Cary-Grove dumps Carmel for 3rd straight win
The Cary-Grove girls basketball team has certainly endured its share of lopsided losses, key injuries and adversity throughout most of the 2015-2016 season.
That trend seems to be changing in a positive direction.
Registering its third straight win, Cary-Grove held Carmel Catholic without a basket for the first 14 minutes of the second half and was able to post a 42-39 nonconference win in Cary Thursday night.
"The kids have really stayed positive and kept working hard," said Cary-Grove coach Rod Saffert. "During the last couple of weeks we have had three and four-day stretches without a game. With such a young team we have had time to get a lot of shooting in at practice. Our young pups are starting to play well."
Carmel, playing in its third game in 3 days, was the aggressor early on. Spearheaded by three 3-pointers from Alexa Amato the Corsairs (8-14) jumped out to a 16-4 lead with 1:25 left in the quarter.
The Trojans didn't panic and scored the last 6 points and trailed only by 16-10 after 8 minutes. Olivia Miller, Nicollete Richardi and Jen Pilut each had baskets as Cary-Grove (7-16) sliced into the Corsairs' lead.
Carmel, led by 14 points from Amato including four 3-pointers, led by 6, 27-21, at intermission.
The Trojans, with stifling defense, seized control of the game in the third quarter. Holding Carmel without a basket, the Trojans outscored the Corsairs 12-2 and led 33-29 after 24 minutes of play.
The Trojans' biggest lead was 11, 41-30, after a layup by Katie Demert with 2:55 remaining.
Carmel didn't give up and scored its first basket of the half on a 3 by Amato with 2 minutes left to make the score 40-36. A 3 by Danielle Delozier pulled Carmel to within 40-39 with 38 seconds left.
Two free throws by Demert with 8 seconds remaining sealed the win for the Trojans.
"We played two tough games this week against Benet and Stevenson who are very good teams," said Carmel coach Kelly Perz. "We got off to a great start but got tired."
Maddie Gorz, with two 3s, led Cary-Grove with 10 points. Miller and Pilut added 9 apiece for the winners.
"We are starting to connect as a team," said Miller. "The team chemistry is much better the last couple weeks and we are really playing tough defense."
Amato, with five 3s, paced Carmel with 17 points.