Jillian Ames scored 21 points for Addison and earned MVP honors in the Dan Barkley Showcase. She is presented with her awards from Dana Hand of the Allegany County Sheriff’s Department.
By CHRIS BROOKS, managing editor, wellsvillesports.com, photo gallery at end
BATH — Rebounding can become a crucial part to the game of basketball. With just one grab off the glass, it can also provide a swing of momentum along with it. For the Lady Knights of Addison, it was an aspect that they dominated from start to finish to open the 7th Annual Dan Barkley Showcase on Saturday in Bath.
And that momentum? — Jillian Ames swung for the fences.
After both the Lady Knights and Genesee Valley/Belfast battled through a quiet, defensive battle in the first quarter, the heat was turned up a notch by the team in maroon, as Ames caught fire from outside with four first half three-pointers to help set a powerful tone that was never lowered, giving Addison the ultimate 57-28 victory to open the five-game slate with Steuben County’s third win of the series.
“I think Jill stepped up big time and hit some big shots early on. She allowed us to get confident, and everyone leaned on her to come through,” said Lady Knights coach Corey Driskell. “She carried us and shot really well, although we lost a player early. Everyone stepped up, and one of our big focuses has been rebounding. We can’t allow other teams to get a second opportunity, and today we really crashed the boards. We have a tough game with Bath on Monday, so hopefully today’s game allowed us to set the tone and give them a run for their money.”
Right alongside Genesee Valley/Belfast, Addison (9-2) had to weave their way through a slow, defensive start in the opening eight minutes of play. A frame that saw them grab the upper hand behind some key offensive rebounds and transform them into points, garnering a 10-6 lead at the end of it.
The momentum shifted into the second where the Lady Knights began to dig a deep hole for Genesee Valley/Belfast (6-5), firing on all cylinders inside and out after their lead was trimmed down to a single basket, as they went on to score 12 straight points in the first three minutes to create a buffer zone that would remain intact from that point forward.
Ames had a hand in all of that first half success by finding her stroke from downtown, netting four first half three-pointers with the rest of the Lady Knights following her lead going into the break up by 15.
Addison would post one final run in the third quarter — their biggest stand of offense of the day, as they cashed in on a 20-7 jaunt of their opposition to help cement the third overall victory for Steuben County in the Showcase, moving them one step closer to record the overall series win for this year’s edition.
Ames earned Player of the Game honors behind her early sequence efforts, as she totaled a game-high 21 points to lead Addison. Kerrigan Driskell continued charging the offense with 10 points of her own, while Erin Terwilliger had eight to chip in.
Genesee Valley/Belfast was paced by Mary Hamer, who scored 18 team-high points.
Addison will return to Bath-Haverling on Monday, as they get set to face the host Lady Rams in a 7 p.m. tip-off, while Genesee Valley/Belfast now takes time away to regroup, returning to action on Wednesday with a 7:30 p.m. home battle in Belfast against Hinsdale.
Addison 10 19 20 10 – 57
Genesee Valley/Belfast 6 8 7 7 – 28
ADDISON: Makayla Miller 2 0-0 2, Kerrigan Driskell 5 0-0 10, Chiara Lai 2 0-0 4, Kendra McLean 2 1-2 3, Erin Terwilliger 3 2-2 8, Jillian Ames 8 0-0 21, Bailee Jackson 3 0-0 7, Bregan Jones 1 0-0 2. Totals: 24 3-4 57.
GV/BELFAST: Anna Drozdowski 1 3-6 6, Kendra Bigelow 2 0-0 4, Mary Hamer 7 4-5 18. Totals: 10 9-11 28.
3-point goals: Addison 6 (Ames 5, Jackson) GVB 1 (Hamer)
Total Fouls: Addison 11, GVB 9. Fouled out: None.
Photo gallery by CHRIS BROOKS:
