Kirtland hasn’t been tested often this season but the Hornets got all they could handle from the VASJ Vikings on Saturday.
The Hornets overcame foul trouble to beat the Vikings, 48-43.
“It was a good test for us,” said Kirtland coach Bob Bell. “They came out and they’re a very aggressive and athletic team but our kids really handled themselves well. We managed to get a few points on the board, played good defense and got our share of rebounds and we did all that in relatively serious foul trouble.”
Kirtland was assessed with 14 fouls in the first half, which forced Bell to go to his bench often.
“Jenna Sayle sat more than half the game, Katie McCollister was in foul trouble; just about all of them were,” Bell said. “The bench came in very strong for us.”
Sydney Snyder led all scorers with 22 points while Sayle finished with nine and Amber Yurick pitched in with six. Lauren Snyder added five, Lauren Lutz contributed with three and McCollister and Julia Camino added two and one, respectively.
“Syd had 22 and she earned every one of them,” Bell said. “They put their best people on her and switched it up. Lauren Lutz had been sick so she didn’t start. Amber Yurick came in for her and both of them did a great job at the five spot.”
Kirtland improved to 15-0 on the year. The Hornets travel to Fairport on Wednesday.
Kirtland 48, VASJ 43
VASJ (7-6): Burge 2, S. Saba 16, J. Saba 1, Ball 4, Blacksheer 8, Bates 3, Campbell 3, Smith 3, Ali 3
Kirtland (15-0): McCollister 2, L. Snyder 5, S. Snyder 22, Sayle 9, Yurick 6, Lutz 3, Camino 1
VASJ 4 15 12 12 — 43
Kirtland 9 13 17 9 — 48
Free throws: VASJ 12 of 25, Kirtland 15 of 31; 3-pointers: VASJ 3 (S. Saba 3), Kirtland 1 (S. Snyder); Rebounds: VASJ 7, Kirtland 34 (S. Snyder, Lutz 7); Assists: VASJ 5), Kirtland 15 (L. Snyder 5)
