Slow start costs St. Paul in district loss

WILLARD — St. Paul made its run.After cutting what was once a 12-point lead down to two points, the Lady Flyers had two chances to tie the game.Both opportunities went awry, and St. Paul's offense stalled from there.Top-seeded Seneca East used a run of nine straight points to put away the Flyers, 41-30, in a Division IV district semifinal inside Robert L. Haas Gymnasium at Willard High School Thursday night."We had some turnovers," St. Paul coach Vicky Mahl said. "On a whole, we got the ball to the rim. We just did not get it in. Give credit to Seneca East for what they did, too."St. Paul wraps up its season with a record of 21-4."I am extremely proud of my kids," Mahl said. "We talked a little bit at halftime that we had to come out and make a run in the second half. That is what we did and we put Seneca East back on their heels a little bit."Camille Endsley banked in a jumper with 6:07 left to bring the Flyers within 30-28, but the defense of the Tigers (21-3) was too much. While St. Paul struggled to score, Jessica Bowerman continued her offensive burst for the Seneca East offense.The ultra-aggressive, high-intensity junior scored and then nailed her fourth 3-pointer of the night. Makenna Depinet added a score off a steal and suddenly, St. Paul trailed, 37-28, with 2:55 left."(Bowerman) is a very good ball player," Mahl said. "She gets it when she needs to get it done. She just never stops."Megan Hammersmith scored off of an offensive rebound, but Bailey Hamilton countered with a layup. The tally by Hammersmith was the only points the Flyers scored in the final 6:06 of the game."The last five minutes was defense and coming up big on the boards," Seneca East coach Don Vogt said. "We came up with a couple steals and a couple hustle plays. I told the kids that when teams that are evenly matched like we were with St. Paul, it is going to be the little things that get the job done."Bowerman made her presence known early and often for Seneca East. In the first quarter, she nailed a 3, scored on a putback and added another triple for a 10-2 lead. She scored again and added a 3 at the buzzer as the Tigers took a 15-3 lead after eight minutes.St. Paul made just 1 of 8 shots in the first quarter — a jumper by Endsley just 10 seconds into the game. Seven turnovers in the opening quarter also hurt the Flyers."If we have a better first quarter, I think that it is a totally different outcome," Mahl said. "Give credit to Seneca East — actually give credit to Bowerman. Not to take anything away from the rest of their team, but if you do not have her, it is another outcome."Anna Lukasko got St. Paul going in the second quarter with three buckets to bring the Flyers within 17-9. St. Paul was still within 20-11 after a Brooke Houck score, but Brooke Bordner nailed an off-balance 3-pointer at the buzzer to extend the Tigers' lead.St. Paul made its initial surge back into the game in the third quarter. Scores from Lukasko, Endsley, Danielle Smith, and Hammersmith brought the Flyers to within 25-19. Later, baskets by Hammersmith and Lukasko cut the margin to 26-23, but Alexis Hicks scored for the Tigers for a five-point lead after three quarters.Endsley opened the fourth quarter with a three-point play, bringing St. Paul as close as 28-26 with 6:27 left."Our bench kids did a really nice job," Vogt said. "I know we had some turnovers, but everybody turns the ball over at one point. I thought they came in in a pressure situation because it is do-or-die. They stepped it up and did a nice job."Hammersmith and Endsley each scored nine points for the Flyers, who lost twice to undefeated league champion Ashland Crestview and once to Perkins, who is playing in a Division II district final on Saturday."The first goal any team has, is to win that conference," Mahl said. "We had Crestview where we wanted them and lost in overtime. Perkins is a good ballclub. It is not like we lost to teams we should not have lost to."St. Paul loses just two seniors — Lukasko and Hammersmith — two posts that both approach 6-foot."I can't say enough about them," Mahl said. "They are quiet leaders and they never quit. They get their hands in passes. Defensively, those spots are going to be hard to fill." ST. PAUL (21-4)Anna Lukasko 4-0—8, Megan Hammersmith 4-1—9, Camille Endsley 4-1—9, Danielle Smith 1-0—2, Brooke Houck 1-0—2. TOTALS 14-2—30. SENECA EAST (21-3)Bailey Hamilton 1-0—2, Jessica Bowerman 9-3—25, Makenna Depinet 2-0—4, Amelia Boes 1-0—2, Alexis Hicks 1-0—2, Brooke Bordner 2-0—5, Kiersten Cook 0-1—1. TOTALS 16-4—41. St. Paul 3 8 12 7 — 30S. East 15 8 5 13 — 41 3-point FGs: (SE) Bowerman 4, Bordner.