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Girls basketball: Park upends Chapelgate in season opener

Action between Park School and Chapelgate during the 2011 Eagle Basketball Classic at Annapolis Area Christian School.
Action between Park School and Chapelgate during the 2011 Eagle Basketball Classic at Annapolis Area Christian School. (Brian Krista, Patuxent Publishing)

Park coach Robin Willard faced a big problem for his season opener Friday against Chapelgate Christian Academy: His best player, junior power forward Akira Townes, couldn't play because she was away on a school trip.

"We were very worried," said Willard, who shares head coaching duties with Larry Gilbert.

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Several of Townes' teammates stepped up to play stellar defense and power the Bruins to a 29-19 victory over the Yellow Jackets in the semifinal of the Annapolis Area Christian School's Eagle Basketball Classic.

The Bruins will clash with Key School-AACS winner Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

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The tenacious play of Park center Ellie Stern and forwards Clara Hollander and Josie Olschansky impressed Willard.

"Our kids played really good defense and managed do a good job on (Casey Johnson)," Willard said of the forward who sat on the bench for about half the game because of foul trouble.

Park's front court also gave fits to forward Kathy Green, who fouled out early in the third quarter.

Things managed to go the Chapelgate's way early.

The Yellow Jackets jumped ahead 4-0 in the first 4:23, but they never led again.

Park closed the quarter with an 8-0 run.

Chapelgate tied it at 10-10 midway through the second quarter before the Bruins scored the last four points of the period.

Early in the third period, Sara Lessons' three-pointer gave Park a 17-10 lead.

Midway through the period, Lessons hit another jumped to push the advantage to 11 points — Park's biggest of the game.

"I was concerned about us taking bad shots on offense," said Chapelgate coach Kortnie Smith, whose team shot 13 percent (6-for-44) and committed 22 turnovers."It's a work in progress as far as us hitting shots."

Sophomore point guard Nece Whye led the winners with 13 points and five steals. Lessons contributed seven points, eights steals and six rebounds.

Hollander (8 rebounds), Stern (7 points) and Maddie Tracey (2 points) also helped in Park in the win.

Green (8 points), Johnson (7) and Kimmy Green (2) scored for the Yellow Jackets.

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