Sports

Sharp Shooting Albertus Rolls Past Pearl River

UPDATED with details and reaction from Albertus Magnus's 76-48 victory at home against Pearl River Wednesday.

The Albertus Magnus girls basketball team hit shots from long range early and often in Wednesday's 76-48 victory at home against at against Pearl River.

"When they get hot, they get hot," Pearl River Head Coach Dan Lauture said. "We lost by 28 points. I bet they made three-pointers for 28 points. That's the difference right there. We didn't get out on shooters. They made their first two early on and I feel that put us on our heels the entire game.

"I will say defensively, we got our butts kicked. That's what it is. We got beat up."

Lauture's estimate was close. The Falcons finished with 12 three-point shots, accounting for 36 of their points. Junior guard Madison McGrath sank five of them on her way to a game-high 30 points. 

"She's capable of that," Albertus Magnus Head Coach Pat Buckley said. "WE have a couple of shooters who are capable of that on any given night. Today, it felt like everybody shot the ball well. Maddy is a great shooter. When she gets going, she's going to make a bunch. I'm glad she chose today and hopefully it continues the rest of the year."

She had plenty of help. Senior guard Kelly Guarino, who finished with 22 points, made four shots from beyond the three-point arc. With Albertus Magnus (9-4) building a 66-38 lead after three quarters, McGrath and Guarino did not even play in the final period. 

"Kelly makes everybody else better," Buckley said of McGrath, who missed all of last season with a knee injury. "That's the type of player she is. It's just great to see her out there having fun. We're certainly better with her out there.

"I think we are getting better every week. We're hitting our stride."

Lauture said the goal had been to make McGrath put the ball on the floor rather than shoot jump shots, but she found openings. He said the Pirates had not seen a team that can shoot like Albertus Magnus yet this season.

"I will say they are probably the best team we've seen so far," Lauture said. "Very disciplined. They know exactly what they want and how they are going to get it. You can tell the chemistry between everybody on that team. It's just one of the differences that sets them apart."

Albertus Magnus was also able to keep Pearl River (7-4) from establishing any consistency on the offensive end. Leading scorer Emma Daly managed only seven points. Sophomore Jenna Scanlon came off the bench to lead the Pirates with 12 points. It was Pearl River's first game without team captain Maura Sullivan, who suffered a broken finger in practice Sunday and will miss three to four weeks. 

The game was a make-up of the scheduled contest that was postponed due to Tuesday's winter storm. Both teams play again Thursday, with Albertus Magnus at home against Nyack and Pearl River at Tappan Zee, then the Pirates and Falcons meet again 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Pearl River. 

"We have to have a short memory because we have another game tomorrow, another tough one tomorrow," said Lauture of the game against Tappan Zee, which won at Pearl River earlier this season. 
"It's not going to be the same story Sunday," Buckley said. "I know that. They didn't have it today and we did. You've got to be ready to play every game or that will happen to you."


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