Elizabeth-Forward girls send Freeport packing

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, February 17, 2018 | 11:16 PM

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The word drought usually is associated with summertime, not a wet weekend in mid-February.

But a scoring drought Saturday afternoon proved disastrous for the Freeport girls basketball team.

The seventh-seeded Yellowjackets failed to score in the final 6 minutes, 18 seconds of the first half during their 45-33 loss.

Elizabeth Forward staged a 19-2 run over that same period to win in the opening round of the Class 4A playoffs at Fox Chapel.

No. 10 EF (15-7) will play No. 2 Blackhawk in the quarterfinals Thursday.

Freeport (13-9) was playing well, leading 17-15 thanks to sophomore Sidney Shemanski scoring nine of the first 17 Yellowjackets points.

But but a trio of 3-point baskets for Elizabeth Forward, including one at the buzzer before the half by Juria Flournoy gave the Warriors a 27-17 lead at intermission.

“The first quarter, we were on fire. Then we couldn't buy a hoop,” Freeport coach Fred Soilis said. “And everything they shot went in.”

Said EF coach Krystal Gibbs: “We played our zone (defense) today, better than we have all season. They just came out, dug deep and played with heart.”

Last year on the same floor, Freeport came on strong in the fourth quarter and in overtime to win in the first round 56-50.

Jenna Manke scored 21 points and had 12 rebounds a year ago. But Saturday, the Freeport senior was frustrated by the Elizabeth Forward defense and was held to a pair of free throws.

“I wanted us to keep them outside and protect the middle because we knew what she was capable of doing,” Gibbs said.

Said Soilis: “Their zone frustrated us. I think if they would have played (man-to-man), we would have beaten them. When we got the ball into Jenna, they doubled her, and she was in an awkward position to shoot.”

Junior forward Brianna Spirnak led the way for the Warriors with 16 points and eight rebounds, and Julia Jenkins had 14 points, including four 3-point field goals.

Flournoy had eight steals, and Jenkins had three.

The Warriors had 18 turnovers, but Freeport couldn't take advantage with its cold shooting.

Shemanski had 16 points and 11 rebounds.

George Guido is a freelance writer.

Tags: Elizabeth Forward, Freeport