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Leah DiFranco is quickly rising to be one of the must clutch players in the SWC, and today proved that once again as she led the Midview Middies to a 56-52 win over Avon. DiFranco hit a shot late to give them the win, as this was part of her game high 20 points, with exactly 5 scored in each quarter.
DiFranco had plenty of help, as her running mate Erica Baldoza had another big night with 14 while Alana Stacey had 12 and Hunter Crum 5 big points. Maggies Barnes scored 3 while Samantha Pebworth put in 2.
For Avon, it was a great day for Molly Drenik who poured in 17 of her team high 20 in the first half. Grace Mangan scored 7 while Abby Owens and Emma Owens had 8 each. The Eagles were rounded out by Makenzie Ptacek with 5 and Amelia Holbrook had 4.
It was a fast paced first four minutes as Leah DiFranco and Erica Baldoza combined for 9 points for the Middies while Emma and Abby Owens knocked in 9 for the Eagles. A short moment later, a Holbrook basket for the Eagles broke the tie and handed Avon the 11-9 lead. The Eagles took a 15-11 lead into the second as nice shots by Molly Drenik and Grace Mangan helped them close out the first.
Molly Drenik scored the first 8 Avon points as the Eagles extended their lead to 23-18. Going back to the first quarter, it was 10 straight Eagles points from Drenik. Stacey got red hot for the Middies and helped Midvew climb back to 23-22. Stacey is a sharpshooter when you leave her with any room. For Avon, it was right back to their bread and butter as Drenik brought it back out to 25-22 coming out of the timeout. A Hunter Crum three tied it, as both teams continued to battle. Avon took a 30-27 lead into the break as Molly Drenik had all 15 Eagle points in the quarter.
It was a back and forth third quarter as both teams continued to attack. The Middies spread it out nicely all quarter as 5 players scored. The Eagles did the exact same however as it looked as though we’d be looking at a 1-point Avon lead after three until Midview ran an amazing full court play in under 4 seconds to hit a Stacey layup at the buzzer to claim the 45-44 lead after three quarters. The play came after a made foul shot from Drenik.
Avon began the fourth quarter on an 8-4 run with buckets from Drenik, Ptacek, Mangan and Holbrook to recapture the lead at 52-49 with 3:43 to go. A Baldoza three tied it with 2 minutes to go in the game. A minute later, it was a DiFranco drive putting the Middies ahead 54-52. The Middies held on for the win from there.
