St. Anthony's Girls Basketball Beats OLMA, 53-20

The girls basketball team's path towards an undefeated league season is still alive. And by the looks of things, it will take a lot to knock them off.

The Friars topped Our Lady of Mercy, 53-20, on Tuesday evening in a Nassau-Suffolk CHSAA game at in Syosset. Symone Kelly led St Anthony’s with 10 points, while Louise Lehmuller paced the Mustangs with seven. 

The Friars improve to 9-0 with the win, good for first place in the CHSAA. Mercy falls to 3-7.

What was a close game in the opening minutes quickly turned into a blowout before halftime. St. Anthony’s Rebecca Musgrove’s buzzer-beating runner gave the Friars a 23-10 lead at the end of the first quarter, one that they would only expand upon in the second.

St Anthony’s scored the final 19 points of the second quarter, opening up a 42-13 advantage as halftime approached. The Friars frustrated OLMA with constant pressure in the back court. Multiple Mustang turnovers led to easy baskets for the visitors. Before hitting a buzzer beater at the end of the first quarter, Musgrove laid in an uncontested lay-up off a steal.

“I think we were able to get out in transition,” said St. Anthony’s coach Ken Parham. “We were able to score some quick baskets, and that helped us out a lot.”

Although the game was decided by halftime, the second half turned into a defensive battle between players that don’t often see major minutes. Mercy allowed only 11 points in the second half, turning in a valiant effort while playing out the final 16 minutes.

Hero: Kelly was dominant in the low post and Mercy didn’t have anyone who could match up with her 6’1 frame. She scored eight of her 10 points in the first half. Half of those eight points came during the 19-0 run to end the first half.

Turning Point: After Lehmuller hit a three to cut the lead to 10 early in the second quarter, St. Anthony’s turned on the jets. Four consecutive points by Kelly began the 19-0 run that would end any Mustang upset hopes. Jennifer Sixsmith added six of her own during the run.

Quotable: “The kids on my second string are pretty good,” Parham said of the Friars second half. “They did a good job at running the delay of game that we have and they did a good job of executing plays down the stretch.”     

Bottom Line: St. Anthony’s is the type of team that Mercy aspires to be. They execute the press very well and score baskets when they are needed most. OLMA was unable to respond after being blitzed in the back court in the second quarter. Mercy is a young team that will have these kinds of nights. The hope is that they learn from it.

Key Stat: Nine players scored for St. Anthony’s.

Who’s Next: St. Anthony’s vs Holy Trinity  - Friday, 5:45 p.m. Our Lady of Mercy @ Kellenberg – Friday, 6:45 p.m.

Box Score

Team…….........…..1…..2…..3…..4 -- F

St. Anthony’s.....23...19…..7.....4 -- 53

OLMA……..........10…..3…..2.....5 -- 20

SA: Kelly 4-2-10, Sixsmith 4-0-8, Maurer 3-0-7, Williams 2-3-7, J. Impellizeri 3-0-6, M. Impellizeri 2-0-4 Musgrove 2-0-4, White 2-0-4, Parham 1-0-3. Totals: 23-5-53. OLMA: Lehmuller 3-0-7, Pia 1-0-3, O. Walsh 1-0-3, Wildes 1-1-3, Morra 1-0-2, A. Walsh 1-0-2. Totals: 8-1-20. Three Pointers -- SA: Maurer, Parham. OLMA: Lehmuller, Pia, O. Walsh

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