The Hall girls basketball team hosted Innovation Saturday morning in West Hartford, losing 45-40.

Sports reporting is sponsored by Keating Agency Insurance

By Paul Palmer

Hall and Innovation CREC battled back and forth over four quarters with the Ravens winning it down the stretch on free throws.

With 16 points, Anya Leshem led the Titans, who dropped to 5-8 on the season with the loss.

Innovation – from New Britain – ran out to a 6-2 lead relying on Symber Sutton’s work inside. Hall fought back with Alexandra Golder hitting from inside and Alexa Reilly putting back a rebound as time ran down to give the hosts the 9-8 lead after one.

The Ravens came out fast in the second with Karina Falcon hitting a deep 3 over a Hall defender to give the visitors a lead. Hall’s shooting ran cold for much of the second, with several misses and turnovers that let Innovation to fight back and take a lead. Sutton and Phoebe Candy were effective inside using their size advantage to post up and hit lay-ins, often picking up chances for a 3-point play off Hall fouls. The 9-3 scoring advantage for Innovation handed them a 17-12 advantage at the intermission.

Coach Ernestine Faienza went with a full court press on defense to start the second half, but the Ravens used smart passing to break it. Both sides struggled with scoring again and the Titans switched out of the press about halfway through the third.

With 2:00 to go Leshem turned a steal into two points with a layup to cut the deficit to 25-21. Lesham later forced a turnover on an inbound pass that Livia Bush paid off with a 3-pointer to make it 25-24 Innovation.

Reilly the had a steal and basket to give Hall the 26-25 lead. Reilly had three forced turnovers in a short span of the quarter and her work inside along with teammate Elsie Muska helped shut down the effectiveness of Candy and Sutton inside for the Ravens. After Innovation tied it with a free throw with :11 to play, Chloe Lynch saw her 3-pointer at the horn roll around the rim and out leaving it at 26-all heading into the fourth. The Titans outscored the visitors 14-9 in the third.

Leshem hit a pair of 3s sandwiched around a basket by Innovation to make it 32-28 Hall. The Titans then had back-to-back turnovers on offense, but Innovation only managed to score two points off them.

Reilly’s turnaround in the lane pushed the lead to 35-30 and Hall had a chance for more when Leshem was fouled going in for a basket after a steal, but neither shot would go.

The Ravens fought back and after a free throw it was Maiara Rodriguez hitting a 3, and they went back in front on the next possession with another three from the left side with 3:34 left to play in the game. Off another inbound pass it was Sutton – who had a game high 23 points – dropping the lay-in to make it 39-35 Innovation with 3:05 to play.

Hall would fight back again and with 1:00 to play, it was Golder with a 3-point basket to pull the Titans within a point. Hall was forced to foul and force the Ravens to convert from the charity stripe, which they struggled to do.

With :07 to play and Hall down 45-40, the Titans went for the quick 3, but Rodriguez got the block on the shot to seal the win. Hall returns to action next week with games against SMSA and Bristol Eastern as they work to earn victories and secure a spot in the post-season.

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