By Joseph Staszewski
The Stanners’ skid continues.
Archbishop Molloy fell behind Mount Vernon early behind poor shooting and a bevy of matchup problems on defense as the team tried to contain West Virginia-bound guard Taylor Palmer and forwards Shanyce Stewert and Aisha Ali, both over 6 feet tall.
“We shot ourselves out of the game in the first quarter,” Molloy Coach Tom Catalanotto said. “Then we had to fight back. It’s just tough to get back in it.”
The Stanners rallied in the third, but were put away early in the fourth as Mount Vernon cruised to a 63-43 win at the John F. Kennedy Challenge at InTech Academy in the Bronx Sunday night. The loss was Molloy’s fifth straight.
Kelly Guerriero scored 10 points and Kyra Aloizos scored eight of her nine during the third-quarter rally. Marielle Duryea added eight and was the Stanners’ most active player from start to finish. Palmer dropped in 21 points including four three-pointers for Mt. Vernon.
Molloy (6-10) trailed 31-18 at the half and saw its top defender, Elise Lontos, in early foul trouble. With a little more than six minutes left in the third, Aloizos got into a physical tie-up with a host of Mount Vernon (12-3) players. It seemed to spark something in the Binghamton-bound forward, who wasn’t as aggressive in the first half.
“I kind of got mad,” Aloizos said. “I play better when I am mad.”
Duryea, who also had a key layup and steal, began finding her inside. Aloizos scored on back-to-back layups to pull Molloy within 41-32 with 56 seconds left in the third. But Mount Vernon, with Aloizos on the bench to start the fourth, went on a 7-0 run, capped by a Palmer jumper, to make it 50-32 with 5:53 left in the game.
Freire Charter School (Pa.) 28, Truman 25: Shakera Patterson and Nijee Scott each scored six points for Truman (9-10) in the Kennedy Challenge at InTech Academy. Dakia Manning and Yasmeen Thompson scored eight apiece for Freire (13-5).
Cardinal Spellman 50, St. John Villa 37: Troi Melton scored 12 points and Tia Scott added eight points and six assists for Spellman (9-3) in a CHSAA Bronx/Staten Island crossover. Nicole Franconamo scored 13 points for Villa (3-14). Katie Nikosey added 12.
Reach Joseph Staszewski at jstaszewski@nypost.com.
