Kellenberg vs Other Schools

HIGHLIGHTS

Kellenberg 53, Buffalo-Sacred Heart 44: Alyssa Boll went 4 of 4 from the free throw line in the final 1:27, and the Firebirds were 14-for-14 from the line in the fourth quarter and defeated Buffalo-Sacred Heart, 53-44, in the CHSAA state Class A final at Fordham’s Rose Hill Gym, last night. Kellenberg (14-7) advances to the state Federation tournament in Glens Falls on March 24-26. The Firebirds shot 26 of 31 (84 percent) from the line for the game. “We harp on the importance of free throws every practice,” Kellenberg coach Matt Kirk said. “That was quite a performance tonight.” Kellenberg, which led 34-31 after three quarters, scored the first six points of the fourth quarter and 13 of the first 18 points overall and took a seemingly comfortable 47-36 lead with 2:26 remaining. But a pair of Sacred Heart free throws and three pointers by Micaela Ryan (20 points) and Siobhan Ryan (16 points) brought Sacred Heart (16-8) within 47-44. Kellenberg called timeout. Boll – who had 11 points and played all 32 minutes – took over and hit two free throws with 1:27 left and at the 10.4-second mark to give Kellenberg a cushion, 51-44. Junior Anita Mikowski, who had team-highs of 12 points and 11 rebounds, added the final points on (of course) two foul shots with 6.7 seconds. The Firebirds were just 2 of 12 (17 percent) from the field in the fourth quarter, but forced 31 turnovers for the game. Kellenberg senior center Morgan Staab added 11 points, seven rebounds, three blocks and three steals. Senior Jessica Brower had eight points (including 6 of 6 free throws) and four rebounds in 27 minutes off the bench, a role that she took over for the betterment of the team midway through the season according to Kirk. Kellenberg is now looking for its first state Federation crown since 2009.