BETHEL – Livermore Falls could have fallen into a hole quickly in the second half. Majorie Debrosky and Taryn Flagg, who combined for 23 points over the first two quarters, started the half on the bench, both suffering from early foul trouble.
Enter senior Jenika Kelley, who not only scored six crucial points in the second half, but hauled down eight rebounds. Kelley finished with a double-double – 10 points and 12 rebounds – and the Andies survived a stiff challenge from Telstar, upending the Rebels 55-51 in a pivotal Western Class C showdown.
“When she gets things going, she really is something special,” said Livermore coach Frank Donald.
Perhaps even more satisfying for Kelley, though, were two plays late in the fourth quarter near mid-court. With 25 seconds to play, Kelley blocked a long 3-point shot that would have tied the game for Telstar, and on the Rebels’ next possession, she stole the ball on a long, cross-court feed.
“Defense is always the most important things for us, coach stresses that to us all the time,” said Kelley.
Debrosky never did score again in the game, finishing with 13 points and six boards, while Flagg drained a late two and two free throws to finish with 12 points.
Telstar, meanwhile, was playing without starting guard Jillian Kimball, who was key to helping the Rebels upend Livermore Falls on the road earlier this season.
“Anytime you take our starting point guard out of the lineup, it’s going to hurt,” said Telstar coach Kelly Dole. “We had some girls step up, though, when we needed them to.”
Chea Davis nearly carried Telstar on her back late in the fourth quarter. With Livermore Falls ahead by six, Davis drained two 3-pointers on consecutive trips down the floor to pull the Rebels within two.
“She’s really come along since her injury at the beginning of the season,” said Dole. “She’s a really big part of this team.”
Kelley’s block and subsequent steal squelched the comeback bid, though.
Telstar (11-6) started the game on fire, going ahead 10-3 before Livermore Falls (13-4) clawed back. The Andies held a one-point edge after the first and the teams started the third quarter deadlocked at 33. In the third, though, the Andies took over inside.
“We were giving up two or three shots and not getting the offensive rebounds and that hurt us,” said Dole. “They obviously went to their inside game in the second half.”
Telstar held Livermore Falls to 10 points in the third frame, but scored just eight and trailed by two after three. In the fourth, the Andies started to pull away until Davis started hitting from long range.
“
Comments are no longer available on this story