Bishop England crushes Battery Creek, 60-32

Bishop England coach Paul Runey was pleased with the Bishops victory over Battery Creek on Friday night.

But that was about the only thing the veteran coach was happy about.

Mary Harriett Moore scored 18 points and Michele Boykin added 17 points 60-32 in the second round of the Class AA girls basketball playoffs.

The Bishops (21-3) will host Burke on Tuesday night. The Dolphins finished the season at 17-9.

The Bishops, the defending Class AA state champions, didn’t look much like a title contender against the Dolphins, especially in the first quarter. The Bishops committed 28 turnovers and didn’t gain their first lead until early in the second quarter.

“I’m just really disappointed in the way we played,” Runey said. “That was about as sloppy a game as we’ve played all season. Fundamentally, we looked like this was the first week of the season. I’m happy we won, and that’s really the only thing that matters in the playoffs, but that’s about it.”

The Dolphins forced nearly a dozen turnovers in the first quarter and jumped out to a 14-8 lead behind the scoring of Daisja Cannon.

The Bishops settled down in the second quarter and got to within, 23-20 at halftime.

Bishop England opened the third quarter on a 14-2 run to take control of the game. The Dolphins’ cause was hurt badly when Cannon fouled out late in the third quarter.

Bishop England (60): Tucker 2, Penninger 2, Kiernan 2, James 6, Michele Boykin 17, Artigues 5, Newton 4, Mary Harriett Moore 18, Lussier 4

Battery Creek (32): Tolbert 6, Daisja Cannon 12, Ford 4, Alston 4, Dearsman 2, Fripp 4

Bishop England 12 11 19 18 — 60

Battery Creek 14 6 8 4 — 32

Halftime: Bishop England 23-20. Records: Bishop England 21-3, Battery Creek 17-9.

The Bishops defense limited the Dolphins to just 12 points in the second half. Moore finished with 10 points and five blocks.

“We were able to wear them down in the second half and when Cannon fouled out they didn’t have many options offensively,” Runey said. “We overcame our mistakes tonight, but we can’t play like that in the next and expect to win.”

Bishop England (60): Tucker 2, Penninger 2, Kiernan 2, James 6, Michele Boykin 17, Artigues 5, Newton 4, Mary Harriett Moore 18, Lussier 4

Battery Creek (32): Tolbert 6, Daisja Cannon 12, Ford 4, Alston 4, Dearsman 2, Fripp 4

BE 12 11 19 18 – 60

BC 14 6 8 4 - 32

Halftime: BE 23-20

Records BE 21-3, BC 17-9