The Potomac Highlands Dispatch - the online newspaper

Huskies defend home turf against Falcons
* Frankfort jumped out to 14-5 lead
* Falcons commit 20 turnovers; Huskies convert chances into points

By The Potomac Highlands Dispatch
ACCIDENT, Jan. 28 -- Frankfort jumped out to a nine-point lead in the first seven minutes of the Falcons' road game on Friday at Northern Garrett.

And then the second-ranked Huskies took back the ball. Literally.

No. 3 Frankfort couldn't handle Northern Garrett's transition to a 1-3-1 full court press and the Huskies rode the momentum to a 68-59 Appalachian Mountain Athletic Conference victory at the Igloo.

Sophomore guard Kiersten Butler was the catalyst for the Huskies (9-3, 6-2 AMAC) and played what coach Steve Fratz called her best game of the season. She finished with six steals and four assists to go along with seven points.

Fratz said Frankfort came to play with aggressiveness and strong post play, but "opponents can't displace our heart."

It looked like the Huskies' organs were on life support slightly more than six minutes into the game. By then, Frankfort held a 14-5 lead - on the strength of seven points by Savannah Hose and five by Maddie Shambaugh.

Then Fratz got his team's attention. And over the final 74 seconds of the first quarter, the Huskies went on a 10-3 run to cut the deficit to just two points after eight minutes of play.

Turns out the Huskies weren't fully prepared to match Frankfort's opening intensity, said Northern Garrett star point guard Kaitlynn Fratz.

"They came out really hard, but we didn't," said Fratz, who scored seven of those 10 points to end the first period.

Fratz said the defensive change put her team's opponents "on their toes." Though taller and, arguably, able to match up with the Huskies' speed, they weren't ready for Northern Garrett's stifling defense.

Fratz - the coach - acknowledged his team can't play because, well, it isn't. But Fratz said the goal of installing a high-octane defense to match the team's energetic offense was years in the making - and still has some kinks.

"We're still working on the full court press," he said. "We expend so much energy on offense. I've been scared for years to full court press."

But it worked - at least long enough for the Huskies to get back into the game. Down by two headed into the second quarter, senior guard Terra McKenzie didn't waste any time - well, 11 seconds - giving her team the lead with a 3-pointer.

Frankfort tied the game at 18 with a Stephanie Bills free throw - and tied the game again at 21, 23 and 25. Finally, Frankfort began to wear down.

Butler stole the ball with 1:57 to go in the first half and dished off to Fratz, who cruised to a fast break layup and a 27-25 lead. Thirty-eight seconds later, Butler struck again. The Falcons turnover led to McKenzie's free throw for a three-point lead.

Twenty seconds after that, McKenzie's 3-pointer gave Northern Garrett a six-point lead. It was pretty much a balancing act after that, with only moments of uncertainty.

With 4:33 to go in the third, Shambaugh's 3-pointer - one of four in the game for her - pulled Frankfort within 38-36. The Huskies doubled their efforts, however, and went on an 8-0 run for a 46-36 lead and 2:29 left in the third period.

Frankfort trailed by six after three quarters, then trailed by as many as 12 after McKenzie hit her third 3-pointer for a 60-48 lead with 5:04 left to play. The Falcons' 9-2 run put Frankfort within six points with 1:52 to play - Shambaugh scored five of those nine points - and Hose hit one of two free throws to cut the deficit to just five points with 1:18 to go.

Eight seconds later, Fratz hit a 3-pointer to take away any reasonable hope of a Frankfort comeback.

No. 2 Northern Garrett 68
No. 3 Frankfort 59

FRANKFORT (9-6, 6-4 AMAC)
Shambaugh 9 3-4 25, Miller 1 0-0 2, Bush 2 2-2 6, Whiteman 2 1-2 5, Hose 6 2-4 16, Bills 2 1-2 5. Totals 22 9-14 59.

NORTHERN GARRETT (9-3, 6-2 AMAC)
McFarland 1 0-0 2, Butler 3 0-0 7, Fratz 10 9-13 32, McKenzie 6 3-4 18, Yommer 0 0-5 0, Brosnihan 3 0-0 6, Brenneman 1 0-0 3. Totals 24 12-22 68.

Frankfort 17 12 14 16 -- 59
N. Garrett 15 18 16 19 -- 68

3-pointers: Frankfort 6 (Shambaugh 4, Hose 2). Northern Garrett 8 (Butler, Fratz 3, McKenzie 3, Brenneman).

JV--Northern Garrett, 36-35. Frankfort led 35-34 after Bria Welker's basket with 32 seconds left in the third quarter. But Husky Airica Paugh went to the free throw line with 15.8 seconds and made good on both attempts.