Lady Tigers' six-game win streak snapped

The Amherst Central girls basketball team (9-5, 5-4) almost overcame a poor shooting first half at Cheektowaga last Friday, falling, 47-46.

The loss snapped Amherst's six-game win streak.

Amherst trailed Cheektowaga, 31-18, at halftime.

Lady Tigers coach JoAnna Fildes said her team changed a few things defensively in the third quarter and her team started to make baskets, outscoring Cheektowaga, 18-4, to take a 36-35 lead.

The fourth quarter went back and forth with Amherst tying the game at 46-46 with 1:03 remaining. With 12 seconds to play, Amherst inbounded the ball and Casey McGuire got a great shot off with about seven seconds to go and was fouled. McGuire could not make the ensuing free throw, Cheektowaga rebounded and went down the court to get fouled with .5 seconds to go. Charnaye Sanders made her first free throw to seal the win.

"It was a great game on both sides," said Fildes. "I commend our kids for keeping their composure and being able to battle back to gain a lead after being 13 points down."

Jequana Roberts paced Amherst with 14 points. Eva Lankes added eight points. Elana Korn and Amy Simon had seven points each.

Amherst opened its week with a 51-47 overtime win last Wednesday at Springville.

Springville led, 22-21, at halftime but Amherst came out strong in the third quarter, outscoring Springville, 16-8, to gain the lead. Springville's Rachael Stedman tied the game with five seconds remaining on a three-pointer.

In overtime, Jenny Newhouse and Korn scored to get the win. Amherst put a couple of strong defensive series together to make Springville come up with no points in overtime.

Simon led four Lady Tigers in double figures with 14 points. Korn, Newhouse and Lankes each had 10 points.

Amherst hosts Williamsville South in a non-league game at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday.