High School Hoops: LHS Girls Suffer First Loss
Lady Lancers lose in first round of holiday tourney to Cranford, 45-21.
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Caroline Cole saves the ball from out of bounds. Credit Bob Krasner
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The Lady Lancers kicked off the West Orange Holiday Tournament on Tuesday afternoon against Cranford. Despite losing a number of last year's starters to graduation, the Lancers hadn't missed a beat heading into the tournament with wins over Arts and Belleville. Heading into game day, the team had a perfect 2-0 record and trailed only Kearny in the North Jersey Section 1 - Group 4 standings.
The early portion of the game saw a lot of back and forth action between the two teams with Cranford's Mairead McKeary scoring the first points of the contest with a little over four minutes remaining in the first quarter. The Clovers padded their lead by adding seven additional points before the quarter came to a close.
It was not until the game's second quarter when Livingston finally got onto the scoreboard with a free-throw from Sam Rothenberger. Rothenberger scored once again along with sophomore Keeley Manasse, whose basket brought the Lancers to within 14.
The Lancers were over-matched for the most part in the third quarter as they were outscored 11-3, despite baskets from Rothenberger and junior Mallory Breg.
In the fourth quarter, the Lancers tried their best to cut down on the deficit between the two teams. Junior Carly LaGrotta scored four unanswered points to make the score 39-17. Soon after however, Cranford sophomore Jenna Goeller responded with a three-pointer, which quieted Livingston.
Livingston's LaGrotta scored for a final time on a layup to make the score 45-21 just prior to the final buzzer.
Livingston struggled to penetrate Cranford's defense from the early going and that hindered their ability to keep pace on the scoreboard.
Nevertheless, head coach Patricia Kaes was confident her team could rebound for their next game Thursday at 1 p.m. "We just have to take care of the ball and have a little more help out there," she said describing what she felt her team needed to earn their third win of the season.
The early portion of the game saw a lot of back and forth action between the two teams with Cranford's Mairead McKeary scoring the first points of the contest with a little over four minutes remaining in the first quarter. The Clovers padded their lead by adding seven additional points before the quarter came to a close.
It was not until the game's second quarter when Livingston finally got onto the scoreboard with a free-throw from Sam Rothenberger. Rothenberger scored once again along with sophomore Keeley Manasse, whose basket brought the Lancers to within 14.
The Lancers were over-matched for the most part in the third quarter as they were outscored 11-3, despite baskets from Rothenberger and junior Mallory Breg.
In the fourth quarter, the Lancers tried their best to cut down on the deficit between the two teams. Junior Carly LaGrotta scored four unanswered points to make the score 39-17. Soon after however, Cranford sophomore Jenna Goeller responded with a three-pointer, which quieted Livingston.
Livingston's LaGrotta scored for a final time on a layup to make the score 45-21 just prior to the final buzzer.
Livingston struggled to penetrate Cranford's defense from the early going and that hindered their ability to keep pace on the scoreboard.
Nevertheless, head coach Patricia Kaes was confident her team could rebound for their next game Thursday at 1 p.m. "We just have to take care of the ball and have a little more help out there," she said describing what she felt her team needed to earn their third win of the season.
