DEERFIELD BEACH – The Santaluces Lady Chiefs and Deerfield Beach Lady Bucks faced off in an “elite eight” matchup tonight.
Lady Bucks guard “Down Town” Kiera Brown would get the Bucks rolling with a deep three and Emiah Downie would answer right back with a two point score for the Lady Chiefs.
Denasia Mitchell would knock down a three point shot from nearly half court and get a monster block in the first to deny a Lady Chief shot.
The first quarter would be a back-and-forth battle as both teams were feeling each other out. Deerfield Beach would have a 14-6 edge at the end of the first.
There would be a stalemate with a 16-8 score in the Lady Bucks favor midway through the second as both teams turned up their defensive pressure.
Brown would make a shifty behind-the-back pass to Giavanna Laguerre for a layup to put the Bucks ahead 19-10 with a little under two minutes left in the second.
Deerfield’s defense would be suffocating throughout the second as Santaluces wasn’t able to get much going. Furthermore Lady Chiefs star center Whitney Howell sat most of the second with three fouls.
The Lady Bucks went into halftime with a 25-12 lead over the Lady Chiefs.
Brittney Howell would get things started for the Lady Chiefs in the third with a step-back jumper. Her act would be followed by Marie Vertus, who made back-to-back layups to cut the Lady Bucks lead down seven midway through the third.
Lady Chiefs Brona Jean would get in on the action and score a three point shot that would be followed by a mid range jumper from Whitney Howell to cut the Bucks lead to five.
But Deerfield’s Ashley Shell would make a layup at the buzzer to give the Lady Bucks a 30-23 lead at the end of the third. Deerfield would go up 36-24 midway through the fourth after a layup by Laguerre that would force Santaluces into a much needed timeout.
Vertus would score on a layup to put the Lady Chiefs within 10 late in the fourth. But the Lady Bucks would hold the ball much of the fourth quarter and score on late free throws to end the Lady Chiefs magical playoff run in a 38-28 victory.
Top scorers for each team
Deerfield Beach: Ashley Shell with 12 points
Santaluces: Marie Vertus with 9 points
