The Colonie girls basketball team earned a quality victory as it entered the heart of its Suburban Council schedule.
Three players reached double figures in scoring to help the Lady Raiders pull away for a 54-43 victory over a stubborn Mohonasen squad Saturday in Colonie.
We did some good things defensively, said Colonie coach Heather Fiore. `We can play better defense than what we played (today), but we had a fourth quarter run that helped.`
Mohonasen (2-2 league, 5-2 overall) rallied from a six-point halftime deficit to tie the game at 33 late in the third quarter. But a three-pointer from Shayla Madden sparked a 12-2 Colonie spurt to give the Lady Raiders (2-2, 4-4) a 45-35 lead, and they never looked back.
`This was a streaky game,` said Mohonasen coach Paul Brosious. `Both teams had some runs. We got on a good run in the third quarter, and then they hit a few shots.`
Madden scored 13 points as part of a balanced Colonie attack. Tehresa Coles led the Lady Raiders with 15 points, while eighth grader Sydnie Roasales drained a pair of three-pointers as part of a 12-point afternoon.
`That’s what we need. We have to have balanced scoring,` said Fiore. `We’re not going to have one person carrying us.`
`They got a lot of offensive rebounds, and that definitely hurt us because it led to points,` said Brosious. `They were quicker to the (loose) balls.`
Nicole Adach netted 15 points for Mohonasen, while Lea Mclain chipped in nine points and Michelle Aviza added eight points.
Colonie returned to action Tuesday when it hosted Shaker in the crosstown rivals’ only Suburban Council meeting of the season. The Lady Raiders own a 55-37 victory over the Blue Bison from the Colonie Holiday Tournament Dec. 29.
`With every game, we gain experience,` said Fiore. `We want to peak at the end, not now.“