Santoro, defense lead Massie to win

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ADAMS TOWNSHIP — Clinton-Massie utilized suffocating defense and Miquela Santoro posted a double-double as the Lady Falcons kicked off the season with a 46-25 home win over Western Brown.

Santoro, who has signed with Winthrop University, scored 14 of her game-high 20 points in the first half and the senior point guard snatched 11 steals in the contest to help spearhead Massie’s pressure defense. CM forced 26 Western Brown turnovers, while giving the ball away only 10 times.

“I was happy with the way we came out of the gate. I thought we missed some layups that we should have made, but overall it’s nice to start with a win,” Clinton-Massie head coach Carlos Roberts said. “And, Santoro is the real deal. She’s our leader.”

Behind their leader, the Lady Falcons sprinted out to an 11-4 lead after one quarter and never looked back. Santoro scored seven points in the opening period. After scoring the first two points of the game, the Lady Broncos struggled to protect the ball, as the visitors turned it over eight times in the first quarter.

“Defensively I think we can still get better, but we played pretty well,” Roberts said. “Once we start getting more comfortable with what we are doing on the offensive end, we will really start to improve.”

CM’s defensive pressure helped to stretch the lead in the second quarter as the home team lead 24-7 at the break. Western Brown shot a dismal 2-of-15 from the field in the first half while turning it over 14 times. CM took advantage of second chance points and shot 10-of-29 in the opening half.

“I thought we kind of got a little lazy, too lackadaisical in the third quarter and we let them [Western Brown] outscore us,” Roberts said. “We wanted to put a foot on them, keep them down, but they are well-coached.”

The Lady Broncos hit on 6-of-9 shots in the third quarter, chipping away at Massie’s lead. However, Brooke Rose scored five of her nine points in the quarter to help withstand WB’s charge.

“Overall, I was happy the way we started. We have a good group of girls,” Roberts said. “We just have to get tougher and get ready for a good Greenfield team coming in here on Monday.”

Santoro was the lone Lady Falcon in double figures with her 20 points. Brooke Rose had nine and Emilie Fisher chipped in with seven points.The duo of Madison Purkey and Savannah Myers controlled the boards for CM, combining for 22 rebounds.

Mackenzie Brooks led Western Brown with six points and nine rebounds.

Clinton-Massie improves to 1-0 on the season and will host Greenfield on Monday evening.

In junior varsity action, Madilyn Newton poured in a game-high 16 points, including two 3-pointers, as Clinton-Massie rolled past Western Brown, 44-20.

The Lady Falcons got off to a quick start, sprinting out to a 23-10 halftime advantage to gain control.

Haley Conley and Faith Cottrell chipped in with six points apiece for the Lady Falcons, while Ashlie Miller scored five. Sydney Leary scored four points.

Tessa Pinkerton led Western Brown with 11 points.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2015/11/web1_DSC_07241.jpg

Clinton-Massie’s Emilie Fisher (21) battles for a loose ball Friday night in the season opening win over Western Brown, 46-25.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2015/11/web1_DSC_08181.jpgClinton-Massie’s Emilie Fisher (21) battles for a loose ball Friday night in the season opening win over Western Brown, 46-25.

By Blake Haley

WNJ Sports Writer

Follow Blake on Twitter @BeeLakeH

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