Fords 22-4 run, ends Indians’ District One bid, season

Haverford size and experience too much for young Unionville squad 

By Dave Conard Sports Editor, UnionvilleTimes.com

Indians guard sophomore Allison Lewis had a game high 18 points, but would gladly trade them in for a win.

HAVERTOWN—If you would have told Unionville head coach Tony Zambino prior to the Indians PIAA District One opening round game that his squad would allow the high scoring Fords and sniper Jackie Gantz, who single handedly accounted for 47 three point field goals through out the season, to convert just 1 –of –13 from beyond the arc, Zambino would probably thought he would be preparing this week for his second round opponent.

That being said, containing the bombs away, tre–happy offense of Haverford was the one shred of good news for the Indians as they fell short by a count of 51-37 concluding the 2011-12 campaign.

In a game where Haverford was more patient, selective in their shots and overall much more physical that the younger Indians, it would have been advantageous to have their line up intact.

Injuries and health issues are always part of any season, but Unionville had to feel like a gunslinger going into a showdown while missing some ammunition as two of their biggest weapons had to watch from the bench in the persons of Emily Winn, who is battling the effects of a concussion and Bella Gallo due to illness.

“I thought we showed a lot of heart early on,” said Zambino. “It’s difficult when two of your leading scorers are out, but that’s part of any sport. Our shot selection in the second period was not great and again it is how we have played this season at time we have those lulls that have hurt us.”

On Friday, the “lull” that has plagued Unionville this season was more like a hibernation as following a clutch three pointer and a drive to the lane conversion by Sydney Hughes with 3:56 remaining in the second period cutting the Haverford lead to 16-14 was the last time Hughes would make the scoring sheet.

“She (Hughes) was killing us early on,” said Haverford senior Jackie Gantz. “We knew that number 14 (Allison Lewis) would get her points and the plan was to limit her but 13 (Hughes) was getting free and we shifted out focus to stopping her. We were able to force some one else to beat us.”

Haverford's Jackie Gantz was held to one three pointer, but still score a team high 15 points.

Indians sophomore Allison Lewis, who posted eight of her game high 18 points in the first half, was held to one field goal in the second, but still managed to get to the line eight times in the second half, converting 8-of 9 for the game from the charity stripe.

As in any sport if you don’t score, you usually do not find your self on the winning end, such was the case on the hardwood of Juenger Gymnasium Friday night as the Fords (20-5) out scored the Indians by a count of 24-4 over 15 minutes of playing time to seize control of the tilt.

In the closing three minutes of each of the first two quarters, Haverford held a 17-0 edge as the finished the first and second quarters on a 9-0 run and 8-0 run respectively to quell the momentum of the Indians.

“We had a tough time closing out periods tonight,” added Zambino. “We are a very young team and our girls will learn from the experience, that is a very solid team we played tonight and I was proud of the way our girls did not quit, we hit some nice shots late in the game.”

In an emotional final moments for seniors Janie Hauck, Sydney Hughes and Cami Redfern they were joined by Caitlin Clark and Erinn Menninger as all five Unionville seniors finished out the game, and their careers donning the blue and gold as one unit, one team, one core of players that have battled side by side for the last four years.

Unionville            6            8            4            17            -35

Haverford            15            7            12            17            -51

Unionville (35)

Weber 3, 0-0, 3; Flores 6, 0-2, 6; Hughes 5, 0-0,5; Lewis 10, 8-9, 18; Redfern 2, 0-0, 2; Hauck 0, 1-2,1; Totals  26,9-13, 35. Three point FG- Weber, Hughes.

Haverford (51)

Paulosky 2, 0-0, 2; Gantz, Julia 2, 0-0, 2; Gantz 9, 6-6, 15, Coller 6, 0-0, 6; Halstead 6, 4-9, 10; Estes 0, 2-2, 2. Totals 35, 16-27, 51. Three point FG- Gantz.

Unionville senior Janice Hauck was held in check by the Fords defense.

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