by Gary Danforth
In a game in which the Hoosick Falls Central School girls basketball team’s shooting percentages mirrored the five degree weather outside, the Panthers dropped a 29-22 WASAREN League game to visiting Schuylerville Central School last Friday evening, December 18. The not so good news is that HFCS drops to 0-5 on the season and to 0-3 in league play. The good news is that Kerrie Brannigan’s ball club played tough to the very end.
Both teams had trouble finding the bottom of the net. The Black Horses took a 2-0 lead with 6:12 left in period one on an offensive rebound bucket. Hoosick Falls, having an off night at the offensive end of the court, finally got on the scoreboard with 3:37 remaining in the opening quarter when senior Jenna Priore nailed a three-point shot, which tied the score. HFCS closed to 5-4 on an Erin Shea free throw. Alexis Hagadorn beat the first quarter horn with an inside score as the Panthers trailed 7-6 at the first quarter break.
Schuylerville opened the second quarter with a 10-0 run to take a 17-6 lead before freshman Frankie Pearson knocked down a trey from the right side to get HFCS to 17-9 at the half.
A steal and layup got the Panthers to 17-11 to begin the third quarter before the Horses ran off the next five points to take a 22-11 advantage. But HFCS continued to play hard and battled back. Hoosick Falls ended the quarter with an 8-0 run to close to within 3 at 22-19 entering the final eight minutes.
After a Schuylerville score, Priore got HFCS to 24-22 with a right side three-pointer with 7:05 to play. But the Horses closed out a low scoring game with a 5-0 run to take a 29-22 lead with 1:40 to play. That’s the way the game ended.
Priore with 11 points, Jones with 4, Samantha Skott, 3, Pearson, 3, and Shea with 1 point scored for HFCS. The Hoosick Falls defense held Schuylerville without a double-digit scorer as the Horses top scorer had nine points.
Rebounding from Afar: Next up for HFCS is the Hoosier Holiday Tournament on Monday and Tuesday, December 28 and 29. The Panther girls varsity plays Berlin Central School at 4:30 pm on opening night with both varsity boys games to follow. The first varsity girls game is at 3 pm. Look for a close matchup for the Panther girls hoop team when they tangle with the Berlin girls.