Career Hammers Jonathan Law Girls

It is never easy to face a team as talented as Career Magnet of New Haven in only the second game of the season. Career came to Friday night and came away with a blowout 69-32 victory in a Southern Connecticut Conference interdivision girls basketball matchup. The Lady Panthers improved to 2-0 while the Golden Eagles fall to 0-2.

Jonathan Law trailed 13-10 at the end of one quarter and was executing offensively with crisp passing and strong guard play as well as limiting Career's easy inside scoring opportunities.

Law Junior guard Phoebe French scored 9 first half points including 5 in the first quarter. After that hot start, turnovers hampered her game, especially in the second and third quarters.

The second quarter is when everything started to unravel for Jonathan Law. The Golden Eagles were outscored 19-6 and turnovers were a major factor. Career scored 6 points in the last 46 seconds before the half, including 4 inside points by star Bria Moore, and took control of the game. Moore scored 11 first half points and  the Panthers took a 32-16 into the mid-game break.

"Our goal was to keep it within 10 points," Law head coach Heather Saucier Said. "In the first quarter we did it. In the second we learned that with 46 seconds left you should eat the clock. They scored 6 points in 46 seconds (right before half). Instead of (Career) being a little scared if it was a 10 point game they came out for the second half with all the confidence in the world and a 16 point lead."

After the half Career went on a 13-0 run and shot ahead 45-16. Junior Jackie Kochiss then hit a three for the only Golden Eagle points of the third quarter. Law was outscored 27-3 in the third, putting the game out of reach (59-19). Career's Moore scored 12 third-quarter points and finished with 23 points to lead all scorers.

"Bria has been struggling a little bit with her confidence in her outside shots so we put her in a post where she could get some easy baskets and free throws, gain more confidence and get her stroke going," Career head coach Kevin Walton Said. "She is our leader and the other girls feed off her."

"Intensity on the defensive end and patience on offense were the keys for us [second half]," Walton said. "Our defense is our bread and butter.  I told my team defensively,  don't try to shoot every gap and don't try for every steal and keep your man in front of you and we'll see who makes the first mistake. Heather always has her girls ready and pumped up. I told my girls to also be patient defensively. Trinity Barnes gets her hand on a lot of balls.  We like to get out and run when we can. We have the athletes. We were not going to force it. We take what we can and we have a pretty good half court game."

"We knew Career's plan was to get the ball inside and we had our help there in the first quarter. When we got tired we started hitting [fouling]. Career was going to fire the ball up and get the offensive board and put it in," Saucier said. "If they got it into the post they were going to drop step and kill us down low. Marissa Bacon fought hard but she fouled out and there was nobody inside."

Career pulled its starters and cleared its bench in the fourth quarter.

"The kids have to learn and this is where you learn," Saucier said."This was not one of our planned wins this season."

Kim Legen scored 8 points in the fourth quarter and finished with 11 points.

Legen played point guard in the opening game against Sacred Heart Academy but played the shooting guard/small forward position against the Lady Panthers to take advantage of her scoring ability. Sophomore Catie Miller saw the majority of time at the point and faced constant pressure as she brought the ball up the floor and tried to break the press. Junior Nya Ramos, who is expected to be the regular point guard, is still on the sidelines but could return as early as next Friday from a shoulder injury.

"We need our point guard back. We had 20 something turnovers," Saucier said. "I think Mya's return will give us more depth and fewer turnovers. We will be able to play eight players. Right now we have a lot of panic turnovers. We need to use the bounce pass more."

Saucier added, "If  French and Legen play well at the same time we will be in good shape. Both are really decent basketball players that should be playing the two and three positions on the court but we have an injury. They end up having to help share point responsibilities. "

Senior forward Amanda Keator caught head coach Heather Saucier's eye with her work on the boards grabbing 9 rebounds including 5 offensive caroms.

"My kids went down fighting again. If we keep fighting then we should get the 13 wins we want. We have Amity and Sheehan next week and we need both of these games," Saucier said. "It is back to practice tomorrow morning to work hard and fix some of our mistakes."

The Golden Eagles will play at Amity High School Tuesday at 7 p.m. and at Sheehan of Wallingford Friday at 7 p.m.