Stratford Star

Lady Bulldogs fall to Masuk (girls hoop)

The Bunnell High girls basketball team ran into a buzzsaw disguised as Masuk Panthers when the Lady Bulldogs lost a 65-52 decision in South-West Conference play in Monroe on Tuesday night.

Bunnell is 9-7.

“They were more physical early, and you can’t give a team like that so many second-chance points,” Bunnell coach Marvin Tyson said. “They must have had 20 points on putbacks.”

Masuk (8-8) scored nine points on extended possessions to take a 15-6 lead after one period.

“We came out with a press early to create some momentum,” Masuk coach Ann Odoy said. “We wanted to start a fire.”

Masuk’s Lauren Maile had a steal on Bunnell’s first trip down court, and at the other end nailed a jumper from the elbow off an assist from Tori Schiebe.

The Panthers’ 2-2-1 press and ballhawking in the half-court defense forced 11 straight empty Bunnell possessions.

The Lady Bulldogs’ Lauryn Kostopoulos ended the skein with a 3-pointer at 2:59, but Masuk added five more points to its 8-3 lead.

The first two came on a pair of Michelle Wu free throws.

The next basket came on sheer willpower.

After Bunnell’s Sha’quira Palmer, a triple-double threat everytime she takes the floor, blocked a shot, Masuk kept hitting the boards and winning every scramble for a loose ball.

A possession that began with 2:22 remaining in the opening period, ended with Maile’s trey off an assist from Diana Antenucci at 1:22.

In between, Masuk had seven tries at the basket.

Palmer and Kostopoulous tried to lead Bunnell back, but it was still 15-6 after one.

Masuk added six more second-chance points in the second quarter, with sophomore Danielle Adams getting inside for one bucket and spinning to her left to drop in another.

After an 0-for-9 start from the floor, Bunnell made 4-of-5 field-goal tries.

Erin Koletar knocked down a jumper from the wing off an assist from Kelly Benson, and Jess Bogdwicz’ great pass found Kostopoulos open.

Bunnell had scored on two straight possessions for the first time in the game.

After a Wu steal and basket, Bogdwicz made two free throws and Koletar found Shannon Hofmiller behind the defense for a layup.

Bunnell hopes of getting within single digits were thwarted, and Masuk took a 28-17 lead into the half.

Schiebe (23 points) opened the third quarter with determination, scoring twice on putbacks.

Palmer went to the floor hard on a rebound try, and left the game to a back injury that required an ice pack with no structural damage.

Masuk scored on 7-of-8 trips to increase its lead to 48-29.

Without Palmer, the Lady Bulldogs went to the outside game of Kostopoulous (21 points) and the dribble-drive talents of Bogdwicz and Koletar to try and rally.

Kostopolous came off a Benson screen, took a pass from Bogdwicz, and buried a trey.

Rachel Mudre had a steal and Kostopoulos made five straight free throws on two trips to make it 55-43 with 5:52 remaining.

Koletar and Bogdwicz forced turnovers, but Bunnell came up empty, as two Kostopolous tries from long range rattled out.

They kept working.

Koletar forced a five-second violation and Mudre’s steal led to an acrobatic hoop by the freshman. It was 55-45.

Bogdwicz had two straight assists to Holmiller, with the freshman showing her skills in the post with a pair of baskets, before Masuk made its free throws late to secure its postseason bid.

“Not having an All-League player like Sha’quira hurt us,” Tyson said. “We shot free throws well late, and a couple of shots wouldn’t fall. I’m happy with our effort down the stretch.”