For the Express
BROADALBIN — Some nights, there’s just no explanation.
Last Thursday evening was one of those nights for Broadalbin-Perth Lady Patriots head coach Mike Magliocca, as the coach struggled to muster up the words to describe his team’s play in its 62-35 loss to Queensbury in a Foothills Council matchup.
“There’s really not much to say,” explained Magliocca. “It was just one of those games.”
After a promising start that saw B-P (7-6, 2-6) holding a 6-2 lead after a few minutes of play, Queensbury (4-7, 3-3) put together a 19-0 run that started midway through the first quarter and did not end until the Lady Patriots’ Monica Magliocca made a jump shot with under three minutes to play in the second quarter.
“We were just out of whack tonight,” Mike Magliocca said.
Utilizing both a zone and man-to-man full-court press, the Spartans forced 14 turnovers in the first half, the B-P miscues often resulting in Queensbury baskets.
“They came out playing good defense and that’s what got us our points,” said Queensbury head coach Megan Bethel of her team.
“Everything just kind of flowed from there,” she added.
B-P point guard Katie Herba missed a substantial amount of the second period after appearing to suffer a nose injury; Herba briefly returned to the game in the second half, but her absence caused the Lady Patriots’ less-experienced ball handlers to bear the brunt of the Spartans’ pressure.
“I know she doesn’t score a whole lot — she probably averages about five points per game — but she runs our offense,” said Magliocca. “When she was in the game, they couldn’t press us.”
With Herba out of the game, it truly got away from the Lady Patriots in the third quarter. Entering the second half down 15 points, B-P trailed by 22 after the third quarter.
Kaitlin Wood scored eight of her game-high 18 points in the third stanza, but Queensbury’s Kara Tecl answered with nine of her team-high 15 in the quarter to keep the Spartans’ lead increasing. Also chipping in for Queensbury on the night were Jillian Davis (10 points, seven rebounds) and Nikari Carota (nine points, four steals).
Wood added nine rebounds to her statistical line, with Tecl grabbing seven boards.
For Queensbury, the win was the team’s third in its last four games in the Foothills Council, including a win against Hudson Falls, a team near the top of the league’s standings. While B-P has dropped its last four league games, Queensbury appears to be rounding into form at the right time.
“That’s what we’re hoping for,” said Bethel. “(We’re) trying to get up to the top of that mountain.”
For the Lady Patriots, it’s back to the drawing board — luckily, the team’s schedule allows for that.
Admitting the team would not be playing in this Tuesdays game, “We’ve got (time) to work on things,” said Magliocca.