Lady Panthers Eke Out 46-43 Win To Advance In D-II Tourney

The Lady Panthers varsity basketball squad continued their postseason run on Saturday at St. Mary Academy — Bay View, upsetting Division II South top seed Rogers High School, 46-43, and fouling out both of the Vikings’ point guards en route to the victory.

After a brutal first half, Rogers led 22-12. Johnston’s Karina Mattera was the only Lady Panther seemingly ready to play, as she had 10 of Johnston’s 12 points.

However, Johnston slowly chipped at the lead in the first eight minutes of the second half. Rogers led 26-16 with 13:19 left, but Johnston scored nine points in four minutes to pull within one.

Mattera then tied the game with 8:35, sinking a long 3-point shot. Isabella DiRaimo put the Panthers up two with a putback in the paint.

Johnston pushed the lead up to as much as six, but Rogers fought back in the final four minutes. Johnston had no real answer for center Brianne Morgera in the paint, who shook off some first half misses to finish with 20 points.

Morgera hit a bucket with about 3:40 remaining to get Rogers within two, but Johnston’s Francesca Gaudiana got fouled by her on the other end, and sank one of two from the line.

With 2:10 left, Rogers’ Sienna Benson drove down the lane and banked a shot to give the Vikings a 1-point lead. Isabella DiRaimo answered with a baseline jumper for two though.

Rogers’ Sarah Morris got fouled on the next possession, and sank both free throws with 1:46 remaining, giving the Vikings another 1-point lead. Alexandra DiRaimo drove baseline though and got to the line, sinking a shot to tie the game with 1:29.

The Vikings got two close looks at the hoop, but putbacks by Morgera and Morris missed, and Ny’Jah Rivon fouled Alexandra DiRaimo trying for the offensive rebound.

DiRaimo hit the first shot, putting the Panthers up by one, and on the rebound for the second shot Brianna Ruggiero forced a jump ball to get Johnston the ball again. Mattera took a foul on the ensuing possession and hit a free throw.

In the final 32 seconds, Johnston couldn’t completely ice the game, missing several free throws to go up by 4. However, Rogers couldn’t knot the game. Elizabeth Jackson shot a 3 that rimmed out with 10.2 seconds, and another desperation 3 by Rogers was an airball.

Mattera led Johnston with 25 points. Also contributing for Johnston: Isabella DiRaimo (9 points, 2 steals), Lauren Barnes, Gaudiana (3 points), Ariana Caffeso (1 point, 1 block, 1 steal), Danielle Gawlik (3 points, 1 steal), Madison Mansolillo and Alexandra DiRaimo (4 points, 3 steals, 1 block).

Morgera led Rogers with 20 points, and also had 3 steals and 1 block. Also contributing for Rogers: Benson (6 points, 4 steals, foul out), Jasmine Valdes (2 points, 2 steals), Nifaty Morales (1 point, 4 steals, foul out), Sarah Morris (2 points), Rivon (10 points) and Jackson (2 points, 1 steal).

Johnston is next scheduled to play Classical, the second seed in D-II North, at 6 p.m. Tuesday night at Rhode Island College.

Johnston and Rogers photos posted courtesy of Jennifer Carter of Carter Photography. You can purchase her photos at EventProofs.