Magnificat Defeats Firestone Lady Falcons 69-36 to Advance

** THIS STORY WAS WRITTEN BY BEAT REPORTER WILLIAM SCHNEIDER**

This game recap is sponsored by – https://keeonsports.com/sponsors/

Magnificat continued their fabulous season with a dominant 68-36 win over Firestone this evening at home. Magnificat now moves on to play Westlake next Tuesday at Valley Forge in the District semifinal.

The first quarter of the game was simply a fast paced back and forth affair with the Lady Falcons from Firestone CLC surprising the Blue Streaks with their quickness, defensive pressure and suffocating full court press. The two teams exchanged baskets throughout the entire quarter and at the end of the quarter the game was tied at 17.

Magnificat coach Danny Gallagher and his coaching staff made some simple and subtle changes in between the first and second quarter to attack the Firestone CLC press and defensive pressure. Coach Gallagher stated to his girls, “we just need to settle into the game and just play our game and the rest will take care of itself”. He continued with “we need to play our style of ball and get back to that and be more physical and better with the ball.”

The Magnificat girls responded immediately in the second quarter when their height, speed and strength seemed to overpower the Lady Falcons. The Lady Blue Streaks outscored the Lady Falcons 21-5 in the second quarter and opened up a lead at halftime of 16 points with the scoreboard showing Magnificat 38 Firestone CLC 22.

Throughout the entire second half, Magnificat’s depth simply overwhelmed the Lady Falcons and there was nowhere for them to turn. Firestone CLC played the entire game with a rotation of 6 players while the Blue Streaks played with a rotation of 10 girls. It was clear that Firestone CLC ran out of gas and did didn’t have the woman power to keep the game close.

Magnificat was paced by their superstar Junior Julia Hall who finished the game with 16 points 12 rebounds and 4 blocks. Julia was helped along the way by Brynne Roggenburk who compiled a stat line of 12 points 8 rebounds 6 assists and 2 blocks. Firestone CLC was led by Alavia Mullins with 13 points and 9 rebounds, and she was helped by Kiara Smith with 12 points and 7 assists.