AUBURN — Despite an early lead that put Cheverus in an immediate hole, the Edward Little girls’ basketball team just couldn’t seem to shake the Stags through the first half Friday night.

With Cheverus’3-point prowess, the Stags were always within striking distance, and the Red Eddies couldn’t build on that early advantage.

In the third quarter, Emily Jacques changed that.

The senior guard scored 12 of her game-high 24 points in the third as EL broke the game open for good in a 57-41 win over the Stags.

“I thought Emily dominated the third quarter,” EL coach Craig Jipson said. “Defensively, she can take over games like that anytime she wants. I thought she really dominated the third quarter and had some good takes to the hoop.”

Jacques had 12 of EL’s 18 points in the third and had 16 of the Red Eddies’ 27 second-half points.

“My confidence just went up,” Jacques said. “Once you’ve got one, you just want to get another and another.”

Jordyn Reynolds had a strong game in the post for EL (4-1) with 14 points, while Piper Norcross chipped in nine. Cheverus (3-2) got 14 from Abby Cavallaro, including four 3s. Emme Poulin added nine.

“They had some really good guards,” Jacques said. “I thought our team did really good getting out on their 3-point shooters, better than we have in previous games because that’s what we’ve been practicing. I thought we did a good job at that.”

Cheverus has been averaging 52 points per game. Though the Stags hit eight 3s, EL made it a challenge. Cheverus missed its first seven shots of the first quarter and first six of the second. The Stags finished the game shooting just 16-for-57. Still, despite an 8-0 hole to start the game, Cheverus stayed close for much of the first half. EL’s biggest lead was seven until Norcross scored on a drive to make it 30-21 at the half.

Poulin scored on a steal to start the third for Cheverus. After Jacques hit two free throws, Reynolds scored in the post. Deirdre Sanborn drilled a 3 to get Cheverus within 34-26. EL then scored 10 straight to extend the lead. 

Jacques scored off a press breaker to start the run. Norcross scored on a drive, and Jade Perry fed Reynolds for a basket. Jacques scored on a drive and then off a steal for a 44-26 lead. Jacques added baskets of a press breaker and a steal helping EL build a 48-32 lead after three.

“I just stepped up into the passing lanes and got the ball,” Jacques said.

That was all EL needed. The Red Eddies did a nice job finishing off the win in the fourth. The defense limited Cheverus to Cavallaro’s trio of 3s. EL got free throws from Norcross and Jacques to seal it.

“We’re shooting lights out from the free throw line,” said Jipson, whose team sank 15 free throws overall. “We’re starting to get there even more. We want to get there 25 times a game.”

It was an inside game against an outside game early. EL looked to Reynolds in the post, and even used Jacques in the paint on occasion. Karli Stubbs had two baskets while Reynolds and Jacques also scored during the 8-0 lead. Cheverus got within 12-9 by quarter’s end after a Brooke McElman basket and Cavallaro steal.

Reynolds had EL’s first six points in the second. When Cheverus adjusted to defending her in the post, EL managed to get baskets from Norcross, Jacques and Stubbs while Jade Perry added free throws.

“We took advantage of Jordyn in the first half with her inside,” Jacques said. “When they figured it out, they started to double and triple-team her. We just took advantage with our other players.”

One constant for EL was a tenacious defensive effort. The Red Eddies pressured the ball effectively and did a nice job contesting Cheverus on the perimeter. Players coming off the bench, like Perry, Grace Beaudet and Kaylee Jipson, were relentless on the defensive end.

“We haven’t gotten much scoring from our bench, but I love how our bench is playing defensively,” Jipson said. “They’re going in there and taking the legs out of the other team.

“I liked our defensive execution, for the most part. Cavallaro had three 3s in the fourth quarter. She’s a great player, but we kind of held her in check.

kmills@sunjournal.com

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