Farmington’s hard-nosed defense helps in a two-point win over Avon

Avon senior Kaleigh Sherman (34) lets a shot go in Friday night’s CCC Central White contest in Farmington. The Indians won by two, 38-36.

FARMINGTON, Jan. 22 – It’s been a long week for the Avon High girls basketball team. On Tuesday night, they were outhustled in a 42-30 loss to Glastonbury. The next night, Weaver’s defensive speed and pressure was too much in a 56-40 victory.

On Friday night, the Falcons faced Farmington for the first time as members of the Central Connecticut Conference in a CCC Central White Division. Avon looked tired. Farmington was quicker to most loose balls and was able to put constant pressure on 6-foot-3 senior center Abby Laszewski.

Twice, the Falcons trailed by seven points. But each time, they rallied to get back into the contest. But Farmington wouldn’t buckle holding off one last Avon surge in the fourth quarter for a 38-36 decision. Senior Cheray Saunders, who spent much of the evening, guarding Laszewski, led all scorers with 17 points.

Kaleigh Sherman led the Falcons with 14 points including nine points in the fourth quarter while Laszewski added 13 points. Avon (7-5, 4-2 CCC Central White) has lost three straight games.

“My kids played hard. They played well,” Avon coach Frank Waters said. “I’m so proud of how they came back twice, especially being down by (seven) in the first quarter and seven with 4:01 left to go in the game.”

Farmington took a 38-31 lead with 4:04 remaining in the game when a wide-open Erica Szydlik was found under the basket by Saunders. Still, Avon kept playing hard. The Indians didn’t score another point in the game – although they missed several baskets from point-blank range.

With 1:59 remaining, Laszewski grabbed a rebound in the lane and fought past two Farmington defenders to score and cut the lead to five, 38-35. On the next possession, Avon forced an Indian turnover and with Sherman drove to the basket and scored with 1:28 remaining. She was fouled and hit the foul shot to cut the lead to two, 38-36.

It was a physical battle in the lane as Avon’s Abby Laszewski (32) and Alex Benedict (20) vye to control the ball with Farmington’s Cheray Saunders (4) putting on the pressure.

Swarming defense from the Falcons forced a Farmington turnover with 1:09 remaining, giving Avon the ball with a chance to tie or go ahead with a three-point shot. However, all night Farmington had played tough defense frequently trapping the ball handler with two players. Their quickness made it tough to get the ball inside for a shot.

“It’s the best defensive game we’ve played all year,” Farmington coach Russ Crist said. “We had great coverage and good movement. They worked well together. It was good for us to take that step up on defense.”

With around 50 seconds left, Laszewski got the ball in the low post but couldn’t get off a good shot. Alex Benedict had a baseline jumper with 27 seconds remaining bounce off the rim and Sherman’s three-point shot with one second remaining was off the mark.

“You’re not going to win many games scoring 36 points,” Waters said. “We’re struggling to score but we’ll figure it out.”

Saunders played tight defense on Laszewski throughout the game and frequently got assistance when the Wisconsin-bound senior was in the lane.

“She has been everything to this team,” Crist said of Saunders. “She has her 39 or 40 point a game moments. But what people don’t realize is that she works so hard on both ends of the floor. She has become a complete player. She has a motor that doesn’t quit. She has to be exhausted.”

Avon led 6-4 in the first quarter before a 9-1 run by the Indians to lead 15-7 after one quarter complete with a few blocked shots by Farmington and numerous turnovers by the Falcon offense.

In the second quarter, Avon held Farmington to just one field goal – a three-pointer from Mary Schoenherr with 44 seconds left to cut the Indian lead to three, 18-15. The Falcons cut the lead to one twice in the third quarter but the Indians answered every time.

“It is definitely a rivalry,” Crist said. “I’m glad they are in the CCC and we get to play them twice. The girls always get up for Avon.” The two teams will meet again in the final game of the regular season on February 15 in Avon.

Farmington, which dropped a one-point decision to Simsbury on Wednesday, 34-33, improves to 8-5 and 4-2 CCC Central White.

NOTES: Laszewski was recently one of five Connecticut girls and more than 700 players from across the country nominated for consideration to play in the McDonald’s All-American game on March 30 in Chicago. Laszewski and the four girls from Connecticut were not selected to play. … Both Avon and Farmington are now 4-2 in the CCC Central White Division.

Farmington 38, Avon 36
At Farmington
Avon (36) Kaleigh Sherman 5 3-4 14, Lauren Jeandell 0-0-0, Carly Carpino 1 1-3 3, Alex Benedict 3-0-6, Abby Laszewski 5 3-4 13. Totals 14 7-11 36
Farmington (38) Mary Schoenherr 1-0-3, Cheray Saunders 6-4-17, Munah Momah 3-0-6, Chardae Saunders 0-0-0, Julie Meehan 1-0-2, Kelly Winner 0-0-0, Amanda James 2-2-7, Erica Szydlik 1-1-3. Totals 15-7-38
Avon (7-5)                          7  8    8  13 – 36
Farmington (8-5)             15  3  10  10  — 38
Three-point goals: Sherman (A), Schoenherr (F), Cheray Saunders (F)