NTL GIRLS BASKETBALL: SAYRE RIDES SIZE, EXPERIENCE TO 55-32 WIN OVER ATHENS (24 PHOTOS) (2019-02-14)

BY TIM TAYLOR
Valley Sports Report
SAYRE - The first two times Sayre and Athens met this season, the Redskins won a defensive battle, then jumped out to an early 20-point lead and cruised to victory.


"Going into the season, Sayre, I knew on paper was a really good basketball team," Athens head coach Brian Miller said. "The last two times we played them they showed why."

A Megan Collins 3-pointer with 47 seconds remaining in the first quarter cut the Redskin lead to 12-9, but that would be the last time Athens would find the bottom of the net for the next 6:38. That gave Sayre an opportunity to build a 25-9 advantage and take a 25-13 lead into the half.

"I noticed a little separation there," said Sayre head coach Eileen Sparduti. "I was OK with where we were at the end of the first quarter, because I kept telling them, just keep pushing the ball down the floor, play our tempo. They might be getting back now, but by fourth quarter, they're not going to be.

"I was happy going into halftime. I liked that lead."

The Redskins' advantage in experience allowed them to set the tempo and their size allowed them to control the boards. They out-rebounded Athens, 39-18.

"The last several games, we have really emphasized rebounding and especially on the offensive glass," Sparduti said.

"I think part of it tonight too was our fresher legs. This was their third game in four days and we were able to kind of sit back and watch people kill themselves earlier in the week."

The Sayre players seemed to be full of energy and told Sparduti they weren't tired when she asked. It showed as the Redskins maintained their intensity heading into the third quarter, outscoring the Wildcats, 20-13, to carry a 45-26 lead into the final period.

"They were just running on adrenaline," Sparduti said. "They were just so excited to play and to play this well."

Camry Lane, who scored seven of her game-high 18 points in the first quarter, tacked on seven more in the third period. Steph Klovekorn added six of her 16 in the third frame as well. Haley Barry accounted for seven of the Wildcats' points in the third.

The Redskins controlled most of the momentum throughout the evening, trailing just once. After Lane scored the game's first two baskets, Barry countered with a field goals and Kayleigh Miller canned a 3-pointer to put the Wildcats up, 5-4. As the opening period neared the midway point, Emily Sutryk converted a traditional 3-point play to put Sayre up to stay, 7-5.

A trey from Lane and a pair of free throws by Klovekorn pushed the lead to 12-6, then Collins hit the trey that preceded the 6 1/2-minute slump. Klovekorn and Amber Merrill scored four points apiece, and Sutryk drained the first of her two treys during the ensuing 13-point run.

Barry opened the third quarter with a three to cut the gap to single digits, 25-16, but the Redskins scored the next 11 points to get a firm grasp on the lead. Lane had five of the points and Klovekorn added four.

In addition their points, Lane and Klovekorn contributed in other statistical areas as well. Lane had six rebounds, five steals and a blocked shot, and Klovekorn, who went 6-for-6 at the free throw line, added five assists and three steals.

Sutryk chipped in with 11 points and Merrill added six more while Gabi Randall contributed eight boards, five assists, four points and two steals.


Athens (13-10) received 11 points and a pair of steals from Kayleigh Miller. She also made all four of her free throws. Barry had nine points, Collins scored five and Kasidy Peterson added four. Caydence Macik accounted for eight rebounds, two blocks and two steals, Rachel Stephens tallied two points and five boards, Avery Priester had a point and two assists, and Sophie Adams had two assists.