Update, 7:00 p.m.: They’re about to introduce the starting lineups. Averill Park has thousands of people here. Fans cover one half of the court and more than three other sections. It’s the biggest crowd I’ve seen from one school in seven years of coming to Troy. Anyway, hang tight as Lakeland tries to bring Section 1 its second state championship in as many games.
Update, 7:10 p.m.: The game is underway. Averill Park leads 3-2 with 6:40 to play in the first quarter. Courtney Stokes got Lakeland on the board.
Update, 7:14 p.m.: 4-3 Lakeland leads, 4:08 to play in the quarter.
Update, 7:15 p.m.: Two FTs by Vicki Kowalski give Lakeland a 6-3 lead with 3:57 to go. Timeout Averill Park after a turnover.
Update, 7:22 p.m.: Lakeland leads 12-9 after one quarter of play. Tori Jarosz has six points, four rebounds and two blocked shots. She is attracting a triple-team ever time she touches the ball. Averill Park did a good job scouting for this game. Bridget McGovern added the other basket for the Hornets, who have held Averill Park to just two field goals.
Update, 7:28 p.m.: Jarosz was just called for her second. 14-12 Lakeland, 5:00 to go in the half.
Update, 7:37 p.m.: Kristin Pappalardo was fouled with two seconds left. On the inbound, she threw a pass to Jarosz on the left wing. She spun to the hoop, took a couple dribbles and hit a short jumper at the buzzer to put Lakeland on top 25-24 at the half. It was an exciting finish. Sara Oakes hit a 3 for the Hornets but Averill Park’s Michela Ottati hit a pair of 3’s of her own. There were two ties and two lead changes in the final 3:32 of the half.
Jarosz had another monster half for Lakeland. She has 14 points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots. She had two blocks on the same possession after picking up her second foul. McGovern has four points and is the second-leading scorer for the Hornets. Ottati has nine to lead Averill Park. Lakeland is leaving the Warriors open for jumpers so they will have to continue to hit them.
Update, 7:47 p.m.: The second half is underway.
Update, 7:49 p.m.: 30-second timeout Lakeland. 6:04 left in the third, same score. Lakeland ball.
Update, 7:55 p.m.: The Averill Park crowd really came alive after an 8-0 run has given the Warriors a 32-27 lead. Steve Fallo called a timeout with 3:38 to play in the quarter. His team will have to take better care of the ball. Lakeland has committed six turnovers in 4:22 this quarter.
Update, 7:58 p.m.: Stokes just got her fourth.
Update, 8:03 p.m.: End of three, Averill Park leads Lakeland 35-31. The Hornets were held to just six points that quarter. They actually trailed by six before Jarosz put back a miss. The Warriors went up six on a three-point play by Brooke O’Shea.
Update, 8:06 p.m.: Timeout Lakeland. The Hornets are in trouble. AV just scored five quick points on a deep 3 and a fastbreak layup by Brittany O’Shea. It’s now 40-31 with 6:41 to play for the state title.
Update, 8:12 p.m.: Big loss for the Hornets. Stokes just picked up her fifth with 4:59 to play, Lakeland trailing 42-34.
Update, 8:16 p.m.: After another AV’s fourth 3 this half, Lakeland now trails 45-36 with 3:02 to play. Time is getting awfully precious right now for the Hornets.
Update, 8:20 p.m.: Timeout Lakeland after a hoop by Jarosz. But the Hornets trail 48-40 with 57.9 to play.
Update, 8:27 p.m.: FINAL — Averill Park 53, Lakeland 46.
Update, 9:47 p.m.: FINAL STATS —
LAKELAND
Jarosz: 27 points (11 for 21), 16 rebounds, 10 blocks, 2 assists
Pappalardo: 6 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists
Kowalski: 2 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals
Stokes: 2 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 assists
Oakes: 5 points, 2 rebounds
McGovern: 4 points, 6 rebounds
Totals — 18 for 41 FG, 1 for 8 3FG, 7 for 13 FT, 36 rebounds (11 offensive), 21 fouls, 11 blocks, 4 steals, 7 assists, 15 turnovers.
AVERILL PARK
Ottati: 17 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists
O’Shea: 7 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals
Duma: 14 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists
Hawes: 2 points, 5 rebounds
O’Shea: 6 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists
Nunziato: 5 points
Strab: 2 points, 2 rebounds
Totals — 8 for 25 FG, 7 for 28 3FG, 16 for 25 FT, 32 rebounds (12 offensive), 12 fouls, 5 steals, 10 assists, 10 turnovers.
6 Comments
Sorry to hear about the loss girls. Hold your heads up high, you’ve had an amazing season and a great 4-year run. Tori, Pop, Kowalski, Lesley & McGovern best of luck as you move on to your collegiate careers, you will be missed. Stokesie, Zablow & Oakes, take the reins and continue the successes
just want to say when you play like class you will become class. Hard work has emulated from former section 1 players like moran.walker.tancredi.They keep making us proud as you will also…..
Keep your head held high Lakeland you all should be proud!!!!
the refs were horrible. anyone who saw that game would know who the refs wanted to win. fouls were 21 to 12. that goes to show you how poor the reffering was
I agree with bballdad, the refs were absolutely biased towards Averill Park. IMO, they would never win the game with different circumstances. Lakeland WAS the better team. 21 to 12 is just embarrassing as well as disgusting. Troy and the whole State Finals committee should be mortified. Everyone knows who they wanted to win. Ridiculous and not fair to the girls who had better skill and came out with the loss because of terrible calls.
Of course Jarosz will be going to Vanderbilt, but any news on Pappalardo and Kowalski? Or even girls on Averill Park?
bballdad,
You must be a Lakeland parent when you claim the “reffering” was as poor as your spelling. There isn’t an official at that level that gives a rats a—who wins the game. The best officials are never concerned with balancing the number of fouls for each team. Instead an excellent official is more concerned with calling what needs to be called and controlling the game fairly for both teams. I congratulate Lakeland this year and I think their collective accomplishment is remarkable.