“Our defense was on, the pressure was there and that’s how we’ve been able to stay in games throughout the season,” said Holy Family Coach Ernest Siy, whose team totaled 16 steals on the night and forced the Comets into 29 turnovers. “But you can’t do anything if you’re only playing 24 minutes of a 32 minute game. There’s nothing you can do about it, other than play harder and play a complete game.”
Adriana Quintero led Holy Family with 14 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, four steals and two blocks, but not the senior captain, nor any other Gael, could stop the Comets from steadily chipping away at the lead in the fourth quarter.
Quintero banked in a three-pointer to put Holy Family (4-9, 1-3 in league) up, 39-32 with 7:10 left in the game.
Sacred Heart (4-10, 2-3)would tie the game on a three-pointer before going up, 41-39, on a steal and layup by Elizabeth Bermudez with just over two minutes left.
“We had defenses lapses there towards the end,” said Siy, who got 12 points and five boards from Gayle Lachica “Sacred Heart’s a good team and we can’t do that toward them.”
The Gaels had a couple of chances to set up a three-point attempt for a tie in the final seconds, but ended up with turnovers on both.
Holy Family led, 10-6, after one quarter and 23-19 at halftime.
Sacred Heart surged to tie the game at 23 early in the third quarter, but the Gaels responded by pushing the lead back up to seven on baskets by Quintero, Jennifer Fisher, Clarisa Romero and Stacy De La Rosa going into the final period.
