by The Avon Eagles overcame several double digit deficits to come back with an impressive road win, 59-52 at Padua tonight. The Eagles received big nights from Amelia Holbrook and Aliana Pagan, just to name a few in the winning effort. For Padua, they mixed it around well, but it was once again Darlene Jaidah leading the way with Izzy Lamp and Sophie spade making big shots as well.
Darlene Jaidah, Ashley Rypiak and Izzy Lapp combined to score the first 12 Bruins points of the night, as they sparked the Bruins to a quick 14-1 lead just three minutes into the game. The Eagles wouldn’t stay down long however and battled back to cut it to 17-12 after one. The Eagles were able to get into the bonus and took advantage, hitting 4 from the charity stripe, along with a three ball from Sophia Sharp as the clock was winding down to cut it down to 5 points after 8 minutes.
The Eagles kept the momentum going to start the second quarter, and fresh off a timeout, the Eagles buried a three ball from Amelia Holbrook to cut the lead to 19-17, just two minutes into the second quarter. Meanwhile, Padua went ice cold and only scored 2 points in the first 6 minutes of the second quarter. They finally snaped out of it with a Lapp layup that re-handed them a 21-19 lead as they had let Avon come all the way back to tie it. They game went to half with Padua up 25-21.
The Bruins extended their lead to 28-21 just seconds into the second half with a Lapp three ball. It was then that Aliana Pagan reminded everyone that she is not only one of the best sophomores in the SWC, but in the state with 5 straight points to cut it to 28-25. You can tell Pagan is the kind of talent putting in serious work 12 months of year with that stroke. A few minutes later, it was Pagan again, nailing another three and cutting it to 30-29 with 4:58 to play in the third.
It was Amelia Holbrook nailing a three to hand the Eagles their first lead of the game at 35-32 with 2:20 to play in the third. It was a lead the Eagles made stick as they led 37-35 after three quarters. Sophia Spade and Abby Owens exchanged threes to start the fourth quarter, and we were off to the races. The Bruins came storming back with another bucket from Spade and then a breakaway basket from Darlene Jaidah.
It was a wild back and forth quarter, but in the end, the Eagles pulled away to take the impressive 59-52 victory. It is important to note that in the Eagles comeback, the Bruins missed 10 plus foul shots, it may not seem like a deal breaker, but it could have really helped the Bruins keep the Eagles at bay in this one.
