PAISAA
BoBo combined for 13 of the Gators’ first-quarter points.
But GA battled back, allowing the Gators only two points in the second quarter. Meanwhile, GA’s Maddie Vizza and Rachel Balzer found the mark on a couple of three-point field goals, and when Elle Stauffer scored underneath just before halftime, the Patriots had their first (and only) lead of the game at 18-17. The second quarter ended with the score tied at 18-18.
“We got off to a slow start, we weren’t boxing out initially, but we took the punches and came back,” said Retif.
Shipley’s Lauren Ross proved to be a thorn in GA’s side in the second half, as the Gators went on a 7-0 run to start the third quarter, with five of the points scored by Ross. GA battled back once again, getting treys from Vizza and Balzer, and the Patriots trailed Shipley 33-32 at the end of the third period.
“GA was getting (many) offensive rebounds in the second quarter, but I thought we adjusted well in the second half, got our half-court game (in gear),” said Shipley head coach Sean Costello. “Attacking the rim was the key for us in the second half.”
GA hung close to Shipley during the fourth quarter, and when Naessens (who had seven points in the final period) hit a turnaround jumper with three minutes left, the Patriots trailed by only one point (38-37).
But then Ross drove inside to make it 40-37, and in the last 2 ½ minutes she went to the free throw line 10 times. Ross made eight of the 10 attempts (was 4-for-4 in the final 17 seconds) and finished with 27 points. Ross, BoBo and Camden combined for 51 of Shipley’s 52 points.
For GA, Naessens fin- ished with 17 points, and Balzer tallied 15. Shipley 52, Germantown Academy 47 Shipley 16 2 15 19 - 52 GA 8 10 14 15 - 47
Shipley: BoBo 4 4-8 12, Camden 6 0-0 12, Talluto 0 1-2 1, Ross 7 13-20 27, Totals 17 18-30 52. GA: Haynes 0 1-2 1, Stauffer 2 2-2 6, Vizza 3 0-0 8, Balzer 5 2-2 15, Naessens 7 3-4 17, Totals 17 8-10 47. Three point field goals: GA – Vizza 2, Balzer 3