The Blind Brook Lady Trojans suffered a double-digit loss Friday in a game that could have been closer with one of its best players on the court.
"We didn't shoot the ball well," said Trojans Head Coach Manny Martinez of his team's 48-34 defeat.
"We really missed Ali Silfen," Martinez said about the freshman forward who was injured. "She's our best shooter."
The Lady Trojans shot 30 percent from the field and 35 percent from the free throw line. Martinez said Blind Brook won't be able to defeat tough teams like Westlake if it continues to shoot that percentage from the field.
"Westlake is a quality team," he said.
Blind Brook needed to win to improve its record to 6-5, but the loss dipped their record to 5-7.
It was close throughout the first quarter on a two by Jennifer Jond at the 4:44 mark. Westlake made it 9-7 with three minutes to go but Lea Saliba would tie it up again at 9-9.
The Lady Trojans fell behind after this to trail 16-11 going into the second quarter.
The Lady Trojans could never quite recover amid the tight defensive pressure. The Trojans came within three with 6:50 to go before halftime, but Westlake led by five at 4:41 and then by nine at 2:07, with things not looking much brighter as they trailed 17-25.
Jonds made two free throws at the start of the third and cut the deficit to six, 25-19. But Westlake then netted a three-pointer at 7:18 to go, putting them up nine, 28-19.
Westlake kept building their lead throughout the quarter. Lady Trojan Jackie Lavitt made a two-pointer, bringing her team within 13 points with 4:28 to go before the final quarter. Blind Brook could not maintain control of the contest and trailed 42-27 after three quarters.
The Lady Trojans lost by only 14 after being down 17 points less than a minute into the fourth. The final score was 48-34.
Jackie Lavitt scored four points but grabbed 12 rebounds for the Lady Trojans in the loss.
"That's huge," Martinez said.
Lavitt also helped her team against Westlake's star player, Captain Erika Schmid.
"She kind of neutralized her," Martinez said.
The Trojans' Lea Saliba also was a standout in the loss. Saliba tallied seven points and three steals.
Blind Brook next plays Port Chester, 6 p.m. at home on Tuesday.
