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It was an early matinee in Avon Lake this afternoon as the Avon Lake Shoregals took on the Amherst Steele Lady Comets. The game started off with shots raining down at a rapid pace . The game slowed a bit from there and was back and forth between the Lady Comets and the Shoregals. Both teams played hard on both sides of the ball, fighting for every point. In the second and fourth quarters both teams had more than 10 team fouls apiece. A testament to how hard fought this game was. Shoregals Sophomore Izzie Polinko led the Shoregals with 17 points. Meanwhile, Amherst Senior Jocelyn George led the Lady Comets with 15. 9 of her 15 points came from beyond the arc. The Shoregals fought hard but came up just short, coming to foul shots to try to take the win 48-47.
The first quarter was rapid fire by both sides. 26 points were scored between the 2 teams. Avon Lake came out fast, passing the ball and taking it to the hoop. The Amherst Lady Comets worked hard to counter the Shoregals assault putting up 10 points of their own. The Shoregals were effective at keeping the Lady Comets outside the perimeter. That forced Amherst to take low-percentage shots outside the arc. The rapid fire action in the first quarter was intense to watch. At the end of the first, Avon Lake led 16-10
The second quarter saw the chance for Amherst to bring it close. Amherst outscored Avon Lake 8 to 3 in the second quarter. Amherst slowed the pace down as we progressed through the second. Avon Lake is still working the interior hard on defense keeping Amherst outside the arc. However, Amherst found a way on several occasions into the interior where they drove hard in the face of multiple Shoregals defenders while taking it to the hoop. Both teams played extremely physically, both teams had double digit fouls in the second. Those fouls led Avon Lake Freshman, Olivia Miller, putting down 2 free throws and kept the lead for the Shoregals going into the half 19-18.
The Shoregals looked to maintain their lead heading into the second half. The third quarter saw back and forth shots and points from both teams. Avon Lake continued to keep Amherst outside the arc but the Lady Comets played hard trying to get better looks on the inside. Those hard drives by Amherst into a sea of Shoregals ended up in fouls that sent Amherst to the line. Amherst Junior Kayla Ferancy inbounded the ball off of a Shoregals player, back to herself, drove hard to the hoop and was fouled on the rebound. The Shoregals kept their 1-point advantage headed into the 4th quarter, thanks in part to points from Shoregal Olivia Miller, who scored on a fast break. After 3 quarters of play Avon Lake Led by 1, 25 to 24.
The Lady Comets and Jocelyn George came out firing after she hit a quick 3 to start off the quarter and give Amherst the lead. Avon Lake kept up the hard defense, doing their best to fend off the Lady Comets. However, on the back of 3, 3 pointers from George put the Lady Comets up for good. Avon Lake fought hard and both teams ended up in double digit fouls.
The Shoregals tried to get one up on Amherst, but with the Lady Comets leading as time ran down, the Shoregals had to send Amherst to the line. Amherst was able to keep one step ahead and pull out the win. Your final from Avon Lake High School it was the Comets winning 48-47.
In post-game comments Amherst coach John Rositano praised his team noting that the team did not make any mistakes the last 4 minutes, made foul shots and took care of the ball. Coach Rositano also praised Senior Jocelyn George saying “She came up big.” Coach Rositano finished his remarks by saying “it’s hard to win here, against a really good Avon Lake team…”
Avon Lake 16 3 6 22
Amherst. 10 8 6 24
Check out the video below of post-game comments from Amherst Coach John Rositano.
The final from Avon Lake. @ShoregalsBBall 47 #AmherstLadyComets 48. Here are post game comments from Amherst Coach John Rositano
@SportsKee1 pic.twitter.com/TMqNWF84So
— Chris Grunau VA/ High School Sports Reporter (@ChrisGrunau) February 4, 2023
That George girl had 5 three pointers in 6 tries, with 4 of them coming in the 4th quarter! Quite a performance!!
They may be a team to watch in the playoffs!
Great victory by the comets. JG great game . Did I read right AL is 11-9 . O-Well go comets !