Spencerport roared out of the locker room with 21 first quarter points in their Section V Class A1 girls’ basketball playoff opener, but managed just 21 points the rest of the game in a 68-42 loss at Greece Athena.
Junior Joie Culkin hit the first four baskets and classmate Megan Zaharkin added a put-back to stake the Rangers to an early 11-0 lead before Athena scored the next ten points.
The Rangers closed the quarter with another offensive spurt as Culkin hit a foul line jumper, sophomore Shea Schleicher a three-pointer, Zaharkin a lay-up and freshman Lily DePalma beat the first quarter buzzer with a trey to help Spencerport open up a 21-12 lead.
Athena then converted to a press defense that resulted in multiple turnovers and some easy baskets as they outscored the Rangers 23-10 in the second to lead by seven points at the half.
The Trojans scored 14 more in the third quarter while limiting the Rangers to a field goal from DePalma, a put-back and free throws by sophomore Kaylee Wikander and Culkin.
Zaharkin accounted for four points in the final quarter with a pair of field goals while senior Nanako Kakishima added a free throw for the only Rangers offense.
Culkin led all Rangers scorers with ten points and added five rebounds while DePalma added eight points. Schleicher scored six with three assists and Wikander added three points. Zaharkin had three rebounds and sophomore Elizabeth Maloney had a pair of steals to go with three rebounds.
In addition to Kakishima, senior captain Danielle Mahoney competed her high school basketball career.
