Fri/Scio girls provide explosive 3rd quarter after slow opening, but Hammondsport prevails behind 2nd quarter run to seal 60-39 home win

In this file photo, Friendship/Scio junior Kadence Donohue (22) looks to put up a shot while under pressure from the Hinsdale defense during the team’s home Christmas Tournament, last month. [Chris Brooks/WellsvilleSports.com]

HAMMONDSPORT — It was a very quick turnaround for Friendship/Scio.

Just over 12 hours between their home contest against Houghton Academy, and a long bus trip across the eastbound highway on I-86, the team landed in Hammondsport for a Saturday afternoon matinee in hopes to finding the win column once more.

Through much of the first half, the host Lady Lakers pushed it to the limit, coming away with a massive run to take the advantage heading into the break. Friendship/Scio emerged in the second half with an exchange of their own, holding the Lady Lakers to their smallest quarter of the day.

Within reach, heading into the final quarter, the visitors looked to add more, but Hammondsport another one last card to play in the shape of their biggest offensive outing yet, doubling up Friendship/Scio by a 22-11 count to pull away toward what was a 60-39 victory to stave off the late pressure after a comeback second half.

“We had it down to 10 in the third quarter after a really slow first half. I told them in the locker room that it could go one of two ways,” said Friendship/Scio coach Ashleigh Lewis. “I was really proud of the second half effort. They came out and showed some heart and effort, and we won that quarter to keep ourselves in the game. Hammondsport has some great shooters, and in that fourth quarter, they really made it show with quite a few three pointers. We had some great looks, but it was tough to make us come back from.”

Friendship/Scio (5-8) found themselves in a deep hole to begin the festivities in the first half, as Hammondsport went straight to work on the attack, scoring a pair of 16-point quarters while holding their opposition to just six on the opposite end of the floor. Among those quarters, was a 16-1 half-ending run — a jaunt that would ultimately become the game’s difference maker, as the Lady Lakers took complete command of a 32-6 lead at the break.

But Friendship/Scio would not go down without one last haymaker to put themselves back into reach of the Lady Lakers in the third quarter, nearly climbing out of their first half trench with a 22-6 third quarter run to cut down their deficit to 10, putting them in a position to continue fueling their rebound in the final eight minute period.

In the last eight minutes, the hosts in white and purple were able to hold onto their lead despite the immense pressure brought on by Friendship/Scio, as they saved their best offensive outing for last with a 22-11 run that would allow them to pull away toward victory permanently behind four of the team’s eight three-pointers from downtown.

Friendship/Scio’s dynamic duo of Nevaeh Ross and Kadence Donohue allowed the team to remain within reach of the Lady Lakers, as the two shooters combined to score 29 of the team’s 39 total points, with Ross leading the charge behind a team-high 15 points along with five steals, while Donohue chipped in with 14 to go with six rebounds. Sophie Bolzan added four points.

Friendship/Scio will now break away from action for the next six days, as they return to the hardwood back over the road with another back-to-back road slate beginning on Friday, visiting Lima Christian in a 6 p.m. battle before heading back up north once more to visit Caledonia-Mumford in a 2:30 p.m. tip-off, next Saturday afternoon.

Friendship/Scio 5 1 22 11 – 39

Hammondsport 16 16 6 22 – 60

FRIENDSHIP/SCIO: Nevaeh Ross 5 5-10 15, Keely Sisson 1 1-2 3, Claire Calhoun 1 0-0 2, Sophie Bolzan 2 0-0 4, Kadence Donohue 6 1-1 14, Kiara Grover 0 1-2 1. Totals: 15 8-15 39.
HAMMONDSPORT: LaZell Locey 1 1-2 3, Arielle Szathmary 0 1-2 1, Danica Dresser 6 0-3 14, Hannah Hoerter 7 0-2 18, Nichole Pratt 2 0-0 5, Rorie Whitcomb 9 0-0 19. Totals: 25 2-9 60.
3-point goals: F/S 1 (Donohue), Hammondsport 8 (Hoerter 4, Dresser 2, Pratt, Whitcomb).
Total Fouls: F/S 6, Hammondsport 19. Fouled out: None.