Sports
Goodrich girls get key runs to beat Durand in first-place showdown
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Tuesday, January 13, 2009 8:43 AM EST
GOODRICH - The host Martians put together two key runs Monday while scoring a 59-40 Genesee Area Conference victory that left them the lone unbeaten girls' basketball team in the Red Division.
Both Goodrich and Durand are honorable mention picks in the Associated Press Class B poll this week.
Goodrich (5-0, 7-0) trailed late in the first half before putting together a nine-point run and heading into the half with a 26-20 lead.
Then, up six after three quarters, the Martians went on a 21-8 run to end the game and take over sole possession of first in the GAC Red.
“I'll take a little bit of the blame,” Durand coach Jeff Long explained. “With 1:13 left in the first half we were up 20-17. I took Kirsten Long out because she had two fouls and they scored nine points real quick. That took a little bit of air out of us.”
At the end of the third, Durand missed a short shot to cut the lead to four. In the fourth, Goodrich went inside and the Railroaders scrambled trying to get back into the game.
“We tried to hurry and score,” Long said.
Long said the game was a good learning experience for his team, but it has to put the loss behind it quickly.
“It's nice to play in front of a nice crowd with a little bit of something on the line,” he said. “It's got to be fun (for the girls). But until we get over the hump, people in the Flint area are just going to say (they expected Goodrich to win).”
Long said he was happy with the Railroaders' effort and intensity. He also noted the Railroaders took a big crowd with them for the game.
Kristen Long led the Railroaders (5-1, 7-1) with 15 points while Mariell Cunningham added eight points and Rachel Smith pulled down seven rebounds.
Samantha Zirzow led Goodrich with 15 points.