The Maryvale Lions hung tough with the John Carroll Patriots, Tuesday night, in the quarterfinals of the IAAM B Conference tournament, but the Pats late scoring runs would put them clear ahead of their opponents and into the semis, 60-42.
“I was really pleased with how we played on our offensive end,” Patriot coach Mike Blizzard said of his players. “I thought we executed our offensive well, passed the ball, made our shots and rebounded well.”
The Patriots did all of that and more in the fourth quarter, going on a 14-point run in the fourth and allowing just six Maryvale-points after a scoreless first two minutes of the final quarter.
Patriot Emily Soller went on her own scoring tangent in the quarter, lacing seven points in the final three minutes of the game, matching all of her prior points in the game for her 14-point finish.
“To finish the win, we just had to keep pushing the ball, scoring points, contesting their shots from the three point line and playing our own defense,” explained Soller.
The Lions matched the Pats in the third quarter, each team scoring 11 points, but it was a 10-point lead at the half which would help John Carroll survive the tied third and emerge from the fourth quarter with the advancing victory.
Junior guard Maria Edwards dropped two three-pointers in a 16-point first quarter for the Pats, alongside Soller’s five points, and sophomore forward Miranda Ripken led the Pats by lacing eight points in the team’s 19-point second quarter.
Ripken, alongside Soller, led the team in scoring with 14-point nights.
“We played as hard as we could and I think we were all a little anxious before the game,” Ripken said. “That energy channeled in to how we played at the beginning and how we closed-out the game.”
Maryvale was led by junior Meghan Hildreth, hitting three three-pointers in her 14-point performance, while senior Carolyn Hildreth rang in 10 points to sophomore Lauren Eckholm’s eight.
John Carroll now advances to the semifinal round of the IAAM B Conference tournament, just two wins away from a conference championship.
“We have to get back on the practice floor and work on closing out shooters and get back to help defense,” Blizzard said. “Those were some of the things I think we misfired a little bit.
“I am happy with the win, though I never show it. But next game we will be ready and come out with intensity for all 32 minutes.”
John Carroll 60, Maryvale Prep 42
JC 16 19 11 14 — 60
MP 15 10 11 6 — 42
