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PSA takes 3rd
in national
tournament
It would have been so much easier if they got blown out, lost by 20, never had a chance.
But for the Putnam Science Academy girls’ prep basketball team, a one-point loss in the semifinals of the Insider Exposure Independent School Nationals last weekend meant that their third-place overall finish was, well, bittersweet to say the least.
The Mustangs won games Feb. 21 (66-47 over TPLS) and Feb. 22 (62-60 over Niagara Prep) to advance to the Final Four Saturday night. It was there that their season came up just short, when they fell 46-45 to eventual champion Winston Salem Christian Academy.
“To lose by one point, it really makes you think,” PSA coach Devin Hill said Feb. 23, following the team’s 55-39 win over King’s Christian Collegiate in the consolation game. “When you’re that close, and you have a lead with a few minutes to go, you felt like you had control and that we had a real chance to play for a championship...It’s really tough to get that close and really feel like, ‘Hey we can run this thing, we can do this.’
“So it’s an ‘all things considered’ kind of thing. But yes, I am proud of how we finished.”
The Mustangs (16-9) led Winston Salem by five with about two minutes to play but got into foul trouble, leading their opponent to get back in the game. But PSA still had its chances. Sharpshooter Delaney Haines missed a contested 3-pointer late that would have tied the game, and Aaliyah Brittian’s field goal in the final seconds could have been an and-1 opportunity but the referees did not call a foul despite at least some contact on the shot. Brittian’s basket accounted for the final score.
Shawni Cornfield had 11 points, Sabou Gueye 10, and Gaines nine in the loss.
Sunday morning’s third-place game, despite the wide final margin of victory, was no sure thing for PSA. KCC actually led 13-4 early before PSA responded.
“It’s the human element,” Hill said. “We just played two really tough games, physically and emotionally tough games, so there was going to be some kind of letdown. But we responded, especially in the second half.”
Lani Cornfield scored a game-high 14 points in the win. Shawni Cornfield and Haines finished with 13 apiece.
PSA opened its weekend with its second win of the season over TPLS; the teams played in the season-opener back in October. Just as that first one was a convincing victory, so was too this.
Lani Cornfield went for 20 and Sabou Gueye 17 for the Mustangs. Sarah Streete also had her best game of the season, giving PSA seven big points.
“Sabou was great,” Hill said of the incredibly gifted wing player, who still has another year to go at PSA. “The secret is about to be out on her.”
The Mustangs handled their business in the second round as well, taking down Niagara Prep in a tight game. Brittian and Niya Fields came up with huge steals in the final minute to seal the victory.
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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