ATTACKING THE HOOP … North Central’s Anna Burt goes up for a bucket in the first half against Swanton.
NONLEAGUE CONTEST … Lexie Yeager of Swanton looks to make a pass in Thursday night’s win at North Central.
By: Joe Blystone
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
PIONEER (December 19, 2024) – There were more turnovers than a Betty Crocker bake sale in New York City, and more misfires than a third world missile launch, but in the end, it was two free throws that DID drop from senior Jessica Finfera that broke a tie with 2.9 seconds left to give Swanton a 27-25 win over North Central.
The win gave the Bulldogs their second straight win since Abbie Harris took over as coach earlier in the week, after the Bulldogs opened 0-6. North Central fell to 2-6.
“This was the first time we ran our press this year,” Harris said postgame. “We are going to ride with our defense and go from there.”
“We’ve got quick girls that can move and get into the passing lanes so hopefully we’ll do well.”
Finfera hit a triple in the first to go with Maddie Stevenson’s three-point play to give the Bulldogs an 8-5 lead.
However, in the second, Swanton went 0/7 from the field and were guilty of nine turnovers while going scoreless in the eight minutes.
Baskets from Amara Wright and Kenzie Hickman, the last with 5:18 left in the quarter, pushed the Eagles ahead 9-8 at the half, as neither scored in the last five-plus minutes.
Swanton retook a 13-12 lead with 1:38 left in the third on a Carli Lagrange three-pointer, but Mallory Groves split two from the line with 4.9 to go, knotting the game at 13s heading into the fourth.
North Central broke an 18-18 tie on Cailyn Meyers’ three-ball with 4:56 left, then took their largest lead on the night at 25-21 on four more points from Meyers.
Finfera hit a triple from the left side to chop the margin to 25-24 with 2:41 on the clock, then with the Eagles trying to burn the clock, Swanton got a turnover that led to Bettinger hitting 1/2 from the stripe with 33.2 left to tie the game.
Then as the Eagles made an attempt for the last shot, Finfera picked a North Central pass and was fouled going to the rim to set up her heroics at the line.
Meyers was the only player to hit double figures in the game with 11. North Central shot 8/40 from the floor for 20 percent and had 23 turnovers. Swanton was 9/35 and had 28 turnovers.
SWANTON (27) – Yeager 2; Finfera 8; Stevenson 5; Bettinger 6; M. Yeager 0; LaGrange 6; Totals: 6-3-6 – 27
N. CENTRAL (25) – Myers 11; Burt 1; Zimmerman 3; Groves 1; Reyome 2; Turner 3; Lawson 0; Hickman 2; Wright 2; Totals: 7-1-8 – 25
SHS 8 0 5 14 – 27
NCHS 5 4 4 12 – 25
Junior Varsity: N. Central, 23-16