With the score tied, Fitch High sophomore guard Marissa Mattozzi connected on a 3-point basket with a minute to go, and the Falcons turned back a determined bid by Poland for a 51- 48 victory in the season opener for both girls basketball teams Saturday.
The fourth quarter went back and forth, with the Bulldogs battling to tie it at 45 and again at 48.
“Poland is always well coached,” said Fitch coach John Hudson. “We knew we would have our hands full before the game.”
Poland jumped out to a 17-11 lead in the first quarter and early in the second period the Bulldogs were ahead 23-11.
“Down 12, we knew we had our work cut out for us,” said Hudson. “Their posts were doing a good job against our man-to-man defense so we went to a zone and kept them out of the paint.”
In making that change, Fitch started chiseling away at its deficit and got to 32-26 at intermission. The Falcons went on a 10-4 run to start the third quarter for a 36-all tie.
The Fitch defense held the Bulldogs in check and took the lead for the first time when sophomore guard Mariah Snowden connected on a shot and a free throw for a 41-38 lead. Alison Lange’s basket got Poland within a point (41-40) as the quarter ended.
An exchange of baskets kept the Falcons on top 43-42, but a basket and free throw by Snowden pushed the Fitch lead to 46-42. Poland’s Becky Hanna made a basket and a free throw and foul shot by the Bulldogs’ Missy Haug tied it up with five minutes remaining. Tied at 48, Mattozzi connected on the clinching 3-pointer.
The 5-foot-8 Snowden scored a game-high 21 points and Erica Braxton, a 6-0 sophomore, added six. They each had 10 rebounds.
“Snowden and Braxton helped us change the tempo in the right direction,” said Hudson. “They decided that we weren’t going to lose.
“We made a lot of mistakes [26 turnovers], but didn’t linger on that. We executed our offense much better in the second half, but we have a long way to go, “ said Hudson.
The Bulldogs put three players in double figures. Haug and Lauren Tadla each scored 11 points, while Leanna Yeager finished with 10.
“We came out a little flat in the third quarter,” said Poland coach Debbie Paine. “They made a few 3-pointers at the end, but I am happy with our performance, the girls never quit and played hard from the start to the end. We missed some easy shots inside that just wouldn’t drop.
“We have a lot of inexperienced players up from last year’s JV team [which finished 18-2] and it’s a new level for them, but we are making some steps in the right direction.”
The Bulldogs had a 36-35 rebounding edge, but they also had 25 turnovers.
miller@vindy.com