By Dave Ricci
TOWN OF TONAWANDA — There is nothing like the thrill of a big game living up to expectations.
Joelle Pollak sank 20 points as Kenmore East topped Grand Island 53-48 in Niagara Frontier League girls’ basketball action at the “Doghouse” Thursday night.
The marquee match up of the night in girls’ scholastic basketball, both clubs entered the game ranked in the top 10 of the Western New York large school poll.
Initially it looked as if the Bulldogs might run away with the game as they used a series of quick give-and-goes, sharp passes and well-timed shots to jump to a 20-10 lead after the first quarter and 33-19 lead at the half over the Vikings.
No doubt the highlight of the first half came when Pollak forced a turnover as the Vikings were bringing the ball up court. Pollak popped the ball to Katie Blanch, who passed it back to Pollak as she drove to the hoop and scored to put the Bulldogs up 18-8.
But the Vikings swung the momentum in their favor early in the second half.
Taking advantage of the fact that Bulldogs 5-foot-10 Jordyn Broas (10 points), sat out the third in foul trouble and 5-foot-10 Jordan Quattrini is sidelined with a stress fracture, the Vikings began feeding the ball into 6-foot-2 Cassie Oursler (14 points) more frequently.
Led by point guard Kallie Banker who netted 17 points the Vikings (7-2 in NFL, 9-4 overall) were able to mount a strong comeback and draw within four points, 38-34, with 1:19 left in the third quarter and within two points, 44-42 midway through the fourth.
But they could not over take the Bulldogs who were driven to not let this win slip away.
“They did a great job tonight,” said GI coach Jen Banker. “We tried to shutdown their key players and their key players still did the job.”
Improving to 12-2 overall and 8-2 in league the Bulldogs extended their winning streak to six games.
The win was also a bit of redemption for the Bulldogs who lost to GI last month.
