By Bill Bray
TOLEDO – Since 2011 coach Juan Vela’s Little Giants have never beaten Notre Dame Academy on the hardwood, until now. The Lady Giants gave themselves and their coach an early Christmas present with a 49-38 triumph over the Lady Eagles.
“Road league wins are always nice to get,” the happy coach said after the TRAC win rose the Giants overall record to 8-1 and 2-1 in conference play.
(11) Destiny Robinson
On this night, offensively, it was the Destiny Robinson Show. The talented sophomore point guard for Ross led her team with 19 points. Robinson’s foul shooting, rebounding and assists were all a big part of the win. She finished three-for-three from the foul line and added two makes from beyond the arc.
“On the offensive side of the ball we played well down the stretch. Our post players, Lyndi Wolf, Carma Johnson and Janiah Holmes did a nice job controlling the paint,” Vela said.
Statistically, after Robinson’s 19 were Wolf with nine, Johnson with seven, Holmes with five. Abby Cahill added four, Hannah Sheidler hit an important ‘three’ and McKenna Englund had a bucket for two points.
“8-1 going into Christmas is a good start, but we’ll have to stay focused and continue to get better after the holidays”, Vela concluded.
Boy’s end “Purple Pit’s “history with a 81-73 setback
By Bill Bray
FREMONT– The curtain closed on the famed “Purple Pit” Tuesday night, December 21. It wasn’t the closure the Giants wanted as they fell to St. John’s Jesuit 81-73 in Three Rivers Athletic Conference action.
The Titans broke out to a 23-14 first quarter lead and never looked back. Fremont Ross continued to have trouble on the defensive end on the court as St. John’s Kennedy Vaugh led the Titan’s attack with seven, first quarter points.
St. John’s maintained the nine-point lead as the teams entered the break with the Titans in front 44-35.
It was the third quarter that spelled doom for the Little Giants on this night. During the third stanza the Titans were led by Carter Binkowski who had 11 of St. John’s 21 points during the eight minutes. The Titans’ defense held the Little Giants to only 10 third quarter points.
The never-say-die Little Giants reeled off 28 fourth quarter points to close the gap to eight points after having been trailing by 20 points going into the quarter.
Statistically, Ross was 10 of 15 from the foul stripe while St. John’s hit on 11 of 14 free throws. The Titan’s also sank six three-point-shots during the game.
Individually for Ross, Ayden Carter continued his hot shooting finishing with nine 2-point shots and three foul shots for 21. Jaedyn Bulger had four 2’s, two 3’s and three of four from the line for 17. Kurt Harrison, playing another steady game hit seven 2’s and one 3 for 17 points.
Vaughn led St. Johns with 24 points.
Coach John Cahill continues to be concerned about the defensive play of the Giants. “We can be a much better defensive team, and we will.” Cahill said.
When asked about it being the final game at the “Purple Pit” Cahill said, “I started going to games in the Pit in the early 80s, played there, coached as the opposing coach there, and now am coaching Ross. It’s a special place and I will miss it.”
Ross Junior, Bryson Hammer goes up for a shot attempt during second half action vs Toledo St.John’s