Climax-Scotts’ girls basketball team benefitted from a home crowd and the conspicuous absence of Mendon’s offensive leader Friday.
And instead of trying to topple the 10th-ranked Hornets in overtime, Climax-Scotts’ Taylor Piper scored the game-winning basket on a putback with a second to play to complete the 34-32 upset.
Grace Leighton goes after a loose ball.
(Photo by Nicci Plummer)
It was the first pothole Mendon hit this season, dropping to 10-1 overall.
“We needed to hit our free throws in the fourth quarter,” said Mendon coach Leasa Griffith of her squad’s 12-of-25 effort from the stripe. “I thought it was a hard fought game throughout at both ends of the floor. We need to learn from it and get ready for the next game.”
The Hornets also need senior Brooke Howard’s ankle to heal as quickly as possible. The team’s leading scorer was injured in Thursday’s win over New Buffalo and was diagnosed with a second- to third-degree sprain. Griffith said Howard is to sit out at least a week, possibly two, before rejoining her teammates for the second half of the season.
Mendon had a 21-16 halftime lead before Climax-Scotts trimmed the deficit by two in the third quarter and outscored the Hornets 11-6 in the fourth.
Grace Leighton led Mendon with 12 points, adding three rebounds and three assists. Jenna Griffith scored nine points, grabbed four rebounds and notched four assists, Jackie Friel finished with four points and three rebounds, Cierra Furlong posted four points, two rebounds and two steals, and Alexis Russell registered three points and four boards. Samantha Griffith added four boards.
The Panthers, led by Taylor’s 10 points, improved to 6-5 this year.