Crusaders Run To Win Behind Mattfeld, Harris, Big 3rd Quarter

December 11, 2018

Catholic Central 54, Ichabod Crane 42

A new-look Catholic Central squad was looking to get on the right track after an up-and-down start, and Ichabod Crane came in having won both of their league games last week. After a back-and-forth start, the Crusaders' most notable returners stepped up and received contributions from others in a big 3rd quarter that provided the separation they needed to secure a home victory.

It looked like luck wouldn't be on the Crusaders' side in the opening seconds. Right after Ichabod Crane scored on its opening possession, CCHS starter Brooke Curtin went down with an ankle injury. She tried to give it a go later in the half - even hitting a three - but the return was short-lived, as they put her on the shelf for the game not long after. They fought it off in a back-and-forth opening stanza, as Sarah Mattfeld (CCHS 2021) got them going with a pair of free throws and a three in the game's first 90 seconds. Another Mattfeld basket late in the quarter followed by a Riqiya Harris (CCHS 2019; SUNY Brockport commit) bucket put the Crusaders up 13-10 after 1. Ichabod Crane responded in the 2nd quarter and briefly took the lead back when Kyla Elliot (ICC 2019) converted an old-fashioned 3 point play with 3:44 left in the half. The Crusaders were able to hold their visitors to two points for the remainder of the quarter - another Elliot basket in the final minute, giving her 8 points in the quarter - and a Harris drive forced Elliot to pick up her 3rd foul with :01.4 left in the half. Her free throw put the Crusaders up 23-22 at the break.

Sarah Mattfeld had a strong all-around game, finishing with a game high 21 points, 11 rebounds, and drawing the defensive assignment of Madison Graham.

Ichabod Crane briefly took the lead early in the 3rd quarter on a pair of Madison Graham (ICC 2020) free throws, but CCHS took over from there. They responded with another Mattfeld three, Cece Boisvert (CCHS 2022) started making her presence felt and added a pair of baskets, and her second of the quarter capped a quick 11-0 spurt, giving the hosts a 35-25 lead. A Boisvert free throw gave them a 12 point lead, their largest at the time, late in the quarter. Graham got loose right before the quarter ended and scored in transition, her first field goal since the middle of the 1st quarter, to cut their deficit to 10. Mattfeld scored the first three points of the 4th quarter, with a free throw putting CCHS up 43-30 with 5:49 left. Ichabod Crane made one more push, going on an 8-2 spurt capped by a contested Graham trey to cut the margin to 45-38. However, Riqiya Harris came back, got to the rim and converted - fouling Kyla Elliot out in the process - and made the free throw, extending CCHS' lead back to double digits with 3:40 left. The Riders were never able to challenge from there, as the margin remained double digits to the final buzzer.

Sarah Mattfeld had a strong game for the Crusaders, dropping a game high 21 points & adding 11 rebounds for the impressive 20/10 showing from the backcourt, all while drawing the assignment of dynamic scorer Madie Graham. Riqiya Harris added a double-double of her own, finishing with 10 points & 17 rebounds, along with handing out a handful of assists in a very solid well-rounded effort. For Ichabod Crane, Graham led the way with 16 points - 9 coming in the 4th quarter - and Kyla Elliot added 11.

Madison Graham got it going late and led Ichabod Crane with 16 points in defeat.

#JeffsNotes

- Sarah Mattfeld delivered the kind of overall performance that I think she had been waiting to deliver, and I can imagine that'll build confidence for her going forward. The sophomore has been on the radar of those heavily involved with girls' basketball for at least a couple years now, and she's entering a new role of having to be a go-to source of production while also often running the point - a position not necessarily familiar to the natural wing. The perimeter J was falling, and she was also getting into the lane off the dribble and converting. Most impressively, I thought she did a nice job defensively on Graham. Lateral quickness defensively has been a concern that people have brought up in the past, and not only do I think she's made improvements in that regard, she also has the basketball IQ & strength to bother scorers, particularly at the wing. It was certainly a team defensive effort, but it was Sarah at the head of that on Graham, working around screens on nearly every possession against a player that has the ability to get hot in a heartbeat. Solid effort.

Riqiya Harris' impact was felt far beyond her 10 points Tuesday night.

- When Riqiya Harris plays like she did Tuesday night, she doesn't have to score a point to make her team considerably better. She controlled the glass, especially at the defensive end where it seemed the visiting Riders were one-and-done most of the time. Offensively, she was huge with her court vision & passing ability. She found people from the high & low post against the zone, hit drift passes to the corner on baseline drives, and even played point forward some times & made the right play in transition. The Brockport commit's passing ability was on full display throughout Tuesday's game, and as someone that appreciates that piece of the game, I was all in for it.