Lombardoni Goes Off Early, Others Make Plays Late in Fonda W Over Mekeel

December 10, 2019

Fonda-Fultonville 57, Mekeel Christian Academy 51

I always say that I don't put much stock in early-season results - and that's true, I don't - but I'm also a fan of early season measuring sticks. There was an interesting one on Tuesday a quick drive on the Thruway west to Exit 28, as two of the WAC's top teams - who both look to make a run at the Section 2 Class B crown in a couple months - met to battle.

It was a fast, but even start. Avery Mills (Mekeel 2024) banged a pull-up three off the opening tip, and Marilyn Whitcavitch (Fonda-Fultonville 2022) finished quickly at the other end, setting the tone for what to expect. It was 6-5 in favor of Mekeel when Mikyla Mitchell, a standout for them, went to the bench with her second foul. Not long after, Abby Lombardoni (Fonda-Fultonville 2020) got on the board with a three, and they were off from there. Fonda went on a 13-2 run to end the 1st quarter, 11 of them coming from Lombardoni as she went off for 14 in the opening frame, as they ran their lead to 21-12 at the end of the quarter. They continued to stretch their lead against a Mekeel squad that was stagnant in the half-court offensively, and Lombardoni kept scoring. She hit her 4th three of the half right before the halftime buzzer, giving her 21 points before intermission and giving Fonda a 32-18 cushion.

Abby Lombardoni was dominant in the early goings of Tuesday's contest, dropping 21 of her game high 25 in the 1st half.

The Braves extended their cushion to 16 twice early in the 3rd on baskets by 2022s Kyla Smith and Lyndsay Lombardoni, and a Carly Atty three-point play gave them a 41-27 lead with 3:37 left in the 3rd, but Mekeel would charge back from there. Mills hit a pair of free throws with 2:10 remaining in the quarter, and she got loose from there, going on a personal 9-0 run over the remainder of the 3rd. Her three not long before the buzzer cut Mekeel's deficit to 41-36 with eight minutes to play.

The visitors continued their charge back in the 4th. A Whitcavitch bucket extended Fonda's lead to 8, but five straight Mitchell points - who was still bogged down with foul trouble - cut the deficit to 45-42 with 3:58 left. Smith responded with a three for Fonda, and Jill Ballard (Mekeel 2020) answered with a trey of her own at the 3:20 mark. After getting a stop, Mitchell was whistled for her 5th in transition, a major blow to their comeback efforts. Fonda was able to hold Mekeel scoreless for a big three minute stretch after the Ballard three, extending their lead to 51-45 on a Whitcavitch bucket in the process. Mekeel finally scored again on a pair of Mills free throws with :27.2 left, but at that point, it was a free throw shooting contest & Fonda came prepared. They hit six straight to close it out, with Atty & both Lombardonis hitting a pair each.

Abby Lombardoni finished with a game high 25 points, 21 coming in the 1st half, for Fonda-Fultonville. Kyla Smith added 10 points for the Braves, and Lyndsay Lombardoni added 9. For Mekeel, Avery Mills finished with a team high 22 points, producing a scoring punch for the Lions throughout the night. Jill Ballard chipped in with 11, and Mikyla Mitchell scored all 10 of her points in the 2nd half.

Avery Mills went for a team high 22 pts for Mekeel, including a personal 9-0 run to end the 3rd quarter that gave the Lions life.

#ThoughtsFromTheBaseline

- Two things about Fonda offensively. First, they're showing early in the season that other people besides Abby Lombardoni can provide a scoring punch for them. She was held to one field goal against Johnstown, and they scored 60. She was held without a field goal in the 2nd half against Mekeel, and they won. Carly Atty is a known commodity with the ability to shoot it with range & put it on the floor and finish going toward the rim. Kyla Smith & Lyndsay Lombardoni have both really improved, providing serious productive guard depth for the Braves, and 6'1" Marilyn Whitcavitch continues to show progression. Best for Fonda, they're all sophomores! But second... defenses better not let Abby get it going, because she changes games with her ability to fill it up & create for others if you sell out on stopping her. Range to the coaches' box and once the first one falls, she might end up hitting seven. Once she gets a head of steam downhill, she can finish in various ways with either hand, and she can do it through contact. Put her on the free throw line, she'll usually make them count. I only watched 32 minutes of basketball in that game, but I felt like I learned more than usual for a single game.

Kyla Smith made big plays for Fonda & provided some offensive help, producing 10 points in the win.

- Along with Mekeel having to play from behind most of the way, foul trouble played a major role in this one. Both teams dealt with it, but the difference was Mekeel's foul issues severely plagued a couple key players whereas Fonda's foul count didn't really impact individuals until the closing minutes. Three Mekeel starters - Mikyla Mitchell, Jill Ballard, and Maraya Davis - all felt it. Mitchell's was likely felt the most because it kept her off the court. Her 2nd foul at the 4:12 mark of the 1st quarter sent her to the bench for the rest of the half. She eventually fouled out with 2:56 left in the game. In the 17 minutes she played, Mekeel outscored Fonda 33-21. In the 15 minutes she was out, Fonda outscored Mekeel 36-18. Of course, you can't point at just one factor attributing to that, but it certainly played its part.

- I guess I'll keep this one simple. Say what you want about her going to a smaller school (always a popular way of saying that someone isn't 'that' good). Bring up that she's just a young kid. Bring up whatever you want, but while you're doing it, make sure you put respect on Avery Mills' name. Anyone that saw her over the last three nights of the EST summer league - going up against some of the premier guards in the region - doesn't need any convincing. Avery can go. As skilled as you'll find at that age, confidence & moxie well beyond her years, very hard worker, and she made a lot of winning plays in this game. The 22 point night is just a part of it, as she created for teammates on many occasions and showed quick hands defensively. Get your dollar bills together, because Avery is worth the price of admission.