By Robert Jeffrey

Sun Sports Contributor

Frank Speziale Photo

SHERBURNE – The game of basketball has and always will be a game of streaks, and in the Section III Class B girls varsity basketball match-up this past Friday, between the seventh seeded Sherburne-Earlville Marauders and the 10th seeded Phoenix Firebirds these variables were once again on display as the streaking visiting Firebirds put up 24 points in the final quarter of play to advance to the quarterfinals of the Section III tournament – winning by a score of 56-37.

After the first period of play it was evident in this win or go home game that this contest was going to be a close one, as Phoenix squeaked out to an 8-7 advantage headed into the second quarter. However, the Marauders marched back only to find themselves down 19-14 with :54 seconds left to play in the second quarter – four points and :51.8 seconds later, S-E’s defense held-up and the offense put themselves within striking distance of their worthy opponent in the Firebirds.

With only 2.2 seconds left on the clock, a Kaitlyn Furner free-throw attempt for S-E was no good, a quick recovery for the host Marauders and a kick out to Tessa Cole who set her feet, gathered herself, took aim and swished in a trifecta at the buzzer-signaling the end of an exciting first half of basketball as the Marauders took the lead in stride 21-20 at the half.

As the first half advantage fell in favor of the hometown Marauders, the second half of play proved that the Firebirds sat comfortably in the driver’s seat.

The passing and rebounding of the Firebird’s leading scorer in Samantha Doupe was the difference in the third quarter as she led a Phoenix offensive attack – which scored 12 points in the third quarter as her team prepared for a final blow to the Marauders.

S-E’s offense despite their lack of offensive output held strong against a greedy and aggressive Phoenix defense that only allowed seven points in the third. With the score 32-28 in favor of the Firebirds, both teams knew whoever could score more in the final quarter would win the game, it all came down to who executed their game-plan better.

An S-E lay-up 10 seconds into the final quarter cut the Firebird lead to two points, however, from the 7:50 minute mark to the 2:03 minute mark, Phoenix’s offensive prowess led to an 18-4 scoring run that put the game well out of reach for the hometown Marauders, ultimately advancing Phoenix and ending S-E’s 2016-2017 season.