JOHNSTOWN – The Schenectady Royals and the Lady Raiders put a lot of points on the board Tuesday evening. Each team tallied 53 points in the second half, but the game belonged to the Raiders. The final score was 99-88.
The visiting Blue & Gold brought a 4-2 record to the Raiders Den, and they played well. The Lady Raiders, however, played a bit better.
Photo: Kassandra Flowers drives for the final basket of the first half
The first half saw each team have success in spurts. Veronica Chea got the party started with a field goal, and moments later she sank another. Kassandra Flowers treated the fans to two threes and an FG in the paint, and FM led 13-2.
Schenectady regrouped and began their royal resurgence. Soon FM's lead was a lone point, at 15-14, and then the Royals stole the ball and took the lead. 26-25 Schenectady.
Erica Redwood converted a three-point play for FM, but SCCC matched the effort. At the midway point of the first half the score was 21-21.
High-energy player Kendra Jordan entered the game. Soon she scored in the paint, and again the score was knotted, this time at 27-27.
Monae Abrams has been a force for the Raiders. Abrams made a great baseline drive and put FM in the lead at 31-29.
Photo: Monae Abrams scores with a great baseline drive
Abrams scored again with a nice spin move. Flowers drained her third three of the half. FM led by five.
Jordan dashed in for a layup (see photo at bottom of page). Flowers drove to the hoop for the final tally of the 20 minutes. The Lady Raiders led 42-35 at the break.
Sherice Gayle and Abrams scored to open the second stanza, but the Royals stayed close. FM went into a brief cold spell, and led by just four, at 46-42.
Gayle garnered a three-point play, Chea and Abrams tallied, and FM's lead was back to 10 points: 53-43. But just when it looked as if FM might put the game away, the Royals charged back into the fray. With 10:30 to play, the score was FM 63-Schenectady 62.
Flowers continued her high-voltage performance. She drove for two, then sank two FTs. 68-64, FM. She added another trey from the right-center area of the arc.
Katrina Garrett stole the ball and dashed in for a layup. 78-67 FM.
The Royals played well, but FM held onto their lead. In the final minute of play Stephanie Rice blocked a shot and sank a free throw. Fittingly, the final points were scored by Flowers with her fifth three of the night. She then had the ball as the last seconds ticked down. Flowers could have tried to take the team to the century mark, but instead did the more sporting thing and simply dribbled until the final horn sounded.
Head Coach Kevin Jones' team now owns a 6-2 season mark (6-1 in Division III play). They are 2-0 in conference play. The team has two more games this semester and both are on the road. FM will travel to SUNY Delhi for a conference game this Saturday, December 7, and then to Canandaigua for a non-conference tilt with Finger Lakes CC on the 14th.
C.J. Bonny, website writer
Scoring:
SCCC: Austin 14, Creghton 16, Pucci 20, Tilapaugh 5, Hall 16, Coons 12, A. Fortner 5; Total 88
FM: Jordan 4, Chea 13, Garrett 5, Flowers 28, Rice 7, Abrams 15, Wetsky 2, Erica Redwood 8, Gayle 17; Total 99
Records: FM 6-2, SCCC 4-3
Photo: Kendra Jordan's layup gives FM a 38-31 lead
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