Left to right, Cara Drapala leads fast break for Fox Lane. Jane Brennan of John Jay and Morgan Clinton of Fox Lane chase after loose ball. John Jay’s Natalie Ellrodt goes up for a layup as Dylan New defends for Fox Lane. Jim MacLean Photos
By JIM MACLEAN
In a game of runs with several lead changes it all came down to the final seconds when Fox Lane hosted rival John Jay in a girls varsity basketball thriller Jan. 18.
Fox Lane had the last run, outscoring John Jay 12-2 in the final minutes, and Riley New stayed calm under pressure sinking three of four free throws to close out a 43-42 victory for the Foxes.
Riley New led all scorers with a game-high 15 points as she started hot, scoring the first six points of the game and finished strong, scoring five of the last seven points for the Foxes to lift the Foxes to the win over the rival Wolves.
“We’re all friends and they’re our rivals so we take this game personally and really wanted to get that win,” explained Riley New after the victory. “A lot of pressure, but I knew we needed it and we all worked really hard together and needed that win.”
John Jay was in control as Jane Brennan scored a pair of baskets to give the Wolves a 9-point lead with just a few minutes left to play at 40-31, but Fox Lane stormed back as Cora Moore completed a 3-point play and Morgan Clinton hit on a 3-pointer from the corner to make it 40-37. Riley New then scored a basket and Clinton hit a free throw to tie it up at 40-40. Brennan broke the run with a hoop as John Jay reclaimed the lead at 42-40, with 40 seconds left to play.
Riley New hit a pair of clutch free throws to tie it up at 42-42. John Jay had a couple of chances, but the Wolves couldn’t connect, and came up with a loose ball and hit another free throw with 10 seconds left as the Foxes held on for the win.
“A heavyweight fight, they took a punch from us and I was thinking we got this, and then we took a punch from them,” explained Fox Lane coach Kris Matts. “John Jay is a good defensive team, very scrappy, and we were down a lot, but our girls showed a lot of poise, made some clutch free throws and some big shots under pressure in a big game like this and that was huge. They worked so hard and pulled it out. Games like this are huge for later in the playoffs and I’m so proud of them.”
Fox Lane was in control early as the Foxes opened the game up 7-0 and John Jay was in immediate foul trouble. With leading scorer Sela Halaifonua and starter Jaime Bartley-Cohen both on the bench in foul trouble, John Jay had to turn to the bench and the Wolves delivered. Gabby Camaj hit a three-pointer and Avery Bisignano and Gianna Pelosi each scored a basket, and Natalie Ellrodt scored to even it up at 19-19 at the half.
Having withstood the storm in the first half, John Jay came out flying to start the second half and scored the first 9 points with Bartley-Cohen connecting for 5 points and Brennan and Jordan Kauftheil each scoring a basket to take a 28-19 lead.
Cara Drapala scored a pair of hoops for the Foxes to help close out the third quarter trailing 31-27, but once again John Jay started strong to open the fourth quarter and build a nine-point lead after a Charlotte Omin basket to make it 36-27. Drapala scored 4 more points for the Foxes, but Brennan answered with four for the Wolves to make it 40-31 to set the stage for the final minutes as the Foxes rallied back for the win.
“They made a lot of free throws and shots and we fell apart at the end, definitely a tough one,” admitted John Jay coach Matt Gallagher after the loss. “We were struggling with the fouls. When we didn’t have our starters out there, a lot of girls came off the bench and they really stepped up in a big way and I’m proud of them. Jane (Brennan) was awesome all game for us. We were right there and it’s just one of those games we learn from and we get better.”
Riley New finished with 15 points to lead Fox Lane. Cora Moore scored nine points for the Foxes, while Clinton and Drapala each scored eight points. Dylan New scored two points, and Kam Boniello scored one to round out the scoring for the Foxes.
Brennan led John Jay with 13 points. Kauftheil scored nine points for the Wolves, while Bartley-Cohen and Ellrodt each scored five points. Camaj had three points, Bisignano, Omin and Pelosi each scored two, and Helena Schembri scored one to round out the scoring for the Wolves.