FONDA — The Fonda-Fultonville Girls Basketball team squared off against Mekeel Christian Academy in the home opener for the Lady Braves.
After losing to the Lady Lions by 23 points a week and a half ago, the Lady Braves were hoping to avenge that loss. Playing a solid man-to-man defense Fonda was able to pressure Mekeel for three quarters before the Lady Lions shooters came to life to lead their team to a 49-41 win over the Lady Braves.
First-year Fonda coach Flip Boshart was very pleased with his team.
“The first thing I said in the locker room was that I was proud and I told them they should be proud,” he said. “We lost to this team last week by 23 and their effort tonight was a statement to me that they’re invested in what we’re doing.”
Mekeel opened up the game with a bucket from Madison Show but freshman Abigail Lombardoni answered back with a three point basket to put Fonda in front. Jessie Show made a free throw to tie the game and then Rebekkah Dean scored to put Mekeel back on top. Sparked by an aggressive defense, the Lady Braves put together a 5-0 run with two foul shots from Julianna Taylor, one from Lombardoni and a basket by Taylor for an 8-5 lead with 1:25 left in the first quarter. Dean brought Mekeel back to within one with a basket but Taylor matched that to close out the quarter with Fonda leading 10-7.
“I thought by playing man-to-man we could really get after it and it forced us to work,” Boshart said. “We worked all week and we did a really nice job guarding some of their better players.”
In the second quarter, both defenses toughened up limiting the opponent’s scoring opportunities. Jessie Show hit two free throws and Jillian Ballard added a basket to put the Lady Lions up by one with 6:10 remaining in the half. Both teams struggled from the floor until Taylor scored for the Lady Braves to take back the lead at the 3:27 mark.
Dean gave Mekeel the lead again when she was fouled as she made a basket and then the free throw for a two-point lead. Kaleigh Smith roared back with a 3-pointer to give the Lady Braves the lead again before Jessie Show made the final basket of the quarter to give the Lady Lions a 16-15 lead going into halftime.
During halftime, Mekeel coach Guy DeAngelis gave his team two messages.
“Start being the team we’re capable of being and make sure [Fonda] don’t play harder or tougher than we do,” he said. That was all that his girls needed as the second half saw them scoring more often.
Taylor opened the third quarter with a basket to move the Lady Braves back in the lead. Dean scored for Mekeel but Taylor answered again to keep the Lady Braves lead at one. Mekeel went on a 9-3 scoring run over the next three minutes as they got four points from Ballard, a three pointer from Elizabeth Singleton and free throws from Madison Show and Dean. Lombardoni scored and Taylor added a free throw as Mekeel’s lead grew to five points with 3:55 left in the third quarter. Sarah Subik was fouled while making a basket and she added the free throw to get the Lady Braves back to within two points, 27-25. After Jessie Show got a bucket for the Lady Lions, Fonda picked up four quick points from Subik and Taylor to tie the game at 29 with 1:36 left in the period. Dean and Jessie Show each scored to close out the third quarter with Mekeel leading, 33-29.
In the fourth quarter, Ashlee Jones sank two free throws for the Lady Braves and Jessie Show added one for Mekeel to make it a three point lead. Smith hit a bucket and with 6:25 to go Jillian Wilder made a free throw to tie the game at 34. Mekeel then took over the game and went on a 13-3 run.
The Lady Lions got four points from Dean and three points each from Jessie Show, Madison Show and Singleton while Lombardoni managed to sink a three pointer giving Mekeel a 10-point lead with 1:22 to go in the game. Lombardoni added two free throws and a basket for the final four points for the Lady Braves while Ballard and Jessie show each added a free throw to give Mekeel the win making the final score 49-41.
After the game, Boshart said, “We got tired but it’s still early in the season and we still have work to do,” he said. “We fought and we scrapped. I was thrilled with our effort.”
The Lady Braves (0-3 overall) will travel to play Bishop Gibbons on Friday while Mekeel (2-1) will play next Wednesday at Bishop Gibbons.
Mekeel Christian 49, Fonda-Fultonville 41
Mekeel Christian 7 9 17 16 — 49
Fonda-Fultonville 10 5 14 12 — 41
Mekeel Christian
Dean 7-2-16, M. Show 2-1-6, Ballard 3-1-7, J. Show 4-5-14, Singleton 2-0-6. Totals 18-9-49.
Fonda-Fultonville
Taylor 5-3-13, Wilder 0-1-1, Smith 2-0-5, Subik 2-1-5, Lombardoni 4-3-13, Jones 1-2-4. Totals 14-10-41.
3-point goals: Mekeel Christian 3 (Singleton 2, M. Show); Fonda-Fultonville (Lombardoni 2, Smith 1).
Non-league
Galway 53, Mayfield 34
MAYFIELD — Hannah Pawlowski finished with 13 points to lead Galway to a victory over Mayfield.
The Golden Eagles led 19-12 after one quarter and 29-19 at the half on their way to the victory.
Ashlyn O’Neill finished with 12 points for Galway, while Britany Kenyon added 11.
Sydney Sheldon scored 17 points to lead Mayfield (1-1 overall), while Shelby Dopp added nine.
Galway 53, Mayfield 34
Galway 19 10 9 15 — 53
Mayfield 12 7 5 10 — 34
Galway
Kenyon 5-1-11, Pawlowski 6-0-13, Ritter 1-0-2, Boudreau 0-1-1, Horstmann 1-0-2, Vanderhorst 1-0-2, Smith 3-2-8, O’Neil 5-1-12. Totals 23-7-53.
Mayfield
Dopp 2-5-9, Sheldon 4-8-17, Meca 1-2-5, Benton 0-1-1, Hampton 0-1-1, LaGrange 0-1-1. Totals 7-18-34.
3-point goals: Galway 2 (O’Neil, Pawlowski); Mayfield 2 (Sheldon, Meca).
Fort Plain 40, Schoharie 30
FORT PLAIN — Anganese Gomez finished with nine points to lead Fort Plain to a victory over Schoharie.
Lexi Veitch, Alexis Hagadorn and Cheyenne Munson all finished with seven points for the Lady Hilltoppers.
Hagadorn grabbed eight rebounds for Fort Plain (1-3 overall), while Sierra Logan added six.
Katie Brisley scored a game-high 22 points to lead Schoharie.
Adirondack 56, Dolgeville 32
DOLGEVILLE — Ariel Kranbuhl finished with 14 points to lead Adirondack to a victory over Dolgeville.
The Wildcats outscored the Blue Devils 30-13 in the second half on their way to the victory.
Kara Philbrick and Faith Curtis each scored 10 points for Adirondack.
Sarah George scored 16 points to lead Dolgeville (1-2 overall).
Wells 43, Sharon Springs 29
SHARON SPRINGS — Sierra Mauro finished with 19 points to lead Wells to a non-league win at Sharon Springs on Monday.
Erika Foster had 11 points for the Lady Indians (3-1 overall), while Rebekah Weaver added eight points.
Allison Cross scored 12 points to lead Sharon Springs.
