Flight Sweeps Crown...Again

Flight’s Saturday sweep over Crown included a courageous Girl’s 41 – 38 hang-on-for-dear-life thriller. Without starters Shelby and Courtney, the Girls were also without vital cog Danielle for large chunks of the game, due to shots to the head and foul trouble.

When I arrived just as the JV Girls game began, there were no Flight fans in the stands, though Crown fans and cheerleaders filled almost half the stands. Eventually the Flight fans and Living Science students equaled the Crown numbers, but despite trailing most of the afternoon and evening, the Crown fans continued to holler. Again several Flight / Living Science alumni and staff returned. Meg called Mrs. Delenick “her old English teacher.”

Boys….14…32…47…71
Crown…16…23…45…61

Though they fell behind by four late in the third quarter, the Varsity Boys ran off ten straight points in the fourth quarter, and finished with a ten-point 71-61 win. The 10-0 run blossomed into a 17-5 run, and Flight led by as many as 15 as Coach Hoffer emptied the bench.

Travis scored ten of his game-high 25 in the fourth, and Josiah seven of his 17. DJ was next with six points, but his night was marred by a controversial technical foul, called by an out-of-position referee. By most accounts (including the fouled Crown player), DJ did nothing worse than committing a hard foul. The ref had been blocked by two players, and may have based his call on what he saw from a bad angle. DJ may have to miss Thursday’s tourney play-in game.

In the first half Coach Hoffer gave many players court time. Flight fell behind by four, then went on a 20-7 run to end the half. David had two athletic tip-ins for baskets, and Josiah had several hard drives to the basket.

Travis…25 pt, 7 RB, 7 steals
Josiah…17 pt, 5 RB, 2 assists, 2 steals, block
DJ…..6 pt, assist, steal
Chris…5 pt, 3 assists
Q……5 pt, steal
David…4 pt, 6 RB, steal
Matthew…4 pt, 3 RB
Gerald…5 RB, steal, 4 blocks
Phillip…steal

There were several moments in the Varsity Girls game where the outlook was bleak. Flight had little trouble scoring in the first half, racking up 21 first quarter points before scoring the last twelve points in the second quarter. In the first half Kara scored 15, Kathleen had ten, and Danielle eight.

But Flight only managed one foul shot in the third quarter. That tall Crown girl was scoring at will, she even blocked one of Kara’s shots. Even when Danielle was in the game, the Flight third-quarter offense was stagnant. Down 24-33 at the half, Crown led 38-17 with 2:07 left in the game…and had the momentum.

With the game on the line, Audrey passed inside to Kara for the go-ahead basket and foul. Sitting next to me, Mr. Hurt quipped as Kara toed the line for the pressure foul shot “If you wear shoes like that, you gotta make your foul shots.” Kara sank it to make it a 2-point game with 1:12 left, then added another free throw with seven seconds remaining.

The Girls had beaten Crown without 2-1/2 of their starters. Kara had rebounded from a so-so JV game to post a double-double. Kathleen, Audrey, Katelyn, and the two Hannahs fought off the tough defense and saved many an errant pass to hang on for the win.

Girls……21…33…34…41
Crown…16…21…28…38

Kara…22 pt, 11 RB, 2 assists, 5 steals, block
Kathleen…11 pt, 2 RB, assist, 2 steals
Danielle…8 pt, 4 RB, 4 assists, 3 steals
Audrey…RB, 4 assists, 5 steals
Hanna N…4 RB, block
Katelyn…2 RB

Perhaps the JV Boys were hung over from their late Friday night game. DJ scored Flight’s first points with only 1:50 left in the first quarter. That woke them up a bit: Connor made a three-point play, and as the quarter ended Jonathan B stole the ball and fed Kevin for a buzzer-beater.

Flight outscored Crown 10-9 in quarter two, then reeled off 14 straight in the third to take a twelve point lead. The lead kept extending to as many as 19 late in the game. Though the play was hard, all eleven Flight players got lots of playing time.

JV Boys…7…17…29…41
Crown…..5….14…18…24

Connor…19 pt, 2 RB, 3 assists, 2 steals (6-6 from line)
DJ………11 pt, 5 RB, assist
Kevin…4 pt, 7 RB
Isaac….3 pt, 4 RB, steal
Josh…..2 pt, RB, 2 steals
Jonathan B…2 pt, 2 RB, 2 steals
Will……2 RB, steal
Jake……2 RB
Joel……RB, steal
Joe……RB
Jonathan K…RB

The JV Girls also won a rugged game by a wide margin. The lead grew throughout the game, to as many as 19 points. Play was physical and emotional, particularly by the Crown girls.

The Flight girls kept their cool, however. Danielle posted a double-double. Kara scored ten and Kathleen four. Hannah only scored one basket, but opened up the offense by taking more shots.

JV Girls…11…17…25…33
Crown……2…..4…10…19

Danielle…15 pt, 10 RB, assist, 5 steals, 2 blocks
Kara……10 pt, 5 RB, 2 assists, 4 steals
Kathleen…4 pt, 4 RB
Hannah Mac…2 pt, RB, 2 steals
Victoria……1 pt, 4 RB, assist, 2 steals
Audrey……1 pt, 3 RB, assist, 2 steals