By Dylan Butler
It was about as good a start to Senior Night Megan Sullivan could ask for.
After being honored along with fellow seniors Susan Divald and Jessica Sanchez before Tuesday's key CHSAA Division I match against Bishop Loughlin, the Wagner-bound guard buried her first four three point attempts to stake the St. Francis Prep girls’ basketball team to an early 10-point lead.
But after scoring 14 first half points, Sullivan was held scoreless in the second half as Bishop Loughlin capitalized on several late turnovers to close out the game on a 9-0 run and walk away with a 66-57 victory.
“They were playing tough defense,” Sullivan said. “But I don’t think my teammates were looking for me.”
Led by Sullivan’s four first quarter three pointers, St. Francis Prep (11-11, 5-5) raced out to a 25-15 lead, but the Terriers scored just four points in the second quarter as Bishop Loughlin (15-6, 7-4) went on a 17-2 run to take a 34-29 lead into the third quarter.
Loughlin switched to a box-and-one defense with Lions’ defensive specialist Jeanette Toney (13 points) holding Sullivan to just two second half shots, both missed three-point attempts.
“We looked at the stats and realized Megan had 12 points in the first quarter,” Loughlin coach Debbie Mortley said. “We had to start playing better defense and put on more pressure and we did that.”
The Terriers also struggled against Loughlin's full court press, especially in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter.
“(The press) rattled us a little down there and we should have been ready for it,” said St. Francis Prep coach Tom Finn. “They’re an athletic team and there were lob passes that we’ve made against other teams that they went up and grabbed out of the air.”
Sanchez had 14 points and Divald and Gina Catherall had nine points apiece for St. Francis Prep, which plays at Molloy Saturday night.
Bishop Loughlin, which takes on Mary Louis Sunday at Queens College, was led by Sharda King’s game-high 18 points, while Janele Henderson added 16 and Amanda Bennett had 12.
Christ the King 73, Absegami (N.J.) 48. The Royals soundly defeated their Garden State opponent Monday behind yet another standout game by Tina Charles and Carrem Gay. Charles had 25 points and 13 boards, while Gay scored 19 with 16 rebounds. The win improved CK to 20-1 on the season, while it was the first loss for Absegami in 21 games.
Stella Maris 62, Fontbonne Hall 53. The Flippers were led by Jennifer Anglero with 15 points and Natalie DeSanctis with 13, helping Stella Maris improve to 12-10 overall and 12-0 in league play.
Archbishop Molloy 62, Holy Trinity (L.I.) 40. Rosalyn Gold-Onwude paced the Stanners with 19, and E.J. Dreyer added 14 in this non-league win this past weekend.
Bishop Loughlin 55, The Mary Louis Academy 51. Junior Liza Gallo scored 27 points for the Hilltoppers, but the Lions of Loughlin were led by Rider-bound Janele Henderson’s 20 points and 12 rebounds Friday as the Brooklyn school held on for the win.
Christ the King 85, St. Francis Prep 53. The Royals rolled over the Terriers behind Gay’s 20 points and Charles’ 17. CK improved to 19-1 overall and 12-0 in league play with the win. Prep fell to 16-5 overall and 9-3 in the league.
St. John’s Prep 33, St. Saviour 29. Zaida Natera led the Red Storm with 12 points, but it was Megan Foley’s jumper in the final minute that gave St. John’s the lead for good. The Red Storm is now 12-5 overall and 9-4 in CHSAA B/Q Div. II play.
Archbishop Molloy 62, Bishop Loughlin 54. Gold-Onwude scored 19, dished out six assists and grabbed six steals, while teammate Jessica McEntee chipped in 12 points and eight boards for Molloy. Henderson led Loughlin with 13 points.
St. Francis Prep 56, Bishop Ford 51. Gina Catherall and Megan Sullivan scored 16 and 11, respectively, for the Terriers. Ford, which has yet to win in league play, was kept close with Jennifer Landis’ 13 points.
St. John’s Prep 40, St. Saviour 32. Melissa Mieles led St. John’s with 13 points in this league win last week.
— Anthony Bosco contributed to this story
Reach Associate Sports Editor Dylan Butler by email at TimesLedger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 143.
