O'Boyle, Belvedere lead Kellenberg

Kellenberg spent Friday's practice installing some new defenses to prepare for Francis Lewis Saturday. Those changes enabled the Firebirds to build a big enough cushion and make up for a shaky offensive second half.

Carly O'Boyle had 13 points and five assists and Candace Belvedere had eight points, 12 rebounds and five assists to help Kellenberg hold off Francis Lewis, 48-39, in the third annual Under Armour Classic at St. John the Baptist.

"We improved on our defense a lot," O'Boyle said. "Last week, we didn't play well defensively. We were much better and shut the best players down here."

Kellenberg (2-1) led 15-14 after the first quarter before taking control in the second. The Firebirds used an 18-1 second-quarter advantage to take a 33-15 lead at the half.

"We put some new things in defensively with a 1-3-1 and trapping off of that," Kellenberg coach John Heitner said. "We put in a delayed type of press because we knew they like to run up and down the floor. All I wanted to do is slow them down and make them play a half-court set and we did a nice job in the first half."

Belvedere scored off a pass from Khadijah Donaldson with four minutes left in the third quarter to give Kellenberg a 36-18 lead. Francis Lewis got as close as 41-33 with 2:56 left in the game.

"We got a little crazy in the second half," O'Boyle said. "We're definitely glad we got the win."

SEE PHOTOSUnder Armour Classic at St. John the Baptist

Sachem East drops opener. Sachem East has not had time to work together in the preseason. Four members of the team were a part of the school's state championship field hockey team and have been back on the court for a little more than a week.

It showed against one of the top city teams as Sachem East lost to Bishop Ford, 48-35, in the Under Armour Classic.

"We need to work on getting in better shape," said senior Megan Doherty, who scored 15 points. "We didn't play much together in the offseason and it's really showing. We need to work on our shooting, too. That's what we're known for."

Sachem East trailed by five points early in the second quarter before Bishop Ford took a 30-15 lead at halftime. The Flaming Arrows hit four three-pointers in the third quarter, including one by Doherty with 38 seconds left to pull within 38-28, but they couldn't get any closer.

"We wanted to be competitive and see where we need some work," Sachem East coach Matt Brisson said. "We struggled with their size and speed. You're not looking for a loss, but I think the kids played really hard. We have some balance and firepower. We just need to get our legs underneath us."

Sachem East is perennially in the mix for the Suffolk Class AA championship and lost only two seniors from last season's team that lost in the county final after winning the state Class AA championship two seasons ago.

"It's my senior year," Doherty said. "We're experienced and have been there before. We know what it takes."