Fox Lane basketball trounces Somers

SOMERS, N.Y. - On Jan. 13, Somers hosted Fox Lane for a rematch on the court. Falling in the final seconds at the Pelham Memorial Tournament, the Tuskers had to be hoping they could get over the top. But making up the difference proved to be a very tall order.

Long interior play and strong outside shooting got Fox Lane an early lead that grew exponentially by halftime and resulted in a 52-27 defeat.

However, the game did begin on a competitive note. After Cora Moore scored two from the line in the first possession, Sydney Ingraham did her one better. Freed above the arc on Ashley Kuchinsky’s drive across the paint, the senior guard dropped the triple.

Somers' only lead of the game, sharp shooting quickly laid the groundwork for the remainder. Left alone downtown, Cara Drapala swished a two-point lead, and Riley New was next. She hit a short jumper on the baseline and then let fly for a 10-3 lead.

At 2:20, Kuchinsky and Ingraham were still up for it, and they added Kacey McCullough. A give and go to Ingraham, the guard played the double team down low into a pass back to the Somers center, and she hit the triple.
10-5, the Foxes answered right back. This time Drapala penetrated the paint, and Fox Lane showed their bigs had touch too. The kick out to the corner, Moore was true from three. 

Then height had its say on defense. First Olivia Allegretti was blocked inside by Morgan Clinton, and on the next trip down, Clinton turned away McCullough’s post up move.

Somers stayed close nonetheless and acrobatics gave hope. On the quick hands of Ingraham, Eliana Contreras picked up the defection and ran the break solo. Forced out of the paint, she flipped the ball up with her back to the hoop and the trajectory had eyes. 

In for a 13-7 score, Fox Lane had their own version in reply. Clinton received the ball on the baseline, and with McCullough forcing her counterpart under, the Fox Lane center executed a perfect reverse layup to close the quarter with an eight point lead.

Not for long, Clinton quickly set the tone. Ingraham drove and the center had the block again. On the run, New raced up court and hanging in the corner was the other big. Up for three by Moore and down for an 18-7 lead.

Kuchinsky did respond from downtown, but Clinton was done playing. First she hit a three, then hit one from the line after a baseline drive and twice followed misses for a 26-10 lead.

Running away, Fox Lane built a 23-point lead. A jumper and a three by Drapala and one from downtown by New blew the game open, and there was no coming back for Somers.