GIRLS' BASKETBALL

Greene 49, Oxford 44

GREENE - Greene's third win over Oxford this season was easily the most difficult.

Winners by 13 and 29 points in earlier meetings with the Blackhawks, the Trojans used clutch play late in the fourth quarter to pull out the victory.

"I think the biggest lead for either team was seven points," said Greene coach Dave Gorton. "It was pretty close all the way through. I thought the first half they outrebounded and outhustled us, and we had some careless turnovers. The second half, we rebounded much better, and had some girls make big shots. That was the difference."

The two clubs were tied or traded leads multiple times in the final quarter, and Ella Kelsey's 3 for the Blackhawks tied the game at 42-42 with less than three minutes to play.

Greene regained the lead after a pair of Abby Yahner free throws, and Olivia Kennedy followed with an easy bucket after an Oxford turnover to up to the lead to four.   

Kennedy and Yahner made 3-of-4 free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

Kennedy scored a game-high 18 points for Greene (15-4) which will host Spencer-Van Etten in the first round of the Section IV Class C playoffs on Tuesday.

Madalyn Barrows scored 14 for Oxford, and Kelsey added 12. The Blackhawks (12-8) travel to Moravia next Tuesday for their first-round playoff game.

Oxford (12-8):    Madalyn Barrows 14, Ella Kelsey 12, Naiomi Smith 9, Kyla Kelsey-Jones    5, Ava Benjamin 4. Totals:    FG-15, FT 10-14--44

Greene (15-4):    Olivia Kennedy 18, Payton Yahner 15, Abby Yahner 9, Cassie Butler 5, Claire Flanagan 2.    Totals:    FG-18, FT 10-14-49

Score by quarters 

Oxfd    8    14      10    12--44

Gre.      8      12    13    16--49

Three-point goals:    Oxford 4 (Barrows 2, E. Kelsey 2). Greene 5 (Kennedy 2, P. Yahner 2, Butler)