Girls Basketball: Oswego East falls to Lanphier at Young

Updated: January 14, 2012 5:53PM

For two and a half quarters, Oswego East was in a groove against Springfield Lanphier. They moved the ball, found the open shooter, rebounded when there was a miss and got back on defense.

During a crucial third quarter stretch, the shots they made with relative ease started getting considerably more difficult. Lanphier ended the quarter with a 10-1 run.

In a moment’s notice, the team’s eight-point lead evaporated. Lanphier rode the momentum to a 51-48 victory in the MLK Dream Classic at Young Saturday.

Sophomore guard Aysia Bugg scored nine of her game-high 16 points in the second half. “Defensively, we allowed too many offensive rebounds and that really hurt us,” Oswego East coach Abe Corretto said.

The Wolves (13-6) did not panic in falling behind 44-40 midway through the quarter. Bugg scored on an offensive rebound and two free throws during a burst that returned the favor to the Wolves at 46-45.

After Lanphier reclaimed the lead on two free throws, senior guard Arnessa Blair made a beautiful move in the lane. She split two defenders and scored on a jumper for a 48-47 Oswego East lead with just under a minute to play.

The game changed with less than 30 seconds to play. After Lanphier’s Breonna Lewis split two free throws that forged the final tie at 48, junior forward Travonna Powers scored off a Wolves’ turnover.

She missed the free throw. Oswego East had a chance to tie though missed the front end of a one-and-one. The Wolves had one final chance after Jasmine Ross missed the second of two free throws. Down three with just under 10 seconds to play, they struggled to get off a good look and ended up with a desperation heave from beyond half court that was short.“They stepped up their pressure in the second half, and we some had problems handling it,” Corretto said. “Things were going well for us, and looking back, maybe we should have pressured more at the start of the game.”

The Wolves were hurt by foul trouble as Blair and LeRoyla Campbell both fouled out. Blair and senior forward Kylee Jackson both contributed eight points for the Wolves. Venita Parsons scored six.

Powers led the Lions with 14 points.

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