Tired Rockets fall to Auburn

Burlington Central girls basketball coach Wade Maisto didn't want to make excuses Wednesday night, but a key injury and fatigue were very apparent.

Without starting point guard Jordan Maisto to help slow the game down and playing an overtime game the night before, the Rockets saw a 2-point deficit with 10 minutes remaining turn into a 60-42 loss to Rockford Auburn in the third-place game of the Central Thanksgiving Classic.

"In the first half we were fine," coach Maisto said. "Auburn had the fresher team and by the time we got to the end of the third quarter we were spent."

A three-point play from Molly Turk with 1:53 remaining in the third quarter helped Central (3-3) get within 2, 38-36. However, the Rockets managed only 2 field goals, both from Taylor Colby, and 2 free throws the rest of the game as the rested and quicker Knights ran away.

Rockford Auburn, which did not play Tuesday, pressured Central all game and rotated 10, 11 players throughout the game. Central, which was forced to go into overtime Tuesday to beat Belvidere North, had trouble holding on to the ball without Jordan Maisto, who played Tuesday but her wrist was a little more sore Wednesday, forcing her to sit.

The Rockets turned the ball over on three of their first four possessions as the Knights opened an 8-3 lead. Turk came off the bench with three baskets to spark a 10-0 run to give Central a 15-8. That lead went away thanks to four consecutive turnovers to open the second quarter. Auburn went on a 15-2 run to take a 23-17 lead and led 28-23 at halftime.

The Rockets committed 15 turnovers in the first half and 29 in the game. They also only went 3-of-17, all in the second half, from the free-throw line.

"Usually the pressure (Auburn played) isn't that big of a deal," coach Maisto said. "But it was a good thing for us to go against that kind of pressure without (Jordan Maisto) being there to see what how they could do."

Apha Amisi led the Knights with 21 points, including 9 in the fourth quarter. Tieiny Austin added 13 points and 12 rebounds.

Turk led the Rockets with 18 points. Colby finished with 12. Alli Settanni had 8 points and 9 rebounds.