Frazier girls fall to visiting Serra Catholic, 61-48
Lori C. Padilla
The Lady Commodores’ Brooke Poling (4) drives past Serra Catholic’s Elizabeth Quattrone during Monday’s Section 3-AA game at Frazier.
The Lady Commodores' Jovanna Isaac (5) splits Serra Catholic's Gigi Mele-Madigan and Emma Wilson (23) to get up a shot during Monday's Section 3-AA game at Frazier.
The Lady Commodores' Sierra Twigg (25) attempts a shot over Serra Catholic's Gigi Mele-Madigan during the first half of Monday's Section 3-AA game at Frazier.
PERRYOPOLIS — Needing a win Monday night to have an outside chance at a share of the Section 3-AA girls basketball crown, Frazier fell to section tri-leader Serra Catholic on Senior Night, 61-48.
“We were right there for three quarters, but got cold in the second half and the kids played hard,” said Frazier coach Ken Poling. “It is hard to play a good team on Senior Night because it is natural for players to think about ‘me’ and not the team.
“Tonight, we didn’t play as much as a team.”
The Commodores finished with only 17 points in the second half while turning the ball over 27 times in the game.
“We have to protect the ball,” Poling said.
Frazier (8-5, 12-8) came out hot from the floor and raced to a quick 13-8 lead as four different players scored in the run, but Serra hung tight and trimmed the Frazier lead to 17-13 at the end of the first quarter.
The Lady Eagles (10-3, 13-6) took their first lead of the game at 19-17 with 6:29 to go in the first half on a 3-pointer by Rayna Andrews, but Frazier went on a 14-5 run the rest of the half to take a 31-25 lead into halftime.
Frazier went into the locker room with all of the momentum, but it turned the ball over 11 times in the third quarter and was outscored 15-8 as Serra took a 40-39 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Lady Commodores also struggled to score in the fourth quarter as they could only muster nine points, while Serra’s Gigi Mele-Madigan made eight free throws in the frame to seal the game.
“The effort was there, but we weren’t hitting shots,” Poling said about the second half. “We weren’t playing team ball and you can’t win tough games like that.”
Brook Poling had 20 points for Frazier, while Sierra Twigg had 11 points and 16 rebounds, including 10 offensive, and Jovanna Isaac had 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Serra, which had 22 turnovers, was led Mele-Madigan with 19 points. Rylan German (12) and Izzy Caruso (11) also hit double figures.
Despite the loss, and thanks to Beth-Center’s loss to Greensburg Central Catholic, Frazier clinched a playoff spot and looks to build its resume with a win over section tri-leader California Thursday.
“We approach every game to win and play as hard as we can,” said coach Poling. “It will be another tough game, but that is just the way it is.