Lions Hang On to Defeat North Haven 45-40

The Foran girls basketball team defeated North Haven 45-40 in a Southern Connecticut Conference (SCC) inter-divisional contest on Thursday night at the Lions’ Edna Fraser Gymnasium.

It was Foran’s second victory of the season over the Indians. The Lions must now win only one of their remaining six games to qualify for the Class M state tournament.

Foran improves to 7-7 overall this season while North Haven falls to 5-11 overall with four games remaining. The Indians must win at least three of four remaining games to qualify for the Class L state tournament.

Foran was led by seniors Taylor Jagoe (16 points, including four three-point baskets) and Cristina LaPenna (11 points), along with junior center Jasmin Rodriquez, who dropped in 12 points.

In addition to scoring five points, Ashley Springsteen played spectacular defense on North Haven point guard and top scoring threat Olivia DiCapua, as she was held to six points.

“As Taylor goes the team goes,” Foran Coach Scott Nails said. “I thought Ashley Springsteen’s defense on No. 4 (DiCapua) was the difference in the game. She doesn’t get enough credit. She also hit a big three down the stretch that gave us a 10-point lead. Cristina [LaPenna] hit two big throws late in the game for us. This is what you need - three seniors that you can count on.”

North Haven got 15 points from junior Onalee Collins, with 12 of the points coming in the second half.

“Onalee did have a great game,” North Haven coach Tom Cappello said. "We have been going to her a lot more lately. We were dying for her to get smothered in the high post and she would have been able to blow by people. We would have created a lot more fouls. Scott [Nails] kept Foran back and Onalee did the right things. She turned and faced the basket and got a couple of assists from the high post. She looked real good.”

Foran jumped out to a 15-6 lead at the end of one period of play. Jagoe hit back-to-back three-pointers and the Lions led 10-4 with one minute and 55 seconds left in the first period. Freshman Bri Melillo of North Haven and Jagoe traded baskets to give Foran a 12-6 lead.

The Lions got a major boost as the first period came to a close. Springsteen stole the ball and LaPenna hit a deep off-balance three-point basket way past the bend to give Foran a 15-6 advantage.

The second period started out well for North Haven as shooting guard Riley Dinneen hit a three-point basket, paring the Foran lead back to 15-9. After the Indians got a hoop from DiCapua and another field goal from Collins with 2:45 left in the half, they trailed 19-15. When Collins made one of two free throw attempts North Haven was down by six (21-15) with 58 seconds left in the second period.

Momentum quickly went the Lions’ way as they scored the last five points of the half. Jagoe hit a three-pointer and then LaPenna scored inside off an inbounds pass play and the Lions had a 26-16 halftime advantage.

“We played hard in the second half, “Cappello said. “We made some silly mistakes and had some terrible possessions in the first half. We don’t close periods well.”

In the third period, North Haven got within six points as Collins went to the line twice and hit three of four free throw attempts. North Haven trailed 29-23 at the end of three periods, after outscoring the Lions 7-3 in the period.

Collins scored again to start the fourth period and North Haven trailed 29-25 with 6:30 left in the game. Jagoe hit another three-point basket to give the Lions a seven-point cushion (32-25).

Two possessions later Rodriguez scored on a beautiful pass inside from LaPenna. When Clare Hannon answered for North Haven with an inside basket, the Indians trailed 36-29 with 4:30 left. Melillo left the game for North Haven with an apparent leg or knee injury, but got off the court under her own power. She did not return for the final minutes of the contest.

While Springsteen hit a big three to give the Lions a 39-29 lead with 3:35 remaining, North Haven was not done yet.

After Dinneen scored a basket, Collins followed suit with an  inside move and was fouled. When she completed the old-fashioned three-point play, Foran led 39-34 with 2:10 remaining. LaPenna then drove right to the basket, was fouled, and sank both free throws.

North Haven battled back again as DiCapua and Dinneen then scored hoops that were sandwiched around a basket by Foran’s  Jagoe as the Indians cut the Foran lead back to 43-38. With one minute remaining in the game, Rodriguez scored a big inside hoop that sealed the deal for Foran.

Despite the victory, Nails was not entirely satisfied.

“I thought we played too inconsistent tonight and we played terrible defense,” Nails said. “We got up double figures and then we would relax. North Haven’s No. 12 (Collins) had a great game and their No. 4 (DiCapua) is one of the top guards in our league. That is credit to North Haven and their coach [Tom Cappello] that they did not quit and kept coming back at us. We need to do a better job identifying what their shooters are doing.”

Foran travels to city rival Jonathan Law on Friday night in a SCC Hammonasset Division battle, while North Haven plays at Oronoque Division foe Branford at the James L. McVeigh Alumni Athletic Complex gymnasium on Friday.

“We got seven wins and hopefully we play tough tomorrow and get number eight,” Nails said. “Law is  playing a lot better. The game is all about momentum. We’ll see.”