by Warren Kozireski
Eighth-seeded Churchville-Chili’s girls basketball team managed just one field goal over the final 16 minutes and dropped a 53-24 decision to ninth-seed Victor in the first round of the Class AA2 Section V playoffs.
Jessica Hyde and Maggie Tabone hit field goals in the opening minutes to stake the Saints to an early lead, but the Saints trailed by six after the first quarter after managing just two more free throws.
They stormed out of the second quarter huddle and tied the game on free throws by Tabone and Brooke Ennis sandwiching a basket by Carly Zimmerman.
Zimmerman hit a runner and Nicole Giacolone scored on a fast break to bring the Saints to within three points of the lead at halftime, but the game quickly got away from them in the second half.
An 18-1 third quarter run turned into a 25-1 early in the fourth as the Blue Devils pushed their lead to as many as 27 points.
Abbie Tabone hit a free throw and a jumper for the only Saints field goal of the second half.
Maggie Tabone led the Saints with six points while Ennis and Zimmerman each finished with four points. Seniors Nicole Picardo, Zimmerman and Giacolone all played in their final high school basketball contests.
