TCA sends message with win over NBC
COLUMBUS » Watch out for the Trenton Catholic Academy girls basketball team.
Don’t be fooled by the Mikes’ young lineup. Be wary of their smothering pressure defense.
If not, things could get ugly fast as Northern Burlington learned Tuesday.
And, just to be clear, the Greyhounds knew about TCA’s press heading in.
Northern, which was playing its fourth game in the five days since the season began, had no answer for the Mikes, who raced to an 8126 victory.
It was the first quarter which set the tone for the game as TCA forced the Greyhounds into turnover after turnover en route to a 41-7 lead.
That’s not a misprint. The Mikes scored 41 points in the first eight minutes with Trenton High senior transfer Jada Queen scoring 18 with nine baskets. Nine TCA players reached the scorer’s column in the first quarter alone.
“All the girls really work hard,” said first-year head coach Bob Fusik, who has four seniors on his team. “Although we’ve got a lot of young players, those young kids have given us a big lift.”
Wisdom Maddox, a 5-foot-8 sophomore forward, is one of those upand-coming talents, who continued to impress by scoring 17 points, second only to Queen.
“Everybody’s energy was together in the first quarter,” Maddox said. “We made things happen.”
That did not really change as the game continued, but never quite as impressive as in those first eight minutes.
“I had seen them play over the weekend, so I knew their press was pretty impressive,” Northern Burlington second-year head coach Colin Hewko said. “It’s tough playing as much as we have early in the season. But, coming out of it at 2-2, I’m real happy.”
As has been the case in each of their games, the Greyhounds have found a proven scorer in junior guard Brianna Sorrento. She led the home team with 12 points Tuesday, while sophomore guard Rachel Quigley added eight points.
The Mikes, meanwhile, placed two more girls in double figures as sophomore guard Giana Boulden scored 12 and her classmate, Leianya Massenat, added 10 points. All 11 players who took the court for TCA got on the board, compared to five for Northern.
“The difference for me this season is confidence,” Maddox said. “I’m believing in myself. I know I have to be a team player, not a selfish player. I need to be a leader for this team.”
Two games into the season, Maddox has definitely been that, with her offense and defense for the Mikes, who visit Moorestown at 6:30 p.m. Thursday before hosting King’s Christian Academy at 6 p.m. Friday. BreSeymour 3-0-6, Reed 2-0-4, Labissiere 1-0-2, Queen 9-0-18, Boyer 1-0-2, Boulden 5-1-12, Maddox 8-1-17, Parks 1-1-3, Massenat 5-0-10, Boyd 2-1-5, Boone 1-0-2.
38-4-81.
Totals —
AlaRodriguez 0-1-1, Serrano 0-0-0, AliRodriguez 0-0-0, Sorrento 4-2-12, Hall 0-0-0, Archer 0-0-0, Hart 0-0-0, Quigley 2-3-8, Blue 1-0-3, Mayernik 1-0-2, Ingram 0-0-0.
8-6-26.
Totals — TCA (2-0) No.Burl.(2-2) 3-point goals —
Blue (NB).
41 7 15 3 17 8 8 — 8 — 81 26
Boulden (TCA), Sorrento 2, Quigley,