Unionville sophomore drops 32 points as Indians beat Phoenixville
By Dave Conard, Sports Editor UnionvilleTimes.com
Unionville sophomore Allison Lewis drives to the net, scoring two of her career high 32 points.
EAST MARLBOROUGH — Unionville head coach Tony Zambino has a simple philosophy when it comes to preparing his team for a game, be in condition to play, practice everyday and scout the competition to know their strengths and weaknesses.
That system worked to a tee, as the Indians took to the hardwood to take on non-league foe Phoenixville as they hosted the Annual Unionville Holiday Tournament, as the home team posted a 62-50 win over the Phantoms.
“We scout every one,” said Zambino. “We knew they could score, they came in here averaging sixty points a game, but I was surprised at how well they played inside. We knew we would have to step up our game tonight and the girls really responded.”
It’s hard to imagine that some one could quietly post 30 points in any high school game, but that is exactly what sophomore Allison Lewis accomplished as she posted a new career high in points racking up 32 points to compliment her three assists and five steals on the night as Lewis’ eight point first quarter helped the Indians (7-2) build a 16-11 lead after one.
“Actually I didn’t even notice it on the scoreboard until almost the end of the game,” said Lewis. whose previous career high was 22 points. “I was trying to do what ever I could to keep us in front, they are very good inside, this was a tough game, I looked up at one point and thought “Is that right? I have 30 points?”“
Unionville sophomore Janice Houck connects on one of her three pointers.
After enjoying a 34-25 at halftime, the Indians found them selves in a dogfight as Phoenixville (6-2), fueled by Aubrey Flagg, who posted 13 of her game total of 23 points in the third quarter, not only erased the bulge that Unionville had established early on, but snagged the lead, as Flagg drove the hole on a feed from Chandler DiFebbo (11 assists) then completed the three point play to go up 38-37 with 2:45 to play in the third.
“We had to settle back into our game,” added Zambino. “We used a time out there to just reset what we were trying to do and to focus on stopping number 33 (Flagg) inside. Our defense really picked us up and got it going our way again as we were able to get some turnovers.”
Phoenixville, who committed 41 turnovers in the contest, had no answer for senior Sydney Hughes as she snared 10 steals while recording 11 points and five assists to help regain the momentum for the hosts as they closed out the third quarter scoring six straight to close the period with a 44-43 lead.
Lewis, who was 11-of 29 from the field, was clutch down the stretch as she converted seven –of-eight from the charity stripe along with two jumpers, posting 11 points in the final frame to help Unionville seal the 62-50 win.
“I am pretty excited about our season so far,” added Lewis. “Tournaments like this are great because we get to play teams we don’t really know all that well, so we have to be ready to play our best game. Our defense made some big plays tonight when we needed it, we juts have to keep working on the little things, to prevent team from being able to come back on us.”
The Phantoms came is will a simple plan, pound the ball inside, but when junior Gianna Bliss went down for the second time in the game with a knee issue, Unionville used the outside shooting of Janice Houck (8, 1-3, 9) and Hughes (10, 1-6,11) who both connected twice from beyond the arc to spread the floor as Phoenixville hit just one three pointer the entire game.
“Losing Gianna (Bliss) inside really hurt us,” said Flagg. “I was trying to drive to the net when ever I could, Chandler (DiFebbo) and I have played together for so long, we just had a good connection tonight, They really made us work for everything tonight, they are a very good team.”
“Allison just did what she does every game,” said Zambino of his star’s big night. “She makes us go, she has an amazing work ethic and it is rubbing off on every one of our players. We are a young team and as a coach it is so much fun to see girls who work hard ever day be rewarded for all of that hard work with results like toinght.”
In the last game of the holiday tournament Haverford gave the Indians their second loss of the season by a tally of 50-45 dropping Unionville to 7-2 overall and 4-0 in the Ches-Mont.
Unionville senior Sydney Hughes posted 11 points in the 62-50 win over the Phantoms.
Lewis’ career night stats by quarter
First quarter- three field goals, 2-for-2 from the line (8)
Second quarter-two field goals, 0-2 from the line (4)
Third quarter- four field goals, 1-of-1 free throws (9)
Fourth quarter-two field goals, 7-of- 8 in free throws (11)
Phoenixville (50)
DiFebbo 8, 1-1, 9; Stokes 2, 1-3, 3; Hobbel 5, 0-0, 5; Sinnott 2, 2-2, 4; Boyle 4, 2-5, 6; Flagg 18, 5-9, 23, Bliss 0, 0-0, 0. Totals 39, 11-20, 50 Three point FG- Hobbel.
Unionville (62)
Gallo 2, 0-2, 2; Hughes 10, 1-6, 11; Lewis 22, 10-13, 32; Redfern 3, 0-0, 3; Hauck 8, 1-3, 9; Blue 2, 0-0, 2; Winn 2, 1-4, 3. Totals 49, 13-26, 62. Three point FG- Hughes (2), Hauck (2).
Phoenixville 11 14 18 7 -50
Unionville 16 18 10 18 -62
Inside or outside, Allison Lewis was unstoppable as the Indians beat the Phantoms.
