Lady Panthers keep composure, beat Clarence

The Sweet Home girls basketball team (11-3, 7-0) kept plugging away in its non-league game at Clarence last Friday and the ball finally bounced the Lady Panthers' way.

Tied at 37-37 after three quarters, Sweet Home kept its composure and found ways down the stretch to hold off the Lady Red Devils, 58-53.

A key play occurred with three minutes remaining and the game tied. Bianca Smiley made the first of two free throw attempts to put Sweet Home up by one, but missed the second. However, Laura Nerber was there to grab a key rebound and score on the putback to put the Lady Panthers up three.

Sweet Home also had key free throws by Ellie Allen and Gleniesha Ferby (each 2 of 2) with under two minutes to go to seal the win."

"This is a quality win for us on the road against a good Clarence team," said Sweet Home coach Matt LaRoach. "I was disappointed with our third quarter play but happy with the fact that we kept playing and found a way to win."

LaRoach said during the third quarter, Clarence made its shots and his team did not rebound well.

"I knew Clarence was a good shooting team but we just did not contest and close out well during the third quarter," he said.

Sweet Home opened the game playing great defense, holding Clarence to six points in the first quarter and three in the second quarter. Sweet Home was ahead, 13-6, after the first quarter and, 26-9, at halftime. Clarence was held to four field goals in the first half.

Allen led all scorers with 27 points. She also grabbed five rebounds and dished out four assists. Smiley added a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Nadia Durno almost had a double-double of her own, finishing with nine points and 10 rebounds.

LaRoach said Gleniesha Ferby (six points) had some key free throws down the stretch and Amanda Cannizzo (four points) made a couple of big baskets.

"People stepped up to get it done," said LaRoach. "We will take the win and but need to keep working and getting better as we get back to league play this week."

Clarence was led by Katie Lancellotti's 18 points and Holly Travis' 14.

Sweet Home, ranked fourth in Western New York large schools, hosted 10th-ranked Williamsville East on Tuesday but the result was unavailable before The Bee went to press. They play at 6:30 p.m. on Friday at Iroquois.