The Blue Angels held Chapelgate without a basket in the fourth quarter, but couldn't deny the Yellowjackets a victory Monday. Although outscored, 6-3, in the final period, Chapelgate held on for a 27-26 non-conference win in a game played at the Gary Arthur Community Center in Glenwood.
Chapelgate, now 4-5, plays in the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland's C Conference. The Blue Angels, coached by Phil Straw, are an independent high-school age team, although the roster does include two middle schoolers.
The Blue Angels trailed by four points entering the final quarter. Jazz Couvillion hit half of her team-high eight points but pull the Blue Angels back in contention. With two minutes left in the game, teammate Megan Crouse tied the game, 26-26, on a shot that hit the rim three times before falling in.
Chapelgate's Jen Yahiro hit the first of a pair of free throws to put the Yellowjackets in front 27-26 with 1:45 left. It was her only point of the game.
The teams then traded turnovers and missed shots until the game was over.
When the Blue Angels closed the gap in the fourth quarter, Chapelgate coach Kortnie Smith said her team stepped it up defensively. "I constantly tell them that we have to play harder defense. It doesn't matter how many points we score if we can't stop the ball."
Yahiro, a junior, and freshmen Camile Keyes and Casey Johnson pressured the Blue Angels defensively.
Keyes twisted her ankle in the third quarter, but came back to finish out the game.
"Camile is so aggressive," Smith said. "Whatever we need her to do, she can do. If we need her to rebound or play in the post, she can do that."
Johnson led all scorers with 11 points.
The two teams will meet again later in the season.
CCA – Casey Johnson 11, Camile Keyes 6, Christina VanWingerden 5, Kathy Green 4, Jen Yahiro 1. FT: 7-15.
BA – Jazz Couvillion 8, Emily Howell 4, Caroline Esmond 3, Meghan Crouse 3, Allie James 2, Ivy Meissner 2, Maribeth Blonchek 2, Katie Judd 2. FT: 1-5.
Halftime: Chapelgate, 18-14.