Poland escapes Lakeview after close call in fourth

January 15, 2017 at 12:06a.m.

Poland vs Lakeview

By BROOKE MEENACHAN

Cortland

In this battle of Bulldogs there could only be one top dog. Saturday’s girls basketball game between Poland and Lakeview came down to a fourth-quarter dogfight in Poland’s 45-41 victory.

With 1:59 remaining, Lakeview (7-7) took a 40-38 lead. Poland’s Bella Gajdos responded with a floater to even the score. Then with a little more than a minute left on the clock, the junior went 2-2 from the line to give Poland the lead.

Madison Meeker hit a free throw to put Lakeview within one, but another foul sent Poland (10-2, 5-1 All-American Conference Red) to the line.

Sarah Bury missed the 1-and-1 and Lakeview got the rebound. But a defensive hustle play by Bury ended in a steal and an easy layup for a 44-41 advantage.

Bury and Gajdos stepped up big for Poland in the fourth quarter, scoring a combined six points in the final two minutes.

“It makes you feel good,” Bury said. “You just have to step up and let the team know that we got this and we’re going to get through this together.

“We’re going to play as a team and come out and win the game,” said Bury who led all scorers with 15 points.

Gajdos echoed her teammate saying, “It comes down to leadership. You have to get everyone on the same page. It build momentum and it really gets us going.”

Gajdos finished with eight points and was perfect from the line. Poland started the game off sluggish while Lakeview looked like it had all the momentum, jumping out to an 8-4 lead.

Poland stepped up its full court pressure resulting in an 8-0 run to make it 15-8.

Lakeview’s Lindsay Carnahan responded with a drive to the hole, scoring the basket and drawing the foul which cut the lead to two points.

Annie Pavlansky hit a jumper to tie the game up 15-15 to end the first quarter. The junior finished with 11 points and went 3-6 from the line.

Lakeview continued its run into the second quarter despite Poland’s press. Carnahan hit a 3-pointer from the corner and Pavlansky added another bucket to make it 20-15.

Carnahan led Lakeview with 12 points.

Poland went into the half trailing 27-21.

“Coach [Nick Blanch] wasn’t very happy with how we were playing,” Gajdos said. “We just had to pick ourselves up and get our mindset right and try to work together as a team and talk on the floor.”

Poland continued its full court press to start the second half. This time their pressure stood no match for Lakeview.

“We got them in situations they weren’t comfortable with and that’s the difference in the game,” Blanch said.

Poland forced turnover after turnover and held Lakeview to a scoreless third quarter. Lakeview coach Jason Senedak called the quarter a “lack of fundamental skills” and “an absolute freak out” in the huddle.

Pavlansky drawing her fourth foul with 5:40 still remaining in the third quarter was significant and Poland took full advantage.

“Obviously getting Annie in foul trouble was a big help for us,” Blanch said. “But that’s a credit to our kids going at her, getting the calls needed.

“With Annie out, they are still a good basketball team, but it changes their whole look and we knew that.”

Five different players contributed to a 13-0 run for Poland. Bury drained a pull up jumper to begin the stretch and less than thirty seconds later, Gajdos added another bucket to cut Poland’s deficit to two. A 3-pointer by Emily Melnek gave Poland a 28-27 edge.