BRADFORD – All three Bradford seniors contributed points as the Lady Owls used an 18-0 second quarter to pull away from Smethport and roll to a 49-25 victory Monday.
Mackenzie Taylor posted 10 points, while Mallory Craig added four and Alyssa Johnson five for the Lady Owls, who seemed evenly matched during the first quarter. Smethport opened scoring on a basket from Hannah Taylor with 6:50 on the clock. Two free throws put Smethport ahead 4-0. However, Bradford answered with free throws from Johnson and a basket from Alexis Kicior to tie the score at 4-4 with 5:16 remaining in the first.
The two teams kept matching baskets until the end of first, with the score tied 11-11 at the buzzer.
“We came out with a little bit of intensity. I thought the girls had a really good first quarter. In the second quarter, I thought Bradford picked up the intensity and their energy a little more. They were able to run, get out and transition, get some easy layups,” said Smethport Head Coach Chad Goodman. “That set the tone, I felt, for the rest of the game.”
As the second quarter got underway, however, the scoring was all in Bradford’s favor. Two free throws from Shavia Long set things in motion, followed closely by a basket and a three-pointer from Taylor. Bradford continued to monopolize scoring, pouring in 18 points before the half to take a 29-11 lead into the locker room at the half.
The Lady Owls kept up the momentum in the third, scoring 20 seconds in on a basket by Haley Keane. Bradford went on a 12-point run before Smethport answered with a successful free throw from Jasmine Miller, making the score 43-12 at the end of the third quarter.
Before the clock was reset for the fourth quarter, Official Lou Vizza was honored for his 38 years of officiating for area teams and was presented with a plaque from the Bradford Owls Booster Club. Vizza will be hanging up his stripes following Monday’s game.
Bradford added three more baskets in the fourth, including a three from Miller. Smethport fought back with 13 points, but couldn’t gain any traction, providing the Lady Owls with the win.
“The girls played awesome tonight. My seniors went out on a great note. In the second quarter, we really picked our defense up,” Bradford Head Coach Jason Blatchley said. It was tied at the end of the first and we really picked it up in the second and the third (quarters).
“Mackenzie Taylor, Alyssa Johnson and Mallory Craig are just great seniors, great leaders and great teammates. We are going to miss all three of them.”
Leading the Smethport offense were Madelyn McKean with seven points and Hannah Taylor with six.
“Hannah Taylor had a strong game inside,” Goodman said. “I felt like Hannah stepped up tonight and had one of her most productive games offensively that we’ve been looking for all year.”
Smethport returns to action at Kane Wednesday.
At BRADFORD
SMETHPORT (25)
Neff 1-1-2-3, McKean 2-3-3-7, Goodman 1-0-0-3, Taylor 3-0-0-6, Ours 0-2-4-2, Miller 1-1-2-4. Totals 8-7-11-25.
BRADFORD (49)
Shavia Long 5-1-4-11, Oovis 2-0-0-5, Olivia Funk 0-1-2-1, Poe 1-0-0-3, Craig 2-0-0-4, Mackenzie Taylor 4-0-0-10, Kicior 1-0-2-2, Keane 4-0-0-8, Johnson 1-2-2-5. Totals 20-4-10-49.
Smethport 11 0 1 13
Bradford 11 18 14 6
Three-Point Goals: Smethport 2 (Goodman 1, Miller 1); Bradford 5 (Oovis 1, Poe 1, Taylor 2, Johnson 1). Total Fouls: Smethport 8, Bradford 13.
JV Score: Bradford won 35-9.
