Maisto shoots BC to 5th-place finish

Jordan Maisto is only a sophomore and is perhaps generously listed on the roster at 5-foot-3, but she came up big for Burlington Central.

The Rockets' point guard made 4 of 5 free throws in the final 30 seconds as the Rockets held off Marengo for fifth place in the Central Thanksgiving Classic girls basketball tournament Wednesday.

Maisto and Melanie Laird scored 15 points apiece to lead the Rockets. Maisto was voted to the all-tournament team, along with Cory Bazany, who added 10 points and 7 rebounds for Central.

Maisto made 8 of 9 free throws for the game, including 6 of 7 in the final period, while the rest of the Rockets made only 8 of 24.

Maisto made 1 of 2 free throws after Marengo called a timeout it didn't have with 4 seconds left. That free throw made it a two-possession game at 48-44.

"I thought tonight we came together as a team," said Central coach Darlene Guyett. "We got down, we got the lead, and we maintained it down the stretch when we needed to."

Central (4-2) led 27-21 with time running down in the first half, but the Indians scored 7 quick points to take a 1-point halftime advantage.

Marengo continued the run by scoring 2 quick baskets to open the second half. However, the Rockets held Marengo scoreless for the rest of the quarter while retaking the lead at 35-32.

"We made really good passes, and we made the stops when we had to," said Laird, who is happy just to be back on the court after missing last year with an injury.

Laird also had 5 rebounds and 4 blocks before fouling out with 8 seconds left.

Brianna Conran added 6 points for Central.

Marissa Haskins led Marengo with 15 points.

Burlington led 18-16 after a fast-paced first quarter, but then the game's pace slowed, and the teams just about doubled that score through 3 quarters.

The Rockets shot 58 percent from the field in the first half, and finished at 47 percent for the game.