Sweet Home girls hoops still unbeaten in league

The Sweet Home girls basketball team improved to 10-0 in ECIC Division II and 14-3 overall with a 53-48 win at Iroquois last Tuesday and a 72-26 victory over Lake Shore last Thursday at home.

The Lady Panthers' defense was a key in both games. Sweet Home held Iroquois to 15 first half points and Lake Shore to 16 first half points.

Sweet Home led Iroquois, 26-15, at halftime and Lake Shore, 35-16.

"The key to our success down the stretch will be our defense and how well we play together," said Sweet Home coach Matt LaRoach. "I think the girls are making strides in practice each day. We need to keep working so that we will be playing our best basketball as we close out league play and regular season this week. I am happy with our progress, but am realistic about the fact that we have to work to get better."

Sweet Home went ahead, 46-35, over Iroquois after the third quarter.

"I thought our defense in the first half was a big factor in putting us in a position to get the win," said LaRoach. "In the second half, we had some defensive lapses but in the end, pulled out the win. It was not always pretty at times, but down the stretch we found ourselves in another close game that we did a good job of playing our game."

Ellie Allen led Sweet Home with 22 points, eight rebounds and six assists.

"She did such a nice job of setting the tempo on both ends of the floor," said LaRoach.

Bianca Smiley added 11 points and six rebounds. Amanda Cannizzo added eight points and three assists.

"We also received strong efforts from Amanda Cannizzo, Gleniesha Ferby, and Rachel Cimerman," said LaRoach. "I just think that our guards continue to progress and get better every game. Whatever a team throws at us defensively, they do a nice job of handling different situations."

Iroquois was led by Grace Cunningham's 14 points.

Unlike the Iroquois game, LaRoach felt his team put four quarters of consistent basketball together against Lake Shore.

"I thought we did a nice job of dictating the tempo of the game based on our defensive pressure," said LaRoach. "When we play with intensity on the defensive side of the ball, it leads to so many opportunities for our offense."

Sweet Home led Lake Shore, 52-21, after the third quarter.

Sweet Home was led by Smiley's 18 points, seven rebounds, and seven steals.

"She played a complete game on both sides of the ball," said LaRoach. "This is the way she needs to play for us all of the time."

Allen added 15 points and six assists and was great on the defensive side of the ball, said LaRoach.

Ferby scored 10 points and dished out four assists. Cannizzo added seven and Cimerman, Heather Kolbas, and Nadia Durno each scored six.

The game was senior night for Sweet Home.

Lake Shore was led by Sam Rosario-Ritts with nine points.

Sweet Home plays at Hamburg on Wednesday and Williamsville North on Friday. Both games start at 7:30 p.m.