Mendon Narrowly Escapes Sutherland Upset Bid
By: Thad Brown
Updated: February 26, 2013
Kelsey Julian hit a three-pointer with 22 seconds left and (1)Mendon
survived two game winning attempts by (4)Sutherland to hold on for a
46-45 Class A semifinal win at Penfield High School Monday night.
Julian missed her first attempt at a go-ahead three, but Kristen Powers got the offensive rebound. She immediately fed Julian who did not hesitate taking a second try, which she buried.
Bayley Axelrod and Liz Greendyke each had chances to put Sutherland on top in the final ten seconds, but neither shot went down. Axelrod's was halfway in before bouncing out.
Greendyke gave the Knights a 45-43 lead with 38 seconds left on one amazing individual play. She saved a ball heading out of bounds on the offensive end by jumping near the corner. Greendyke grabbed the ball in mid-air and flung it towards halfcourt where a teammate retrieved it. She then ran the length of the baseline, received a pass in the opposite corner and in one motion, hit nothing but net with a three pointer.
Mendon led the entire final three quarters, including a 26-19 advantage at the half. Sutherland hung tough, cutting the lead to four points after the third quarter and quickly getting to within one on an Audrey Jacobson three-ball.
Erin Lyons answered with a jumper for Mendon and Lauren D'Hont hit a three to quickly push the lead back to six. However, Sutherland crept back in the game and the score hung at 43-39 for two minutes. Santita Ebangwese finally broke the stalemate with a layup and Greendyke hit one of two free throws to cut the deficit again to one and set up the dramatic finish.
D'Hont finished with 13 points to lead the Vikings. Kristen Powers and Lyons each added 11. Axelrod led all scorers with 14 points and played a simply phenomenal game at both ends. Greendyke ended up with 11.
Mendon will face (2)HF-L in the championship game Thursday night at Gates-Chili High School. The Cougars had to erase a 23-5 deficit to beat (6)Geneva 46-43 in Monday's first semifinal at Penfield.
Julian missed her first attempt at a go-ahead three, but Kristen Powers got the offensive rebound. She immediately fed Julian who did not hesitate taking a second try, which she buried.
Bayley Axelrod and Liz Greendyke each had chances to put Sutherland on top in the final ten seconds, but neither shot went down. Axelrod's was halfway in before bouncing out.
Greendyke gave the Knights a 45-43 lead with 38 seconds left on one amazing individual play. She saved a ball heading out of bounds on the offensive end by jumping near the corner. Greendyke grabbed the ball in mid-air and flung it towards halfcourt where a teammate retrieved it. She then ran the length of the baseline, received a pass in the opposite corner and in one motion, hit nothing but net with a three pointer.
Mendon led the entire final three quarters, including a 26-19 advantage at the half. Sutherland hung tough, cutting the lead to four points after the third quarter and quickly getting to within one on an Audrey Jacobson three-ball.
Erin Lyons answered with a jumper for Mendon and Lauren D'Hont hit a three to quickly push the lead back to six. However, Sutherland crept back in the game and the score hung at 43-39 for two minutes. Santita Ebangwese finally broke the stalemate with a layup and Greendyke hit one of two free throws to cut the deficit again to one and set up the dramatic finish.
D'Hont finished with 13 points to lead the Vikings. Kristen Powers and Lyons each added 11. Axelrod led all scorers with 14 points and played a simply phenomenal game at both ends. Greendyke ended up with 11.
Mendon will face (2)HF-L in the championship game Thursday night at Gates-Chili High School. The Cougars had to erase a 23-5 deficit to beat (6)Geneva 46-43 in Monday's first semifinal at Penfield.
