Story & photos by
Mike Maddock

Rising high. Ben Lippen’s Juliana Smith (#22) led all scorers with 21 points. She is guarded by Sarah Davis (#44) and Marchant Conick (#21). Conick led Heathwood with 12 points. Ben Lippen head coach Cindy Cummings has high expectations for her Falcon team. After losing two tough games to Augusta Christian and Cardinal Newman and after being down by two late in the second period to Heathwood Hall Tuesday night, January 17, Cummings admitted her expectations may have been a little too high.

At half–time she put aside her expectations and told her Falcons to go out and have some fun. She told them to just relax and play like they were capable of playing.

It worked.

The Falcons out-scored the Highlanders 34–15 in the second half and defeated the visitors from Heathwood Hall 56–39.

Cummings employed a 3/4 court zone press that made it hard for the Highlanders to cross half–court and even harder to score. The Falcons also dominated the offensive and defensive boards in the second half allowing themselves many second and third chance opportunities and limiting Heathwood Hall to one shot most times.

“We had a lot more fun in the second half. We weren’t thinking so much... just playing,” said Cummings.

The Falcons were led by senior forward Juliana Smith with 21 points. Katie McKenzie added 11 points, and Elizabeth Barragan scored six fourth period points for Ben Lippen.

Marchant Conick scored a couple of three pointers for Heathwood Hall and finished with 12 points. Anne Herlong added nine. Arayael Brandner finished with eight points, and Catherine Roach had seven for the Highlanders.

The Falcons look to maintain their momentum when they travel to Great Falls to face the Red Devils Friday, January 20. The Highlanders will travel to Hammond to face the Skyhawks next.