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PSA heavy hitters, from far left: Alba Granell, Carlota Lopez, and Carmen Plata. Tom Netzer photos.
Despite their season-long roller coaster ride of ups and downs, Greg Canzater felt really good about the chances for his PSA girls’ basketball team at the Girls Hoop Series National Tournament.
“Our principle is simple,” he said a few hours before PSA’s first-round game against Western Reserve (Ohio). “Make the easy layups. Minimal turnovers. Move the ball. We do that, then we’re in great shape.”
Those are the things that plagued the Mustangs in their losses (and in some of their wins), and they weren’t able to overcome them this time either, as their furious rally in the final minutes came up just short in a 46-44 loss Thursday.
PSA trailed by just one at halftime but made just 1-of-12 shots in the third quarter and fell behind by 10. The Mustangs actually trailed by 11 (42-31) in the fourth quarter, but Carmen Plata’s bucket while being fouled drew them within 44-42 with 24.9 seconds left in the game. PSA could get no closer, however.
“We’re always so close,” Canzater said. “There are just too many things that we could have done better throughout the course of the game to not put ourselves in that position again. And that includes me.”
Kate Lipatova finished with 12 points and 13 rebounds, while Carlota Lopez had a team-leading 15 points for PSA, which also got eight points and five boards from Plata.
PSA played catch-up in their first game of Friday’s consolation bracket, as foul trouble doomed the Mustangs almost from the get-go. Lipatova picked up three first-half fouls and PSA was never able to get untracked.
Lopez had 15 points, and Helin Yoztyurk and Alba Granell both had seven for PSA, which trailed 18-2 after the first quarter. PSA actually outscored St. Andrew’s the rest of the way but the hole proved too big to climb out of. Tati Bell had six rebounds for PSA.
The Mustangs ended their season on a strong note though, winning its final game behind 20 points and five rebounds from Lipatova, plus 16 points and five boards from Lopez. Yoztyurk added 16 points and Plata finished with seven for PSA (13-20).
“I’m proud of these girls,” Canzater said. “Every day, they worked and they brought energy. Every day. The final scores might not have been what we wanted a lot of times, but it wasn’t for ltaack of effort or caring on their part ... I couldn’t be prouder of the way they fought and proved that we belong here and we deserve to be mentioned with these other top teams.”
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
.