AURORA – Rosary retained Edgelawn Drive girls basketball bragging rights by defeating Suburban Christian Conference Blue rival and neighbor Aurora Central Catholic, 44-38, on its home court Wednesday.
However, the win was a harder fought victory for the host Royals than their win two weeks ago in the Chargers’ gym just a few block away.
One point separated the two teams with 1:29 left in the last conference game of the season for both teams. ACC’s Lisa Rodriguez sank two free throws to narrow the Royals’ lead, 36-35.
On Rosary’s next possession, Quincy Kellett (13 points) was fouled and connected on one of her free throws to widened the margin to two points, 37-35.
Turnovers on ACC’s next two possessions sealed the game.
On the first turnover, it took four Royals shots before Megan Conlin scored.
On the second turnover, Rosary’s Rachel Choice (13 points) scored on a rebound of a missed Royals free throw. The bucket gave her team a 39-35 lead with less than 30 seconds left in the game.
Both teams started the game at a slow pace
Kellet opened the Royals scoring in the first quarter a 3-pointer.
Rosary (13-11, 6-4 SCC Blue) did not sink a basket for the rest of the quarter and trailed, 12-4, at the end of the first quarter. ACC (12-12, 2-8) only managed four buckets in the first eight minutes.
“The first half we didn’t make any shots,” Royals coach Jessie Wilcox said. “We were getting open looks but we just couldn’t hit anything. In the second half we really keyed in on attacking the basket. If we aren’t going to make them from the outside we have to get closer in.”
The Chargers’ shooting went cold in the second quarter, as the team scored only one basket. The Royals improved and sank four baskets and pulled within one of ACC, 14-13.
Both teams found their shots in the third quarter, scoring more points in the frame than in the first half. Rosary took the lead from the Chargers, 24-22, on a Mary Wentworth layup at the 4:30 mark.
“Just a lot of missed opportunites was the key for us,” Chargers coach Mark Fitzgerald said. “We worked the ball in, got the bunny or the layup and it just didn’t fall. ... My kids fought hard, as did Rosary, but our youth hurt us there.”
Kalie Soris led ACC scorers with 13 points. Rodriguez scored 12.
