Tigers too much for FH
Toolbox
By Dennis Jensen Staff Writer - Published: December 9, 2009
FAIR HAVEN — Middlebury's size, quickness and defense was too much for Fair Haven as the Tigers defeated the Slaters 58-40 in a girls nonleague basketball game on Tuesday.
Katie Ritter led the 1-1 Tigers with 20 points while Nicole Brown had 16 points and eight rebounds, and Jordan Smith eight points.
The 1-1 Slaters, who hit just one field goal in the first quarter and two in the third, were cold all night. Lacking an inside game, they could not hit their outside shots and were trailing by as much as 17 points in the third period.
Devyn Reed scored 12 points, Kala MacKenzie eight points and Emily McIntyre (five rebounds) and Cheyenne Sheldon each scored six.
Fair Haven led only once, after MacKenzie scored two free throws to give her team a 4-2 lead. Turnovers proved costly for Fair Haven, particularly in the first period, when the Slaters coughed the ball up eight times.
Smith hit a trey, Ritter knocked down a 17-footer and Tiffany Audet (seven points) added a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give Middlebury a commanding 16-7 lead after one.
The Slaters picked up their game in the second period, cutting Middlebury's lead to 23-16 at the half.
After trailing 29-18 midway through the third, Fair Haven cut the Tigers lead back to seven — 29-22 — after Valerie Sawin scored on a layup and Reed hit two free throws.
Then the Tigers went on an 11-0 run and put the game away.
Ritter meshed a 3-pointer from the top and scored on a layup off her own steal, was fouled and made the three-point play. Brown scored inside off a turnover and hit another inside shot, and Chrissy Ritter made a free throw to make it 40-22.
Middlebury held a 40-23 lead after three periods.
Audet gave Middlebury its biggest lead of the night after she knocked down a 3-pointer to make the score 43-23 at the start of the fourth quarter.
The Tigers also took advantage at the foul line, hitting 12 of 19 free throws. The Slaters converted 14 of 21 free throws.
Fair Haven turned the ball over 21 times, while Middlebury had 19 turnovers.
dennis.jensen@rutlandherald.com
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