Girls: Battle of McDonald’s All-Americans
FLUSHING, NY- It was a battle of McDonald's All Americans on Saturday in Queens, NY as Jordan Nixon '18 led her Mary Louis team against Emily Engstler '18 and St. Francis Prep.
The Hilltoppers though were going to be without the services of fellow star guard Kania Pollock '18 who sprained her right knee last weekend against Xaverian, meaning that if the Terriers wanted to pounce and make a statement against the defending CHSAA State Champions, Saturday would be the day to do it.
At the start it looked as if St. Francis Prep would have the advantage as Engstler scored 10 in the opening quarter as the Terriers took a quick lead, but with Nixon at the helm and in firm control for the Hilltoppers she was able to make the big plays when her team needed them scoring a game high 34 points in leading TMLA to a 62-59 overtime victory over St. Francis Prep.
Losing a player of Pollock ilk was a huge loss according to everyone on the Hilltoppers team. TMLA head coach JoAnn Arbitello-Pinnock has called the Manhattan bound combo guard the most consistent player on the team, and while she was still confident in what they could do without her, Nixon said that Saturday was a game to prove to themselves what they are truly made of as a group.
"More than anyone else we were just wanting to prove something to ourselves," Nixon stated. "Kania is a huge part of what we do, and I know coach calls her the most consistent player we have, and I agree with her, so not having that scoring and rebounding and playmaking ability I knew would be a huge loss for us so we all had to step up a little more."
Early on it was St. Francis Prep who looked like the more confident team as Engstler looked as if she was going to put the Terriers on her back and carry them as she had 10 quick points to see SFP jump out to a 12-4 lead.
After a slow start Mary Louis did start to get more comfortable offensively, though it really was just Nixon who was making plays as she came through with 10 points of her own in the 2nd quarter to close the gap. It got even closer just before the halftime buzzer when Nixon connected on a three from the wing to give the Hilltoppers momentum in the break, though it was St. Francis Prep who were still holding onto a 23-22 lead.
In the battle of McDonald's All Americans both Nixon and Engstler had 13 points at the half, but with another half of basketball still to go it was still up for grabs who would rise up and lead their teams to victory.
Even though TMLA did take momentum into the locker room that didn't translate into the 3rd as both teams struggled from the floor, though late in the stanza both MacKayla Scarlett '20 and Cassidy Roberts '19 had three points plays to help see the Terriers take a 3-point lead into the 4th.
With Pollock out, and Nixon doing the brunt of the work for Mary Louis someone else needed to step up and take on more of an offensive load if the Hilltoppers wanted to rally and get the win, and that someone Arbitello-Pinnock knew had to be Vanerlie Valcourt '18.
A senior and four-year player for Arbitello-Pinnock, Valcourt only had 4 points through three quarters of play, but in between the 3rd and 4th quarters the coach said she explained to the Hofstra bound guard that it was her time to shine.
"We just needed her to be more offensive minded," Arbitello-Pinnock said. "We needed her to make up Kania's points and I explained to her on the bench there that she had to step up."
Valcourt was given the assignment of matching up with Engstler defensively, and after a tough opening quarter she really rose to the challenge, but now as she looked for her offensive game more, things really began to come together. With most of the Terriers players in foul trouble Valcourt continually attacked the rim knowing that any added fouls on either Engstler, Scarlett, or Celina Roberts '19 would mean further foul troubles. That in turn led to easy baskets driving in, giving Mary Louis a lead of as big as 52-47 with 2:05 left in regulation.
For the first time in the game it looked as if the Hilltoppers were in control, but they were only in control until they weren't as Engstler became more aggressive herself late, getting to the FT line in the final minute and going 3-4 from the charity stripe, while Roberts off a turnover by TMLA was able to finish off a beautiful feed from the Syracuse bound All-American to tie the game up at 52 in the closing seconds.
Both teams had their chances to take the lead with under 10 seconds left, but Scarlett missed on a jumper for SFP, while Nixon would then miss on a runner as time expired to send the game to overtime tied at 52.
The OT session would ultimately start out strong for St. Francis Prep as off the opening tip Scarlett would finish on a drive while getting fouled, connecting on the three-point play to take a 55-52 lead, but a pair of Valcourt FT's were then followed by a putback by the senior to put Mary Louis up by 1.
That's all the room the Hilltoppers needed as Nixon made sure to come up with the big shots the rest of the way as she connected on a driving two on one layup opportunity, and then after a pair of Roberts FT's for the Terriers to make it 60-59, there was Nixon again proving why she is McDonalds All-American game bound.
It was drawn up perfectly and Nixon would step into a long jumper that was nothing but net with 21 seconds left to go up 62-59, and it's a shot that Nixon said when it went up she was extremely confident in.
"I work on that shot all the time, that one dribble pull up is kind of my thing and I take a lot of pride in that, so I just saw the opportunity and let it fly," Nixon said when describing the shot.
After a missed three by Engstler at the other end, Valcourt had a chance to put the game away with 2 FT's with under 9 seconds left, but she missed both to give St. Francis Prep a chance. Instead of going for the game tying three though the Terriers went inside trying to get a quick two, but two chances around the rim missed before the final buzzer sounded to give The Mary Louis Academy a hard fought, come from behind 62-59 victory.
Nixon did it all for TMLA as she had 34 points in the win for the Hilltoppers putting together a performance that Arbitello-Pinnock felt solidified her as the very best player in New York City.
"That's Jordan Nixon," Arbitello-Pinnock said with a smile. "She is definitely the best player in the city, and possibly the East Coast."
High praise for sure, it wasn't just Nixon for the Hilltoppers though as Valcourt scored 14 of her 19 points in the 4th quarter and OT to also help push Mary Louis to the win.
In defeat it was a solid game from Engstler who had 22 points for St. Francis Prep, while Scarlett added 19 in a game that showed the Terriers can compete with just about anyone in New York City.
On this day though it was all about Mary Louis as even without Pollock they were able to get the best of a tough St. Francis Prep team. Nixon showed again why she is Notre Dame bound and an All-American, and while staying humble, she admitted pride of her performance on Saturday, though she was looking forward to something even more special to her.
"34 points against anyone is pretty good, especially an overtime game that we won so I will take pride in that," Nixon admitted. "Now though I can't wait to go hug my mom."
