By Richard Carrier
Contributing Writer

Heading into last Wednesday’s Virginia Commonwealth Conference home game against Kenston Forest, it appeared that Blessed Sacrament Huguenot’s girls basketball squad had rounded into a well-balanced unit.

In two victories against excellent competition at the Covenant Christmas Tournament, first Geena Landon (20 points)and then Katie Clarke (22 points) rose to the top of their offensive potential.
Senior Austin Taylor snared the tournament’s Most Valuable Player Award, then turned on her own offense (23 points) against the Lady Kavaliers.

But ultimately it was crunch-time miscues and missed opportunities by all three which helped Kenston Forest escape with a 58-55 win.

Led by an aggressive Taylor and a 22-9 first quarter, the Lady Knights charged out to a 15-point lead and closed out the first half ahead 29-17.

But the Lady Kavaliers used the first minute of the third period to score on three consecutive run-outs by Hannah Hayes and Eva Watson, serving notice that things had changed.

According to BSH coach Kristy Henderson, that change came in the form of the Lady Knights’ defense – or lack thereof.

“We lacked defensive intensity in the second half. They took advantage and just kept coming at us,” Henderson said.

Taylor’s 14 first-half point’s were earned as a result of hard drives to the basket and fast breaks, but that attack fizzled in the second half.

“Our game-plan was to attack the rim,” Henderson said. “But in the second half, even when we had two-on-one’s and three-on-two’s, we made the wrong pass or took the wrong shot. Our shot selection was very poor.”

No grass grew under the Lady Kavaliers sneakers as they pressured the BSH defense and cut the lead to six with four minutes gone in the third stanza. With just under three minutes remaining, Clarke picked up her fourth foul, went to the bench for an extended stay and took the Knights only effective post presence with her.

The Kavaliers’ Watson immediately took advantage and knocked down a foul-line jumper to close the gap to four.

But Corinne Birriel, the evening’s pleasant surprise for BSH, calmly knocked down two free throws and converted a pass from Taylor to make it 41-34. Landon arched in a three and the Lady Knights had what appeared to be a comfortable 44-36 lead.

Kenston Forest’s Savannah Barker opened the final period with a corner three, but Landon answered with a runner in the lane. The Kavaliers’ Amber Gibson found the range from beyond the arc and Dee Gunn added a foul shot to quickly slash the BSH lead to three with 4:55 remaining.

Clarke came back into the game and immediately scored on a wild drive down the lane, then Landon made one of three free throws to extend the lead to 50-43.

Watson fired in a long two-pointer and Gibson a short jumper to quickly cut four off of the lead. Taylor made one of two free throws before Barker curled to the rim on an inbounds play and scored to draw Kenston Forest within two at 51-49.

Taylor’s two free throws made it a four-point game with 1:23 left, but Gunn’s hard drive resulted in a three-point play and the Lady Kavaliers cut their deficit to a single point.

With 59 seconds left, Taylor brought the ball up the court and committed the first critical turnover with a double-dribble.

Amanda Hawthorne took advantage by hitting a shot from the corner to give the Lady Kavaliers their first lead with 37 seconds left.

Landon’s up-court pass went directly to Barker for another critical turnover and a missed scoring opportunity.

But Kenston Forest could not convert and Taylor went hard to the rim again, drawing foul shots. She barely rippled the net on both to put her team back in the lead at 55-54.

On Kenston Forest’s ensuing possession, Watson found a hole in the Knights’ perimeter defense and drove hard down the lane. Clarke fouled out and Watson nailed both free throws to put KF back in the lead by one with 18 seconds remaining.

After a timeout, Taylor got the call and tried to penetrate. Her short shot missed, but Landon powered up for the offensive rebound and drew a foul.

With just seven seconds on the clock, Landon needed to make one for a tie and two to give BSH the lead. Both shots rimmed out.

Barker escaped the Knights attempt to foul and scored the final points on a runner.

Birriel contributed 10 points for BSH, while Landon and Clarke added nine apiece.

Despite missing almost a full quarter, Clarke pulled down 15 rebounds. Kimberly Robben added 10.