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Mt. Alvernia can't handle Manchester-Essex trio

Friday, March, 07 By Nick Curcuru
Correspondent

Big players come to play in big games.

The saying may be a bit of a cliche, but for Manchester-Essex girls hoops players Danni Ciccone, Lizzy Ball and Elsa Keefe, it's indicative of their performance in the Hornets' 59-56 overtime win over Mt. Alvernia in the Division 4 North final.

Ciccone (22 points, 19 rebounds), Ball (20 points, 14 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals), and Keefe (13 points, 11 rebounds) took the game over in the second half. The trio accounted for all 16 of the Hornets' fourth quarter points. Ciccone and Ball would then compile all 10 overtime points for Manchester-Essex.

Ciccone had a particularly frustrating first half. The 6-foot center found herself double teamed by a tough Mustangs' front court, led by fellow 6-footer Mary O'Donnell. The Hornets' senior captain, however, made the second half adjustments needed and scored 19 of her 22 points after intermission.

"We were a little unlucky in the first half and we weren't getting many shots to fall," Ciccone said. "But in the second half we were able to regain our composure and everything started to come together."

Hornets head coach Lauren Dubois had nothing but praise for the trio, and expected them to come up big when the Hornets needed them most.

"Those girls have done so much for us all season," Dubois said. "They played so well tonight. They went above and beyond. They want this and they will do whatever it takes to get it."

The Hornets found themselves down 47-41 with 2:30 to play when Keefe made her presence felt. The junior forward then single-handedly led the Hornets on a 5-0 run to cut the deficit to one. Keefe also made a number of key offensive rebounds on missed Hornet free throws, and had nine of her 13 points in the fourth quarter.

"I don't even know what to say," said an elated Keefe about her late buckets. "I just threw the ball up and hoped it would go in. It's amazing."

Dubois wasn't surprised. According to the Manchester-Essex coach, making big shots has become part of Keefe's repertoire.

"She's worked so hard all year," Dubois said of Keefe. "That's her game, making big shots under pressure when they count most."

Not to be outdone, Ball, a freshman point guard, saved her best play for late in the game. After being visibly rattled in the first half, the 5-5 guard wanted the ball in every clutch situation. Ball hit a number of tough runners in the lane and got to the foul line regularly, attempting 20 free throws.

"I was rattled in the first half," Ball said. "But we wanted this so much more than they did and we came out and played our game in the second half."

Overall the Hornets' game plan was simple. They used Ciccone on the inside, and Ball to attack the basket to get Mt. Alvernia in foul trouble. Both O'Donnell and Mustangs' point guard Olivia Joyce fouled out in overtime. Combine that with the clutch shooting of Keefe, and you have a Division 4 North champion.

"We knew we had to get the ball to the hoop and get them in foul trouble, and we did," Dubois said. "It's amazing how far these girls have come. They play a great team brand of basketball. It's just great to be a part of it."

Additional stories:

• Hornets are going to the Garden on Tuesday
• Gritty Hornets make good on goal, headed to Garden