Donaldson, Firebirds fall to St. Francis
Kellenberg junior center Khadijah Donaldson (34) drives to the basket during the first half against St. Francis Prep at St. Francis Prep High School. (Jan. 15, 2011) Credit: Christopher Pasatieri
Khadijah Donaldson has found it more difficult on the offensive end this season. The Kellenberg junior center had more open looks last season with Emma O'Connor drawing most of the attention, but with O'Connor now at Marist, the double and triple teams are coming to Donaldson.
Donaldson has shown the ability to handle it at times like she displayed in the first half Saturday against St. Francis Prep when she scored 11 points, but in the second half, she didn't get the ball as much. Add that to the inability to get a defensive stop in the final three minutes and a big disparity at the free-throw line that St. Francis Prep took advantage of and it resulted in a 54-45 road loss for Kellenberg in non-league girls basketball.
Donaldson scored 17 and Carly O'Boyle had 13, including three three-pointers for Kellenberg (6-6).
"It's a lot different," Donaldson said. "I'm getting a lot more attention. It was easier last season. They paid more attention to me in the second half."
Donaldson scored six points in the second half, including just two in the final quarter.
"We were leaning on her a little too much," Kellenberg coach John Heitner said. "We weren't looking for the other open girl. We have to trust each other more and continue to spread the wealth around. Hopefully, we have some other people step up when Khadijah is double-teamed."
St. Francis Prep (5-6) went to the free-throw line 29 times and hit 17 shots, and Kellenberg went 6-for-10. At one point in the first half, Kellenberg had nine fouls and the Terriers just one. It was similar in the second half with the Firebirds at nine and the Terriers at two.
"It's frustrating," Heitner said, "but you could never put the game in the hands of the referees. Coming away from our nest in Kellenberg, we're not going to get every call."
Added Donaldson: "How could that happen? I've never seen 9-1. We played good defense and were aggressive."
Kellenberg trailed by as many as eight points in the second half and cut it to 44-42 after O'Boyle hit a three-pointer and went 1-for-2 from the line with 4:13 left in the game.
Adelphi-bound Jenna Halaby (14 points) scored on a runner in the lane to give SFP a 49-43 lead. Geena Maniaci hit a jumper for Kellenberg, but Shatira Hamlet scored on a runner with 1:57 left to give the Terriers a 51-45 lead.
Kellenberg led 24-23 at the half, but was outscored 16-9 in the third quarter. It was the third consecutive loss for the Firebirds, including a surprising 50-27 defeat to Our Lady of Mercy and two non-league setbacks. Still, the Firebirds are tied for second in the CHSAA with Sacred Heart and St. John the Baptist and do have a win over surging Holy Trinity.
The Firebirds play Sacred Heart tomorrow, St. Mary's and first-place St. Anthony's this week.
"We need to pick it up," O'Boyle said. "We have had a few losses lately. We need to get over it and get ready for a big week."
Out East with Doug Geed: Wine harvests, a fish market, baked treats and poinsettias NewsdayTV's Doug Geed visits two wineries and a fish market, and then it's time for holiday cheer, with a visit to a bakery and poinsettia greenhouses.
Out East with Doug Geed: Wine harvests, a fish market, baked treats and poinsettias NewsdayTV's Doug Geed visits two wineries and a fish market, and then it's time for holiday cheer, with a visit to a bakery and poinsettia greenhouses.
