AVON, Dec. 14, 2010 – Senior Kiera Givens had a game-high 16 points and five steals, including a crucial jumper with 2:15 remaining in the game to help the Avon High girls basketball team outlast Granby, 43-33 in the home opener for the Falcons.
Avon (2-0, 2-0 NCCC) had a horrific first half shooting the ball, making just 4 of 21 field goals but they led by five points. The Falcons extended its lead to as much as 12 points in the second half only to see Granby tighten up the contest in the fourth quarter.
Granby’s Kristen Endorf hit a three-pointer with 6:07 remaining in the game to cut the Avon lead to seven points. On the next possession, Granby’s Gabby Dixon stole the ball but the Bears missed a layup. But Granby was energized.
Avon extended its lead to eight but Makuch hit two foul shots and Dixon scored inside with 3:33 remaining to cut the Falcon lead to four, 36-32.
Givens extended the lead to six, 38-32 with 2:15 remaining, scoring on a wide-open jumper after a nice pass from Emily Jordan. That was the final field goal of the game. The Falcons outscored Granby from the free throw line by a 5-1 margin the rest of the way.
Jordan had two free throws in that run. She was 4-for-4 from the charity stripe with a game-high 10 rebounds. Carolyn Jadovich scored eight points while Chelesa Foster added seven.
For Granby, Markuch led the Bears with 14 points while four other players scored four points each.
Despite missing two starters due to injuries, Avon High coach Frank Waters expects more from his team. “We’re a tall basketball team and we’re not boxing out on rebounds. For the second straight game, a smaller team had too many second chances. We’re not even close to where I think this team can be.”
Waters praised Givens, who had three steals in the third quarter – two on back-to-back possessions. “She provided the energy we needed,” he said. “She played extremely well.”
Granby coach Dean Godin said this game was lost in the first quarter after Avon took a 12-4 lead, scoring a pair of three-point shots in the final 1:08.
“We can play with anyone,” Godin said. “Are we ready to kick the door down yet? I wasn’t happy how we prepared to play the game. We got to the gym but we weren’t focused and we played like it in the first quarter.”
Avon 43, Granby 33
At Avon
Granby (33) Haley Makuch 4-6-14, Ellie McDougall 0-0-0, Emily Stone 0-4-4, Sarah Eckhardt 0-0-0, Michelle Guttermuth 0-0-0, Kristen Endorf 1-1-4, Shannell Starling 2-0-4, Rachel Horr 0-4-4. Totals 7-14
Avon (43) Kiera Givens 6-4-16, Emily Jordan 0-4-4, Carolyn Jadovich 2-1-8, Chelsea Foster 3-0-7, Anna Schrecengost 1-4-6, Jenna Donahue 0-0-0, Lauren Perez 1-0-2. Totals 13-13
Three-point goals: Endorf (G), Jadovich (A), Foster (A)
Records: Avon 2-0, Granby 1-2
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