Tuesday, February 17, 2009
By John Kovach
Both teams are better than their records indicate.
AUSTINTOWN — The East and Austintown Fitch High girls basketball teams proved Monday night that they are better than their records indicate.
And that must mean that they are playing against some tough opposition, including each other, as their down-to-the-wire struggle at the Falcons’ gym clearly demonstrated.
After a closely-contested battle throughout and with Fitch leading, 47-45, with about 2:00 left, the tide turned in East’s favor and the Panthers reeled off six unanswered points, four from the foul line, to pull out a 51-47 win.
Chelsea Bennett’s foul shot at 1:28 left drew East within 47-46, while Bethany Hines’ goal shortly after put the Panthers ahead for good, 48-47.
Then after Fitch (6-14) missed a key goal attempt when the ball fell far short of the rim, Bennett added another foul shot at :36 and Bethany Hines two more free throws at :23 to seal the East (10-9) victory.
“Their second shots down the stretch hurt us,” said Fitch coach John Hudson, noting that East’s rebounding was a difference in the game.
“We have to do a better job keeping them off the boards. We were not boxing out. You can’t win games that you can’t win the boards.”
And regarding the Falcons’ missed goal attempt with the Panthers ahead, 48-47, Hudson said: “We got the shot we wanted. It just didn’t fall. It was a 15-foot jumper.”
Hudson lauded East and coach Tanisha Franklin. “She is a great coach. They are a very athletic team. They execute well,” said Hudson.
Bethany Hines finished with a game-high 15 points and three assists while Bennett added 12 points to spearhead East.
The Panthers also won the battle of the boards, 39-30, with Briana Dawson and Monet Oliver grabbing nine rebounds apiece. The tall and athletic Dawson also had eight points and three assists to emerge as a leader.
Erica Braxton led Fitch with 11 points and seven rebounds while Mariah Snowden had nine points and Lauren Keller eight with seven rebounds and three assists.
The lead exchanged hands numerous times in the game to set up a close finish.
Samantha Rovnak hit a pair of free throws to give Fitch a 43-42 lead, but Bernice Cintron of East plugged a 3-point goal too push the Panthers ahead again, 45-43.
However, the Falcons wouldn’t cave and reeled off four unanswered points — one free throw each by Braxton and Rovnak and Snowden’s basket — to regain control, 47-45, before East got the upper hand and dominated the rest of the way.
kovach@vindy.com