Girls Basketball: FGR knocks off Pioneer (See WLAA photo gallery – 100 photos)
The Pioneer girls’ basketball team actually shot the ball better percentage wise (42.3 percent to 40 percent) than host Father Gabriel Richard – unfortunately for the Pioneers, the Irish took twice as many shots (43-20) and took advantage of 34 turnovers in a 61-27 win in a non-league game Tuesday night at FGR.
The Irish led 16-5 after the first quarter and 28-15 at halftime before outscoring the Pioneers 22-4 in the third quarter.
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“I think we really went flat in the second quarter and were able to pick up our intensity in the third quarter,” said FGR Coach Tim Cain. “It was definitely a cold night shooting but as long as they are putting the work in before, during and after practice then eventually I believe those shots will fall.”
The Irish did a good job of limiting turnovers and they outscored Pioneer 34-7 on points off turnovers. “We do a pretty good job of taking care of the ball as a team but we kind of got beat up on the boards at times,” Cain said.
Three FGR players reached double figures. Vanessa Rodriguez had a huge game with 19 points and 10 steals; Danielle Hehman made 6 of 9 field goals and finished with 14 points along with five rebounds and three assists; and Charlotte Miller had 10 points, four assists and three steals.
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Elizabeth Benz and Fiona Fitzpatrick each scored six for the Irish.
Jasmyne Gatson had a strong game for Pioneer with nine points on 3 of 6 shooting and four rebounds. Lily Jones had six points, Emmy Wernimont scored five and Emmanuel Davis scored four points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Pioneers.
A triple by Miller got FGR rolling as the Irish jumped out to an 11-0 lead. A triple by Gatson brought the Pioneers to within 13-5. Just before the quarter ended, Rodriguez hit a three-pointer to make it 16-5.
Pioneer’s Jones scored inside to cut the lead to 16-11. Two consecutive steals and layups by Rodriguez ended the first half and pushed the Irish to a 28-15 lead.
FGR played a strong third quarter and the Pioneers had trouble keeping up. Hehman hit a triple to make it 36-15. Two baskets by Miller gave FGR a commanding 42-15 advantage.
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