By Nick Ingram, Correspondent
Nautica Morrow put a slight damper on a milestone night for Chelsea Lidy, leading Serra with 24 points, including the Cavaliers’ final five points in a 58-54 Del Rey League victory over host Bishop Montgomery on Tuesday night.
Serra (12-6, 2-0) took a 45-40 lead into the fourth quarter, but its advantage did not last long. Jessica Malazarte (22 points) put her team on her back, scoring the Knights’ first seven points of the quarter, capped off by a 3-pointer that tied the game at 47.
“I was feeling pretty great (tonight),” Malazarte said. “My confidence was there and my defensive intensity was great.”
After Morrow’s bank shot allowed Serra to retake the lead, Christine Delapina’s 3-pointer gave Bishop Montgomery (9-11, 1-2) a 50-49 lead, its last of the night with 4:39 remaining.
The Cavaliers went on a 5-0 run, taking a 54-50 lead with 3:33 remaining after Morrow hit one of two free throws.
“The second half should always be your big half because that’s what wins games,” Morrow said. “I feel like we had to play defense in order for us to win. Defense first, and the offense will eventually come.”
Even as the Knights continued to get chances, the ball did not bounce in Bishop Montgomery’s favor.
After a Knights turnover and a Malazarte missed 3-pointer, Lidy’s putback made it a 54-52 game with less than two minutes remaining.
Serra was able to retake a four-point lead, as Morrow’s second-chance attempt fell, giving the Cavaliers a 56-52 lead with 1:08 remaining.
Lidy, who scored the 1,000th point of her high school career in the third quarter, came up with a key block moments after a turnover with 58.9 seconds remaining. Lidy pulled Bishop Montgomery back within two after rolling off a high-screen set for Malazarte and finished down low to make it a 56-54 game.
Lidy finished with 10 points, seven rebounds and three steals.
But Bishop Montgomery was unable to capitalize after Serra was called for traveling with 29 seconds left, as Malazarte’s 3-pointer was too strong.
“I feel like I overshot the ball,” Malazarte said. “I know next time I need to adjust and I’ll make the shot.”
Serra took a 33-26 lead into the half after outscoring Bishop 21-11 in the second quarter, but the Knights came out of the half hot, tying the game at 40 on a pair of Lidy free throws before the Cavaliers ended the quarter on a 5-0 run.
“Offensively, we went a little stagnant in the third quarter and I think they did a good job of holding us to one-and-out,” Serra coach McKinsey Hadley said. “In the fourth, we got the ball into the low post a lot more and I think that was the key to us getting the win tonight.”
Briana Johnson added 12 points for Serra, while Camille Hailey scored eight. Delapina finished with 11 points for Bishop Montgomery.
Nautica Morrow put a slight damper on a milestone night for Chelsea Lidy, leading Serra with 24 points, including the Cavaliers’ final five points in a 58-54 Del Rey League victory over host Bishop Montgomery on Tuesday night.
Serra (12-6, 2-0) took a 45-40 lead into the fourth quarter, but its advantage did not last long. Jessica Malazarte (22 points) put her team on her back, scoring the Knights’ first seven points of the quarter, capped off by a 3-pointer that tied the game at 47.
“I was feeling pretty great (tonight),” Malazarte said. “My confidence was there and my defensive intensity was great.”
After Morrow’s bank shot allowed Serra to retake the lead, Christine Delapina’s 3-pointer gave Bishop Montgomery (9-11, 1-2) a 50-49 lead, its last of the night with 4:39 remaining.
The Cavaliers went on a 5-0 run, taking a 54-50 lead with 3:33 remaining after Morrow hit one of two free throws.
“The second half should always be your big half because that’s what wins games,” Morrow said. “I feel like we had to play defense in order for us to win. Defense first, and the offense will eventually come.”
Even as the Knights continued to get chances, the ball did not bounce in Bishop Montgomery’s favor.
After a Knights turnover and a Malazarte missed 3-pointer, Lidy’s putback made it a 54-52 game with less than two minutes remaining.
Serra was able to retake a four-point lead, as Morrow’s second-chance attempt fell, giving the Cavaliers a 56-52 lead with 1:08 remaining.
Lidy, who scored the 1,000th point of her high school career in the third quarter, came up with a key block moments after a turnover with 58.9 seconds remaining. Lidy pulled Bishop Montgomery back within two after rolling off a high-screen set for Malazarte and finished down low to make it a 56-54 game.
Lidy finished with 10 points, seven rebounds and three steals.
But Bishop Montgomery was unable to capitalize after Serra was called for traveling with 29 seconds left, as Malazarte’s 3-pointer was too strong.
“I feel like I overshot the ball,” Malazarte said. “I know next time I need to adjust and I’ll make the shot.”
Serra took a 33-26 lead into the half after outscoring Bishop 21-11 in the second quarter, but the Knights came out of the half hot, tying the game at 40 on a pair of Lidy free throws before the Cavaliers ended the quarter on a 5-0 run.
“Offensively, we went a little stagnant in the third quarter and I think they did a good job of holding us to one-and-out,” Serra coach McKinsey Hadley said. “In the fourth, we got the ball into the low post a lot more and I think that was the key to us getting the win tonight.”
Briana Johnson added 12 points for Serra, while Camille Hailey scored eight. Delapina finished with 11 points for Bishop Montgomery.