By CHRIS BROOKS, managing editor, wellsvillesports.com
CANISTEO — Thursday night brought out a ton of emotion in the Canisteo Valley, especially for one of the area’s brightest stars in Lillian Mullen for the Lady Chargers of Canisteo-Greenwood, where the curtain has begun to come down on what has been an incredible and illustrious career on the hardwood.
Mullen has been sidelined with a season-ending injury and was only expected to take the court for Senior Night festivities with her parents, Luke and Tasha Mullen, and younger sister Bailey.
However, sportsmanship took center stage, as Avoca-Prattsburgh and Canisteo-Greenwood had other plans for the senior who everyone thought would end the high school portion of her career with a remarkable 1,782 points.
Lillian Mullen would receive the honorary start in what was her final regular season home game of her career.
She was waiting inside the paint in the offensive zone during the opening tip against visiting Avoca-Prattsburgh. Upon receiving the ball from her younger sister Bailey, Lillian would put away her very last bucket donning the white and red colors to put a bow on a remarkable campaign that featured 1,784 total points.
The number inscripted on a commemorative basketball that was gifted to her by head coach Les York and the rest of her Lady Chargers teammates. A number she will remember for time to come.
Following the emotional start to the game, there was a score to be settled before the Steuben County Tournament officially kicks into gear next week, as the Lady Titans and Lady Chargers fought tooth and nail all throughout the night. After back and forth exchanges across the majority of their battle, it would set the stage for an exciting finish to regulation, with both teams continuing the constant swinging of the pendulum.
That was until the game rested on the hands of Bailey Mullen from the free throw line, as she knocked down a humongous shot to tie the game for Canisteo-Greenwood with three minutes remaining to force overtime. In the extra four minute session, the momentum that the Lady Chargers had built was erased by Avoca-Prattsburgh, as they went on to score all six of their points in consecutive fashion to put the finishing touches on what was a thrilling 43-41 road win.
After an 8-7 Lady Titans lead was gathered, the second quarter saw the Lady Chargers (9-8) continue to close in on Avoca-Prattsburgh through a vast majority of time behind the guidance of Bailey Mullen, who posted seven of the team’s 12 points in the frame. The Lady Titans countered with a response of their own from Kamryn Edwards, who provided six points inside to couple alongside a couple of big threes from Emma Carlton and Breanna Jorritsma to claim a 17-12 advantage in the frame, and a 25-19 lead at the break.
The scoring would come at a premium in the third quarter, which allowed the Lady Titans to keep their lead intact before the Lady Chargers were able to power up one final run to close the gap behind them in the last eight minutes, as they posted a massive 12-5 jaunt headlined by Mullen’s two-point jumper to cut the deficit to one prior to a shot at the charity stripe, which tied the game at 37 just seconds later.
In overtime, the Lady Titans were able to find their groove in the early stages, recording all six of their points in a row to open what was the final frame, taking advantage of a 43-37 lead before Mullen made things interesting in the waning seconds with a triple and one more shot at the line, closing the gap to a pair.
But the late spark could not be completed in time, as Avoca-Prattsburgh hung on for dear life to swipe the victory away.
Mullen finished with 18 team-high points to pace the Lady Chargers, adding 12 rebounds and five steals along the way to complete a double-double performance. Peyton Peters chipped in with seven points and nine rebounds, while Harlie McCaffery added 11 more boards off the glass to fuel the special teams cause even further.
Avoca-Prattsburgh was led by Kamryn Edwards and her team-high 18 points. Emma Carlton finished with eight points, while D’Mariannah Hinson-Pike had six points.
Both teams will now rest up and begin preparations for the Steuben County Tournament, which will get underway next week.
Avoca-Prattsburgh 8 17 7 5 6 – 43
Canisteo-Greenwood 7 12 6 12 4 – 41
AVOCA-PRATTSBURGH: D’Mariannah Hinson-Pike 3 0-0 6, Meyah Putnam 2 0-2 5, Emma Carlton 3 0-0 8, Breanna Jorritsma 1 2-4 5, Kamryn Edwards 8 0-3 18, Marissa Reid 0 1-2 1. Totals: 17 3-11 43.
CANISTEO-GREENWOOD: Kora Button 1 0-0 3, Bailey Mullen 5 5-10 18, McKenna Ferris 1 0-0 2, Lillian Mullen 1 0-0 2, Harlie McCaffery 2 0-0 4, Paris May 2 0-2 5, Peyton Peters 3 0-0 7. Totals: 15 5-12 41.
3-point goals: A-P 6 (Carlton 2, Edwards 2, Putnam, Jorritsma), C-G 6 (B. Mullen 3, Button, May, Peters).
Total Fouls: A-P 15, C-G 15. Fouled out: Jorritsma (A-P).
