After trailing 30-28 entering the fourth quarter, the Summit Hilltoppers girls basketball team nearly shut down the AL Johnson Crusaders’offense to emerge with a 39-32 victory on December 19. Two days later, the Crusaders were stung by the Jonathan Dayton Bulldogs, 43-42, then on December 22, they got back on the winning trail with a 56-21 icing of the Hillside Comets.
Sophomore Julia Lettini led the Crusaders with 13 points, nine rebounds, three blocks and two steals against the Hilltoppers. Mackenzie Thompson put in nine points, including a 3-pointer, and added three steals, two rebounds and an assist. Liz Fitzharris finished with five points, two steals, two assists and two rebounds. Jordana Tarentino had three points, two steals and two rebounds. Avery Forfa had two points and a rebound. Alisia Hamm had three points and an assist. Clare Brighouse had two rebounds.
Hilltopper Charlotte Yarnall scored nine points, including a 3-pointer, four steals, four rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Emily Demm finished with eight points, including a 3-pointer, three assists, a block, a steal and a rebound. Sloane Ricciuti had seven points, three steals, two rebounds and an assist. Emma Ryan netted seven points (3-pointer), a block and a steal. Emily Sensenich scored six points (3-pointer), and added five rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block. Tessa Cusumanno had two points, two rebounds and a steal. Trailing by one entering the forth quarter, the Dayton Bulldogs outscored the Crusaders, 8-6, to pull out the win. Lettini scored 16 points and added seven rebounds and two steals. Tarentino had seven points and six rebounds, Fitzharris had seven points and eight rebounds, and Hamm sank five points, including a 3-pointer, and added five rebounds and a block. Brighouse (4 rebounds, assist), Bella Ciccotelli (rebound) and Kaileigh Netland (rebound, steal) each scored two points. Thompson pulled eight rebounds, had three steals and added tow assists and a point.
Amiel Dillard led the Bulldogs with 14 points, which included nine free throws and a 3-pointer, and added 17 rebounds. Molly Martys netted 10 points (2 3-pointers), five rebounds and three assists. Tori Turner finished with 10 points (2 3-pointers), six rebounds and two steals.
The field day against the Comets had Brighouse making five steals to go with three blocks, four assists, five points and three rebounds. Tarentino had seven points, a steal an three rebounds. Gwen Cahill scored seven points, including a pair of 3-pointers, and grabbed three rebounds. Fitzharris recorded 13 points (3-pointer), four rebounds, two steals and an assist. Forfa netted seven points (3-pointer), four steals, two rebounds and an assist. Thompson had six points, five rebounds, three assists and a steal. Hamm had five points, including a 3pointer, and two rebounds. Alyssa Martucci had four points, three rebounds and two blocks.
