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Brooke Laub looked great last night as she led the Avon Eagles to a playoff win over Valley Forge 64-27. Laub scored 23 points including 15 of them from behind the three-point line. The Eagles were short handed once again, but everyone stepped up in the big win.
Catie Geiger, always known for her incredible defense, rose up on the offensive side of the ball as well again tonight. Geiger would finish with 10 points including 6 in a stellar third quarter for the Senior. The always steady leader Abby Liber scored 11 while Alyssa McLellon had 6.
Speaking of players stepping up, Natalie Santoro has made the most of her increased minutes as of late. Santoro finished with 9 and has been a spark during this recent stretch for the Eagles. Alyssa Peganoff accompanied some stingy defense and excellent passing with a late three ball of her own.
The Patriots wrapped up their season tonight in rough fashion but still had few bright spots along the way. Emily Beckner shined on defense with four 4 blocked shots, plenty of boards and great hustle to go along with 4 points. Kailey Quinones had 6 points and Jada Benjamin bounced back from an early injury to her ankle, to score 8 second half points.
Both teams started off a bit slow, as the first points didn’t come until nearly three minutes had gone by in the first quarter. A Brooke Laub basket got it going for the Eagles and they never slowed down. The Eagles would begin the game on a 14-0 run.
Laub was on fire during that stretch with 7 of the 14 points, while Natalie Santoro had 3, and Fitch and Liber both had 2 in that run. The Patriots wouldn’t score until 2:42 was left on the clock, that basket came from Alysa Coyne.
The Eagles would wrap up the quarter with a commanding 23-9 lead. As noted in prior articles, Avon is playing short handed right now, and several players continue to step up. The first quarter was no different when defensive specialist Catie Geiger had 4 and Natalie Santoro had 5 as well.
The Eagles came out firing in the second quarter, building their lead to 35-13 with 3:35 to go in the half. Laub stayed red hot with two more three balls during that stretch as well. Alyssa McLellon had four as the Eagles looked to put things away.
The Patriots defense would step up over the final 3:35 of the half, led by shot blocking sensation Emily Beckner, they held Avon to just two more points. The Patriots managed to cut the deficit to 37-15 at the half.
Beckner was everywhere in this one, crashing the boards and blocking shots as she finished a good career at Valley Forge.
Avon successfully put the Valley Forge season away for good in the third with a shooting explosion from Brooke Laub who finished with 10 in the quarter, including 6 of them from downtown. Geiger lit it up as well with 6 more. They had 2 more from Liber and McLellon each as their lead expanded to 59-20 after 3.
Alyssa Peganoff would join the 3-point party for the Eagles in the fourth as she sunk one as well. The final score on the night was Avon 64-27 as the Eagles advance and will host Wadsworth on Tuesday night.
Players of the game
Avon – Brooke Laub
Valley Forge – Emily Beckner
