Lady Phoenix Win Two Buzzer-Beaters

Lady Phoenix Win Two Buzzer-Beaters By Dustin Parker

The Sharon Academy girls’ team traveled to Chelsea last Thursday to play the Red Devils.

The first half of this game’s score looked like a football tally, with a very low score. Both teams played exceptional defense to hold each other under double digits in the first quarter. Erin Kinnarney got the Phoenix on the board with a drive to the hoop for an easy two. Emily Chadwick grabbed a rebound to put it back in, and sister Elyza hit a jump shot from the corner. After one quarter, the Phoenix had a slim lead of 8-6.

The second quarter looked like the first, great defense that led to low scoring. Kinnarney drove to the hoop one more time for an easy two, and Elyza Chadwick nailed a 15-foot jump shot just out of the paint. That would be all for TSA scoring in the second and the two-point lead was gone as well. At the half, TSA was trailing 15-12.

The Phoenix didn’t score much in the third quarter either. Elyza Chadwick did hit a three from the top of the arc. Kinnarney grabbed a rebound and got the put-back. The Phoenix were still trailing after three quarters, 23-18.

Sharon exploded in the third period by scoring over twice as many points as they had in the first three quarters. Annie McRay made her only two points of the game with a jump shot from just inside the arc, and Robin Spencer also got on the board with a pass from Kinnarney that she laid in for two.

Late in the fourth quarter, the score was back and forth. With Sharon down two with a minute and a half to go, Kinnarney hit a three that put her team up one. Elyza Chadwick added four more to finish with 11, and twin sister Emily Chadwick got two lay ups for four more points. With 20 seconds to go, Sharon trailed by one but got a steal. Emily Chadwick drove up court but missed the shot. Chelsea drove down court but lost the ball. Luckily a jump ball possession arrow was in Sharon's favor. Coach Gordy Barnaby called a timeout, and afterwards, Annie McRay passed it in to Emily Chadwick. Chadwick drove to the lane and threw up a shot only to get fouled, with one second on the clock. With the pressure mounting, Emily hit the first one to make it a tie game. Then she hit the second one for the 37-36 win.

Kinnarney was leading scorer for both teams with 14 points. Courtney Sanford and Morgan Tullar each had 11 for Chelsea.

Win at Thetford

On Saturday, TSA traveled to Thetford to take on their Central Vermont League foes. It would mean big index points for TSA if they could get the win.

The score changed practically every minute in this contest. Elyza Chadwick hit a three on the opening possession for Sharon. Kinnarney drove to the hole for an easy two and McRay got on the board with a jump shot from the corner. After one quarter, the Phoenix and Thetford were tied at seven.

Immediately in the second quarter, Thetford Coach Dave McGinn received a technical foul for standing on the court during game play. Emily Chadwick shot the foul shots for Sharon and made one of two. TSA got the ball right back, and Kinnarney found a way to get two points through the defense. McRay hit another jump shot from the corner, and Kinnarney got a three from the top of the arc. However, at the half, the Phoenix were trailing, 18-16.

Robin Spencer had a great third quarter by making two jump shots from just outside the paint. McRay hit a three from the top of the arc and Kinnarney added four more from the paint. After three quarters, the Phoenix had regained the lead, 30-29.

The Phoenix continued to roll in the fourth quarter with another three from McRay. Abra Atwood and Spencer both added baskets as well. With about 30 seconds to go and a tie game, it was the other Chadwick twin who took over. Elyza hit a three that put the Phoenix up for good. Thetford was able to get a good look from the corner but failed to convert. The Phoenix came out with the 40-37 victory.

Kinnarney led TSA with 11. Thetford's Maria Cole had 11 also.