Kellenberg falls to Bishop Ford in state playoffs

Just when Kellenberg thought it had fought its way back from an early deficit, there was Vanessa D'Ambrosi to dash its hopes.

D'Ambrosi hit her sixth three-pointer of the game with 2:00 left in the fourth quarter to put Bishop Ford up for good in its 51-46 win over Kellenberg Friday night in the first round of the CHSAA Class A state girls basketball playoffs at Molloy.

Nicole Trepeta's third three-pointer tied the score at 46 for Kellenberg before D'Ambrosi's dagger.

"Every time we cut it or tied it, she would bang in a three," said Kellenberg coach Meghan Moran. "She was lights out."

Katie Cunningham led Kellenberg (16-8) with 14 points, including four three-pointers, and Khadijah Donaldson added 12 points. But the Thunderbirds, who trailed 16-9 after the first quarter, shot an uncharacteristic 2 of 10 from the free-throw line.

Said Moran: "Otherwise it was a pretty back-and-forth game."