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Crusaders run past St. Frances at Basketball Academy; second blowout loss this week for No. 1 Panthers.
St. Frances is trying to work its way through a tough stretch. The east Baltimore school lost for the second time in the last three games Friday afternoon.
by Derek Toney
Different venue. Same end result for St. Frances Academy's girls' basketball team.
The top-ranked Panthers dropped a 69-48 decision to Riverdale Baptist at the Basketball Academy at Morgan State University. The inside duo of Tiana Hawkins and Ataira Franklin each scored a game-high 22 points for the Crusaders.
The Upper Marlboro school led from the opening tip for its second victory over St. Frances in less than three weeks. In the opening round of the IAABO Tournament at Prince George's Community College, the Crusaders pulled away for a 55-43 decision.
"They got out early and got some easy baskets," said St. Frances coach Jerome Shelton. "They had us concerned to the point we didn't even try to get second shots. They had us on our heels the whole game."
Junior Alice Abiya scored 10 points to lead St. Frances. The Panthers didn't have senior forward/center Kandice Green, who's nursing a high ankle sprain. The Seton Hall University bound standout, who played in Monday's 62-40 loss to No. 2 Seton Keough, sustained the injury in the fourth quarter of the first meeting with the Crusaders.
The rematch Friday was all Riverdale Baptist, which built a 34-24 halftime advantage, then scored the first seven points of the second half. The Crusaders gained their largest advantage at 49-26 on a rebound and basket by Tianna Hawkins. Riverdale Baptist coach Gina Miller said her team was more rested for the second meeting.
"It was a longer court and we've been off for a couple of days," said Miller, whose team won the IAABO Tournament, in addition to the Kruel Classic in Florida in December. "We pretty much played team basketball. The momentum shift to St. Frances a little bit, but we stayed poised and kept playing our style."
Riverdale Baptist will return to Hill Field House Saturday afternoon for contest with No. xx City College. St. Frances Though this week has been arguably the worst in recent memory, Shelton said he isn't discouraged.
"We just have to keep working at it until we get it right," said Shelton, whose team plays defending Baltimore County champ Dulaney Saturday at noon. "I believe in them. A lot of the mistakes we're making now hopefully we won't make in February."
Riverdale Baptist 69, St. Frances 48
Riverdale Baptist: Williams 2, Saunders 8, Tianna Hawkins 22, Franklin 2, Keels 2, Richard 1, Tierra Hawkins 10. Totals 27 12-22 69.
St. Frances: Hawkes 8, Bristow 7, Hutchen 4, Ngobeni 8, Newman 9, Abiya 10, Harmon 2. Totals 16 15-21 48. Halftime: Riverdale Baptist 34, St. Frances 24.
Riverdale Baptist 15 19 17 18-69
St. Frances 9 15 12 12-48
Different venue. Same end result for St. Frances Academy's girls' basketball team.
The top-ranked Panthers dropped a 69-48 decision to Riverdale Baptist at the Basketball Academy at Morgan State University. The inside duo of Tiana Hawkins and Ataira Franklin each scored a game-high 22 points for the Crusaders.
The Upper Marlboro school led from the opening tip for its second victory over St. Frances in less than three weeks. In the opening round of the IAABO Tournament at Prince George's Community College, the Crusaders pulled away for a 55-43 decision.
"They got out early and got some easy baskets," said St. Frances coach Jerome Shelton. "They had us concerned to the point we didn't even try to get second shots. They had us on our heels the whole game."
Junior Alice Abiya scored 10 points to lead St. Frances. The Panthers didn't have senior forward/center Kandice Green, who's nursing a high ankle sprain. The Seton Hall University bound standout, who played in Monday's 62-40 loss to No. 2 Seton Keough, sustained the injury in the fourth quarter of the first meeting with the Crusaders.
The rematch Friday was all Riverdale Baptist, which built a 34-24 halftime advantage, then scored the first seven points of the second half. The Crusaders gained their largest advantage at 49-26 on a rebound and basket by Tianna Hawkins. Riverdale Baptist coach Gina Miller said her team was more rested for the second meeting.
"It was a longer court and we've been off for a couple of days," said Miller, whose team won the IAABO Tournament, in addition to the Kruel Classic in Florida in December. "We pretty much played team basketball. The momentum shift to St. Frances a little bit, but we stayed poised and kept playing our style."
Riverdale Baptist will return to Hill Field House Saturday afternoon for contest with No. xx City College. St. Frances Though this week has been arguably the worst in recent memory, Shelton said he isn't discouraged.
"We just have to keep working at it until we get it right," said Shelton, whose team plays defending Baltimore County champ Dulaney Saturday at noon. "I believe in them. A lot of the mistakes we're making now hopefully we won't make in February."
Riverdale Baptist 69, St. Frances 48
Riverdale Baptist: Williams 2, Saunders 8, Tianna Hawkins 22, Franklin 2, Keels 2, Richard 1, Tierra Hawkins 10. Totals 27 12-22 69.
St. Frances: Hawkes 8, Bristow 7, Hutchen 4, Ngobeni 8, Newman 9, Abiya 10, Harmon 2. Totals 16 15-21 48. Halftime: Riverdale Baptist 34, St. Frances 24.
Riverdale Baptist 15 19 17 18-69
St. Frances 9 15 12 12-48
