AUBURN – The Freeport Falcons didn’t waste any time in deciding the outcome of their game Friday night. They never gave the St. Dom’s Saints any room as a smothering press and tenacious work on the offensive boards gave the Falcons a 37-19 halftime advantage en route to a 56-36 win at Callahan Gymnasium.
“That’s the first time we came out and got it done early instead of waiting until the fourth quarter,” said forward Cabrina Best, who finished with a game-high 22 points.
The Falcons (6-6) made a living in the first half of stealing either the first or second pass by the Saints (6-4) and never really allowed the home team to set up its halfcourt offense.
“We got a little shook up,” said St. Dom’s coach Chet Lenfesty. “I thought we handled the pressure in the second half, but it was too much to overcome in the first. I think a lot of it was inexperience. We just have to learn how to take care of the ball.”
The Saints failed to cross the midcourt line on three consecutive possessions early in the first quarter. The Falcons’ ball-hawking pressure quickly transitioned into offense and they took advantage. An offensive rebound was converted by Ariel Lewis after one steal and another resulted in a baseline basket by Nicole Greene. Greene’s bucket put Freeport up 10-7.
A few minutes later, Best made a steal near midcourt and took the ball herself for an easy score and the Falcons led 15-7.
The second quarter was no different. Cassandra Dyer (nine points) came off the bench and immediately stole the ball and drove to the hoop to put Freeport up by 10. A cutting drive to the hoop by Dyer off a nifty pass from Lewis added to the lead.
“She really leads us in our pressure,” said Freeport coach Jay Harper as he spoke about the play of Lewis. “She plays good defense and passes the ball well.”
Twice Lewis found teammates for easy baskets off inbound plays in the offensive end of the court and wowed the visiting crowd with a pair of passes in the lane that led to easy layups. “She makes amazing passes,” said Best. ” I love playing with her.”
Best scored 12 of her points in the dominating first half and proved deadly underneath. She shot five-of-six from the floor after intermission.
Abby Gilbert paced the Saints attack with 11 points, including three baskets from beyond the three-point arc. Malley O’Shea added eight points in a losing cause.
Comments are no longer available on this story