Northern Tier Sports ReportELMIRA, N.Y. — Towanda used a big third quarter run to pull away from Ithaca, 68-42, during regional bracket girls’ basketball hoops action at the Josh Palmer Fund Saturday.
“Today was another result of our depth,” said Towanda coach Rob Gentile. “Every kid on our roster contributed on both ends of the floor. I'm not sure our defensive pressure was at a level we are capable of, but it was good enough to create the turnovers and steals we needed to be successful today. We are about to get into the "meat" of our schedule, and it is going to have to be significantly better in the next few weeks if we want to continue winning basketball games.”
The Knights led 17-7 after one, but Ithaca rallied in the second, cutting it to 29-20 at the half. A 27-point third quarter in Towanda’s favor was too much for Ithaca to overcome.
“Again, I was really proud of our young guys and their contributions,” Gentile said. “Sometimes what they do doesn't get a ton of recognition but today in a key part of the game they put a run on Ithaca that really blew the game wide open. Ali Hollett was phenomenal from behind the arc, hitting five threes on just seven attempts, and her and Taylor Aquilio went on a 9-0 run by themselves hitting three threes in a matter of about 40 seconds to really put the game away midway through the third quarter.”
Brynn Woodruff had 18 points, and six boards, to lead the Knights, while Hollett had the 15 points, hitting a 3-ball in every quarter.
Mya Maynard added eight points, 11 boards, and two steals, as Aquilio finished with seven points, and seven rebounds.
Payton Perry scored six points, with Karis Flynn, and Mary-Kate Eberlin scoring four points, and nabbing three steals each.
Kennedy Heyer had three points, Reese Sullivan notched two points, as Maris Cobb had one point, and four boards.
Samantha O’Connor netted 17 points to lead Ithaca.
“We play a lot of kids a lot of minutes and it's hard to keep everyone happy, but they understand the importance of what we are trying to do as a team, and the effect that it sometimes has on our opponents,” said Gentile. “Today was another great example of just that!”
Seven different Knights scored in the opening quarter as they took a 10-point lead, led by four from Woodruff, while Heyer, and Hollett each hit a 3-pointer.
O’Connor rallied Ithaca in the second behind her seven point effort to cut it to a nine point game. Maynard led Towanda with six points.
Then came their 27-11 run in the third as Woodruff scored 13 of her 18 in the quarter, while Aquilio hit a pair of 3-pointers.
They out scored Ithaca 12-11 in the fourth behind a pair of Hollett 3-balls.
Towanda will take on Johnson City in the title game at 3:15 on Tuesday.
