NORWICH – After a week-long break in the league, action resumed as all six teams took to the court Monday night. After a one point win by Team Corbin over Southern Tier Pet Nutrition (STPN) in the last game of the evening, Team Corbin remains undefeated.
A close game for the entire 40 minutes of play, Team Corbin led by just two points at the end of the first half. Kara Collins paced her team to the lead at the intermission with eight of her game-high 12 points.
Finding a team groove in the second half was STPN as six different players added points to the scoring column.
With just seven seconds remaining, STPN pulled within one point of Team Corbin. Having the possession on the far baseline, STPN needed to go the full length of the floor to score for the win.
Receiving the ball on the in-bounds pass was STPN’s Hayley Witchella. After crossing over half court, Witchella heaved a shot towards the rim but it was after the buzzer sounded, signaling the end of the game.
Team Corbin is the lone team to remain undefeated following their 29-28 victory.
Witchella finished with 12 points to lead STNP in the losing effort. Collins of Team Corbin also tallied 12 points, resulting in the two tying for game-high honors.
In the first game of the night, J. Barnes Stone squared off against The Stadium.
A game that again came down to the last minute, The Stadium pulled out the win with a final of 35-33.
The Stadium led 24-13 at the halftime break behind a team total of four made three-pointers. Margo Barrows and Kristen Newton each knocked down two from beyond the arc. Barrows led the in the scoring column with eight points at the end of the first half.
The second half, however, was all J. Barnes Stone as they closed the gap down by scoring 20 points in the 20 minutes of play.
The lead changed several times in the closing two minutes of the contest but The Stadium held on for the win.
Barrows ended with a team-high, 13 points for The Stadium. Newton finished with six from the first half in the winning effort.
J. Barnes Stone was led by Tanya Barnes with 14 points. Barnes scored nine of her points at the free-throw line as she went 9-for-13 for the game. Her teammates Hannah Johnson and Stephanie Havens chipped in eight and six in the loss.
The second game was played between Team Nina’s and Upstate Companies, a contest where Upstate Companies controlled the game from the start.
Scoring 14 of her points in the first half, Upstate Companies’ Britney Finkle paced the 27-5 intermission score.
Team Nina’s had opportunities to score in the half but nothing dropped through the net. Making three foul shots and having made one basket from the floor, Nina’s had no where to go but up in the second half.
They did just that. Nina’s and Upstate Companies finished the second 20 minute stanza tied with 17 points each. However, the big first half lead handed Upstate Companies their third win of the season.
Nina’s was led by Maddie Dowdall’s eight points scored in the contest. Her teammate, Lindsey Brancato-Gross added another five points on a rough shooting night for the team in orange.
Finkle ended the night with 17 while Jen Patten led all scorers with 18 in the game. Patten scored 12 of Upstate Companies’ 17 second half points.
The current standings of the league are: 1-Team Corbin (4-0), 2-Upstate Companies (3-1), 3-The Stadium (2-2) and J. Barnes Stone (2-2), 5-Nina’s (1-3), 6-Southern Tier Pet Nutrition (0-4).
All six teams will be playing at the YMCA on April 9 with games starting at 6:15 p.m. The first game will be played between The Stadium and Team Corbin with Upstate Companies and J.Barnes Stone to follow at 7:15 p.m. The final game of the evening will be played between Nina’s and STPN.
The league extends well wishes to Nikki Thompson and Jess Smith, who suffered injuries and will likely miss the rest of the season.