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Boyle leads Girard win in opener
By Jim Flick
McDONALD
In a back-and-forth season opener Friday night, Girard took a big lead early, and McDonald fought to take the lead late in the game.
But Girard junior Miranda Boyle scored seven consecutive points in the final two minutes of the game and the Indians defeated McDonald, 52-49.
Girard (1-0) was led by Boyle, who sank four 3-pointers while scoring 28 points to lead all scorers.
McDonald (0-1) was led by senior Taylor Stanley, who finished with 25 points, including 13 free throws.
“It was a tough game,” said Girard coach Andy Saxon. “I knew it would be.”
One reason the game was so tough was foul trouble, which forced Girard to play 11 girls.
“When you go that deep in your bench, you usually don’t win,” Saxon said. “But the girls who came off the bench did a really nice job.”
The McDonald players showed a lot of heart, said Blue Devils coach Rob Hilbun.
“We hung with them and had a shot at the end, but they made the plays.
“We hope this experience will be a positive one for us. Girard’s in a bigger division. This was a good test,” Hilbun added.
Girard took what turned out to be its biggest lead of the evening in the opening moments of the second quarter, when Boyle sank a short jumper to give the Indians a 14-6 lead.
Stanley kept McDonald in the game in the first half, leading all scorers with 17 points.
In fact, Stanley sank two free throws to tie the score at 19 in the second quarter. After Girard sank a bucket to retake the lead, sophomore Jayden Stellmar sank a jumper to once again tie the score.
But Boyle scored eight points for Girard in the closing minutes of the first half, and Girard took a 29-23 into the locker room.
In the third quarter, McDonald outscored Girard 14-4 and held a 37-33 lead. Senior Dani Novak grabbed a rebound and sank a shot to give the Blue Devils a 35-33 lead, their first of the night.
But Girard bounced back quickly in the fourth quarter, and the Indians retook the lead, 40-38, when Boyle connected on a 3-point shot.
A few minutes late, Durkin sank a 3-pointer to put Girard in front 45-38. But McDonald scored seven unanswered points, tying the score at 45 when senior Paige Eckman sank a long-range 3-pointer.
Novak gave the Blue Devils their last lead, 46-45, with 2:43 remaining in the game when she tossed in a free throw.
But then Boyle’s streak began, as she delivered two short jumpers and three free throws.