http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20120110/SPORTS/701109902
Published January 10, 2012 in the Rutland Herald
Undefeated Slaters hold off Cosmos
By Kristie dunchus
Correspondent
Fair Haven almost saw its perfect record go down the drain after a nail-bitting fourth quarter, but held on for a 36-32 win over Springfield in girls basketball action Monday in Fair Haven.
After coming off a 9-0 run in the third quarter, the Slaters led 33-24 going into the fourth, but almost lost the lead after 6-0 run and very strong defensive pressure from Springfield.
After wiping the sweat from his forehead, Fair Haven coach Kyle Wilson took a breath of relief after that nerve-racking fourth quarter. Wilson said it was Springfield’s defensive pressure that caused his team to struggle in the fourth.
“On offense we were a little lackadaisical and turned the ball over,” Wilson said.
Morgan Johnson got Springfield on the board first in the fourth with 4:48 left. The Cosmos picked up the defensive pressure and Chelsea McAllister got a steal in the backcourt and scored a layup. Minutes later Johnson got a easy layup to cut the deficit to 33-30.
With 1:50 remaining, Fair Haven’s Bethany Lanfear beat the press and found Kala MacKenzie for a layup. McAllister stole the ball with 17 seconds remaining and laid it in to make it 35-32, forcing Wilson to call a timeout. Both teams threw the ball away in the next two possessions but the Slaters were able to hold on to the lead for the final minutes.
The third period went in Fair Haven’s favor. Sydney Breslen kicked things off with a 3-pointer in the first minute. McAllister answered for the Cosmos with a bucket to tie it up at 24-24, but it was the last points they would score in the quarter. But it was downhill for Springfield from there. Lanfear sparked the 9-0 run after getting fouled on a back-door cut and made a free throw.
On the next possession, Lanfear drove to hole for a layup and then gave MacKenzie a perfect lob pass for an easy lay-in. Lanfear tried to repeat the play the next time down the court but this time MacKenzie was fouled and made one of her free throws. In the final seconds, Lanfear made a trey from the corner to push Fair Haven’s lead to 33-24.
The first half was back and forth. The Slaters trailed 10-7 after the first quarter. In the first 20 seconds of the second, McAllister got fouled on the 3-point line and made two of her free throws. Breslin scored from the corner just inside the arc, and the Cosmos got a trey from Liza Fontaine.
The Slaters went on an 8-0 run with two 3-pointers — one from Lanfear and one from Cheyenne Sheldon — and a basket from Jennifer Genier. Springfield came back with baskets from McAllister and Fontaine and was able to clinch the lead, 22-21, at the half.
Wilson said his team isn’t used to facing in-your-face defense like that and said it is something his team needs to improve on in order to be successful.
“We definitely didn’t play our best game,” Wilson said. “Springfield had a lot to do with that. We haven’t seen pressure like that.”
Lanfear agreed and said her team has to work on handling the basketball under pressure.
“I think we played good as a team. This is the first time we’ve seen pressure like that,” Lanfear said.
Lanfear and MacKenzie both led the way for the Slaters with 11 points and Breslin chipped in five. McAllister had a game-high 18 points and Johnson added seven.
Fair Haven improves to 8-0 and will host Windsor on Friday. Springfield falls to 6-1 and hosts Twin Valley on Thursday.
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