LYNN — The KIPP girls basketball team hosted the Academy of Notre Dame Tuesday evening. Despite great individual performances from Katrina Fortes and Hailey Herrera, the Panthers fell short in the final quarter and lost 37-31.
“It’s an overall performance. Our goal is to have fun and work hard as best as we can – and that is exactly what we did today,” KIPP head coach Tiphani Harris said.
There were a few standout performers, especially Fortes who scored 17 points and dominated the glass.
“She [Fortes] plays hard and aggressive in each and every game. Whatever you ask of her, she does it automatically,” Harris said. “She’s still working on some small things, but she’s getting better each day in practice.”
With 40 seconds remaining in the first quarter, Marissa Esteban Gomez (three points) made a corner three to tie the game at 11. Fortes, on the next possession, got fouled with seconds remaining and made one of two free throws to give KIPP a one-point lead going into the second.
The Panthers got into a tough situation as Fortes picked up her third foul midway through the second quarter. KIPP had just six players on Tuesday.
“It’s very difficult [playing with only six players], especially with foul trouble. We’re still learning to be disciplined, however, all six girls did their jobs and we did what we can do as a team,” Harris said.
KIPP lost its height advantage with Fortes going to the bench, and Notre Dame capitalized. Notre Dame ended the quarter on a 6-2 run to take a 20-16 halftime lead.
Herrera (10 points) started to get going in the third. She showed her speed as she picked up a loose ball and took it coast-to-coast for a layup to give KIPP a 25-24 lead midway through the quarter.
Herrera, an eighth grader, scored six of her 10 points in the quarter.
“Seeing her improvement from where she was last year to now – it’s an amazing improvement to see,” Harris said.
The Panthers closed the third quarter on top 27-26 thanks to a Herrera jumpshot with seconds remaining.
Notre Dame found its offensive spark in the fourth and scored some wide-open layups against KIPP’s zone defense.
That said, the Panthers never quit. After another free throw from Fortes, the deficit was cut to four with 1:35 left. Unfortunately, Notre Dame used up the majority of the clock and made a pair of free throws to ice the game, walking out with the victory.
Although the Panthers lost, Harris is pleased with the improvements her team has made since the start of the year.
“Instead of being against each other, we came together as one,” Harris said. “That was one of our downfalls in prior seasons.”
KIPP will travel to Fellowship Christian Academy on Friday with tip-off scheduled for 4 p.m.
