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Lady ‘Billies dominate Health Science

Fredonia’s Kazlin Beers (2) dribbles by Health Science’s Desaray Gilliam-Frank (23) in Fredonia’s 74-34 victory in the first round of the playoffs at Fredonia High School on Tuesday night. OBSERVER Photo by Anthony Dolce.

Coming into Tuesday night’s action to begin the 2019-20 postseason, the Fredonia Lady Billies found themselves as the 10-seed, taking on the 7-seed Health Science Lady Falcons. While normally the 7-seed would be the home team, Health Science doesn’t have a home gym to call their own, forcing the game to be played in front of the Fredonia home crowd.

By the end of the game, it seemed clear Fredonia should have been home from the start.

The Lady ‘Billies took down the Lady Falcons 74-34 in commanding fashion on Tuesday night from Fredonia High School. The normal starting five for Fredonia, Kazlin Beers, Sam Tabone, Anna Buchanan, Nagely Vazquez, and Kelly Gullo took care of business so efficiently that by half way through the third quarter, their services were no longer needed.

“I got an opportunity to play a lot of people who don’t get to play a lot of minutes,” said Fredonia coach Dan Vona. “They all stepped up and did a great job. Everybody on the team scored, which a coach loves to do.”

Vona emptied the bench, subbing out the five regulars to give Maddy Marsh, Abby Wray, Sara Davis, Gabby Matos, and Naveah Zadzilka each their first piece of playoff action. Given that this is the future of the program, Vona was more than happy to give them the experience.

“It’s huge,” Vona said. “I’ve been splashing Gabby Matos in there the last few games more consistently, and I can tell in her eyes that she gets it, and Maddy Marsh will be running the point next year, which are tough shoes to fill with Kaz (Beers). It was a great experience for everybody.”

It didn’t take terribly long for the Lady Billies to pull away. While the two teams hung near each other for a majority of the first quarter, Fredonia was able to inch away at the end of the quarter, getting in a couple unanswered buckets before the time expired, as Fredonia led after one frame 18-8.

It was the second quarter where they turned on the gas.

Health Sciences didn’t score their first basket until the quarter was more than half way over, meanwhile Fredonia was getting bucket after bucket.

Health Sciences seemed unprepared for the Lady Billies ball hawking guards, as both seniors Kazlin Beers and Kelly Gullo looked like free safeties on a football field, intercepting pass after pass, with Beers doing most of her work off stripping in bound passes. And while the Lady Billies missed several of those shots off turnovers, Anna Buchanan and Nagely Vazquez were on the spot to scoop up boards and get second chance opportunities.

“I introduced a whole new schematic on defense to force more pressure,” Vona said. “It worked. I told Anna and the wings to just go get the ball, and they did. It did well and we may stick with that going forward.”

Fredonia also made several trips to the free throw line, specifically in the second quarter, where Health Sciences picked up five fouls before the Lady Billies were called once. The Lady ‘Billies could have pulled away earlier had their free throw shooting been even close to average. Instead, Fredonia shot just 7-25 from the charity stripe, and although it didn’t necessarily impact Tuesday night’s game, it’s something Vona is certainly concerned about.

“It’s a mental thing with them I think,” Vona said. “They all have good technique, so I know from my time as a golfer that it’s a mental thing. I talk to them about it a lot, their routine and focus just need to be clearer. We need to work on the percentage as a team.”

The usual suspects continued to take care of business until they were subbed out in the third quarter, when the bench squad picked up where the starters left off. The offense didn’t miss a beat without the starters in, as the Lady ‘Billies continued to put up points, gather boards, force turnovers and work together.

“It was good to be in the winning column again,” Vona said. “We had a couple tough losses and the enjoyment of the win was good. It was kind of special in that it’s probably the last time our seniors will play on the home court so they embraced it.”

The Fredonia starters were led by Vazquez, who had 16 points, six boards, and three assists, while Beers had 12 points, four boards, six assists, and five steals. Matos led the bench squad, scoring 13 points and grabbing eight rebounds, while Abby Wray scored 10 points. Health Science was led by Makayla Beasley with 19 points.

Fredonia doesn’t have too much time to mull on the win, as the playoffs move fast in Section VI. Fredonia will next play on Thursday, Feb. 26, where they’ll take on the 2-seed Eden Lady Raiders at Eden High School. Vona expects some tough competition.

“They’re a good team, and as of tonight, we’ll be watching film on them,” Vona said.

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