Abington Friends hopes to learn from setback against Life Center
LOWER MERION >> There aren’t many times when the Abington Friends School girls basketball team faces a team with similar size and athleticism.
When they do, the Kangaroos try to look at it as a test and a chance to grow. Saturday, they kicked off the Kobe Bryant Classic at Lower Merion against a team like that in Life Center Academy out of New Jersey. Whether it was the early start, or a carryover from an emotional league win the night before, AFS did not start well.
As it turned out, a big first-quarter deficit was too much for AFS to overcome, as it fell 60-49 for just its second loss of the season.
“It’s exactly what I said in the locker room,” Roos coach Jeff Bond said. “We knew they’d be tough. We were coming off a big league game last night and have two big ones coming up this week so we wanted to put ourselves in a position where we had to try and accept the challenge.”
Senior Alyssa DeNofa scored the game’s first basket just four seconds in and then things started to all go against AFS. The Kangaroos are in an interesting spot in that they start three seniors and every other player on the roster is a sophomore or freshman. Life Center on the other hand, is mostly juniors and seniors.
So early, Life Center dominated the backboard and used its size and athletic ability to the fullest, forcing a lot of turnovers, getting out for transition baskets and creating second and third chances off of its offensive rebounds. AFS struggled quite a bit with all that, falling behind 21-5 before it clawed back to 26-12 at the end of the first quarter.
“We knew they were a good team and we were a little nervous coming in here,” Bond said. “They got out on us a couple times early, ran and got easy baskets. We’ve talked all year about keeping an even keel and not letting what’s happening the moment affect the next moment and we didn’t do that to start. That’s going to happen, we just have to work to mature and get through the tough times.”
AFS actually won the final three quarters 37-34, but the lead was too big and Life Center had a knack for responding every time the Roos started to put a little pressure on. Any time AFS cut the lead down to 10, nine or even eight points, one of the Warriors guards would hit a 3-pointer or Life Center would rip off two quick buckets around a stop or a shot outside of what AFS wanted to take.
Life Center still had the advantage in rebounding, but Abington Friends started to even it out a bit in the second half, and started getting the second chance opportunities that Life Center had thrived on at the start of the game.
“We’re trying to be a competitive program and play teams that will challenge us,” Bond said. “This was good for us. It was a lot better than just going into our gym and practicing. We can take some things from it, we have to do a much better job rebounding next week, a much better job defending for four quarters.
“As long as we take something from it, it will be a positive experience.”
Freshman Paige Mott scored a game-high 20 points and pulled down 12 rebounds for AFS, coming on strong after halftime and earning her team’s game MVP award.
“You forget she’s a ninth grader because she’s so tall and so talented and she works really hard,” Bond said. “The moment wasn’t too big for her. We challenged her at halftime and told her this is a game where you can go get every rebound and score in the post.”
DeNofa was a perfect 4-of-4 from the floor and 2-of-2 at the line for 12 points while her fellow seniors Jade Young and Khadijah Hickson each scored six. Kendall Hodges, a freshman guard, had five to round out the AFS scoring.
Saturday’s was the start of what Bond jokingly referred to as his team’s “Main Line Tour.” AFS plays at Shipley School and Friends’ Central during the week, then faces North Penn to conclude the Blue Chip showcase at Harriton next Sunday.
Shipley and Friends Central have been the premier teams in the Friends Schools League and in the PAISAA the last seven years, and represent the level the Kangaroos want to get to.
“A lot of our schedule, we’re not playing teams where you have to account for all five on defense,” Bond said. “Teams like this, you have to account for all five and that’s why we’re playing them and other teams like this.”
Life Center 60, Abington Friends 49
Life Center 26 10 13 11 – 60
Abington Friends 12 13 12 12 – 49
Life Center (60): Burnett 6 2-2 16, King 3 0-0 6, T Lewis 5 0-0 12, I Lewis 4 2-3 10, DeVincenzo 3 4-4 12, Mack 1 0-0 2, Zapata-Smalls 1 0-0 2. Totals: 23 8-11 60
Abington Friends (49): Khadijah Hickson 3 0-3 6, Jade Young 3 0-1 6, Kendall Hodges 1 3-5 5, Paige Mott 6 8-17 20, Alyssa DeNofa 4 2-2 12, Jordan Smith 0 0-2 0. Nonscoring: Paige Osborne, Brianna Davis. Totals: 17 13-30 49
