The visiting Poland girls used a successful fast break and hit foul shots late in the game Monday to top a bigger Cape Elizabeth team, 37-33.
The Capers came out early in the opening quarter with a tough full-court press that resulted in multiple turnovers by the Knights. However, missed opportunities inside and poor shooting from the foul line left Cape trailing by a point after one period.
“We needed to put the pressure on,” said Cape coach Ron Kierstead. “They were turning the ball over, but we weren’t able to capitalize on them.”
Poland was able to adjust to the Capers’ press in the second, running a fast break that allowed the Knights’ offense to set up more easily.
Behind the tough play of Rachel Budkiewicz, the hosts were able to outrebound their opponents, but Poland was able to find the hoop a little more consistently, and they took a 16-11 lead into the locker room.
“We just focused on trying to get the fast break going,” Poland coach Barry Hackett said. “Cape did a good job with the press, but we were able to break that effectively.”
Play in the second half picked up as both teams struggled to set up different offenses, hoping to
control the pace of the game. Cape was working the ball inside on the smaller Knights, allowing Budkiewicz (12 points) to have some success in the paint.
“(Budkiewicz) is one of the leaders on the court and this is one of her better years at Cape,” Kierstead said. “She has improved greatly. She is a just a solid player.”
Poland again was able to adjust, tightening their defense down low. Their full-court press
was effective in setting up the offense, opening up shots on the outside that kept the lead at five points heading into the final period.
The start of the fourth found the teams trading baskets and fouls, but the Knights held on to the lead. With 1:55 remaining, Kierstead called a timeout. Cape Elizabeth’s inbound found the hands of sophomore Anna Tranfaglia, who was open beneath the basket and she laid it in, cutting the margin to three.
Cape, still using a tough press, forced a turnover on Poland’s ensuing possession, as Jackie
Moran (seven points) intercepted a pass and put up a shot in traffic that found the bottom of the net. It was a one-point game.
That was as close as the Capers could get, however. After the teams traded shots from the line, the Knights were still up by one with 46 seconds left. Cape fouls sent Kathryn Hall (seven points) and Danielle Belanger (four points) to the line and they hit all four shots to put the contest away.
The Capers, who’ve lost four games by fewer than six points, face unbeaten Lake Region on the road today (Jan. 12).
“We are almost there, but we just don’t know how to finish,” said Cape’s Brennan Balfour, who finished with six points. “It’s just something we need to work on. Sooner or later its going to start coming around.”
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