St. Anthony's Maurer delivers in clutch

The shot clock was winding down and it didn't appear as if St. Anthony's had anything flowing. Then Kerrin Maurer got the ball just beyond the foul line, took a dribble and unleashed a turnaround jumper.

As it did for her all game, the ball went in. The basket gave the Friars a five-point lead with 1:37 left in the game and St. Anthony's held on for a 49-43 win over host St. John the Baptist Thursday night in CHSAA girls basketball.

"Micki [Impellizeri] had it at the top of the key," Maurer said. "I knew we had seven seconds on the shot clock. I just turned around and took the shot.

"I was just feeling it."

Maurer was involved in a car accident a little less than a year ago and suffered a fractured hip and ankle that ended her basketball season. She returned for lacrosse and the senior will play lacrosse at Duke.

"We missed her so much last year and I kept telling people how much we missed her," St. Anthony's coach Ken Parham said. "She's such a competitor. She wants to take the big shot and is willing to take it. Then she makes it."

Maurer had 15 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals. Symone Kelly had 13 points and nine rebounds, and Lauren Williams scored 13 for St. Anthony's (12-1, 7-0). Kamala Thompson scored 16 and Brianna Thomas added 12 for St. John the Baptist (10-4, 5-3).

SEE PHOTOSSt. Anthony's 49, St. John the Baptist 43

Maurer hit a three-pointer with 50 seconds left in the third quarter to give the Friars a 36-30 lead before Thompson hit a three and scored on a putback to pull St. John the Baptist within 36-35, the closest it would get. After Maurer's clutch shot made it 45-40, Rebecca Musgrove sealed it on a drive with 54 seconds left to make it 47-42.

St. Anthony's has won 12 consecutive games and beat the Cougars for the second time this season. The Friars won the first matchup, 52-39. The Friars are in firm control of first place in the league, while every other team has at least three losses. The Cougars have won six of the last seven CHSAA titles, and St. John the Baptist coach Ted Oberg isn't concerned with the Cougars' struggles.

"We beat ourselves," he said. " Give St. Anthony's credit because they are playing well. They played well enough to win . . . We're not totally happy where we're at, but we'll get where we need to be in February and March."