Senecas' zone smothers St. Paul in 60-27 win

Calvert's zone defense wreaked havoc for Norwalk St. Paul Wednesday evening as the Flyers committed 29 turnovers in a 60-27 non-league loss to the Senecas.St. Paul's defense had the Flyers in the game after one half, but then a big second half from Calvert – outscored St. Paul 33-13 – put the game away. The Senecas (4-1) kept the Flyers on their toes offensively as they switched from a 2-3 zone, to a 3-2 zone and really extended their defense which enticed St. Paul to get the ball to the elbow, but a lot of those passes didn't get through, which led to turnovers and easy looks the other way. "We live and die with our defense. The last three years we had a good offense, scoring 59 (points) a game, but we only gave up about 32," Calvert coach Aaron Sheets said. "We're only giving up 29 a game right now … our defense is good. Overall coaching many years I've played many different defenses, but I realized last year that 10 eyes on the ball really helps these girls and the girls have bought in to having their hands up."Our zone is really working well right now, we're moving well, trusting each other and we're taking away their strengths."Calvert raced out to a 15-4 lead in the opening quarter as the Senecas were hitting open shots left and right, including three 3-pointers – two from Mya Steyer and one from Sofia Lee.Both teams settled in defensively in the second quarter, but Calvert senior Kaleigh Concepcion drained consecutive triples to give Calvert a 23-10 edge in midway through the second period, before scoring four more points as Concepcion scored all 10 of Calvert's points in the quarter.Calvert led 27-14."I think tonight was overall the best game Kaleigh has ever played here," Calvert coach Aaron Sheets said as Concepcion had a game-high 20 points. "I told her that her dribbling was phenomenal. She's a great dribbler, but sometimes she over-dribbles and gets into trouble, but tonight she was going in and out, zigzagging … I told her at halftime, she was kicking butt."This was the best game of her career tonight. She probably thinks that too because she also played great D. She was all over the court."Up 13 points at halftime, Calvert then really put the pressure on in the third, ending the stanza with a 15-1 run to gain a 44-19 advantage heading into the fourth."They run that zone really well. They extend it out … our wings just wanted to bury themselves in the corner and we told them coming into the game that we can't do that," Flyers coach Steve Frazee said. "Then fundamentally, we were just awful. We can't make a pass from the volleyball line to the low post with three defenders there. "I told them I think we digressed from the beginning of the year … I don't know what it is. We're playing some good teams, but it's just like they forgot what they're doing. Maybe it's me, I need to relay what I want from them better. We have to work on the little stuff. Today, obviously we didn't do any of that well."Carleigh Meier added 10 points and three steals for the Senecas, while Lee had eight points and four rebounds. Overall, nine Senecas scored.Aubrie Bogard and Deanna Velasquez each recorded five points for St. Paul. Calvert 60, St. Paul 27St. Paul (4-4): Georgia Crabbs 1-0-2; Morgan Endsley 1-2-4; Peyton Barman 0-0-0; Raeleigh Friend 1-0-2; Annie Friend 2-0-4; Aubrie Bogard 1-2-5; Ella Kalizewski 1-0-2; Deanna Vazquez 2-0-5; Taegan Mansfield-Bush 0-1-1; Anmarie Nolan 1-0-2. Totals: 10-6-27.Calvert (4-1): Sofia Lee 3-0-8; Kaleigh Concepcion 8-1-20; Breanna Ronski 1-0-2; Megan Rombach 1-1-3; Carleigh Meier 5-0-10; Addison Sheets 0-0-0; Bella Steyer 0-0-0; Grace Wood 1-0-2; Kate Coleman 2-1-5; Savanna Faber 1-0-2; Mya Steyer 2-0-6; Karris Marinis 0-0-0. Totals: 24-5-60.St. Paul&emsp;&emsp;8&emsp;&emsp;6&emsp;&emsp;5&emsp;&emsp;8&emsp;&emsp;– 27Calvert&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;17&emsp;&emsp;10&emsp;&emsp;17&emsp;&emsp;16&emsp;&emsp;– 603-point goals: St. Paul 1 (Vazquez); Calvert 7 (Concepcion 3, Lee 2, M. Steyer 2)Foul shots: St. Paul 6-8; Calvert 5-8Turnovers: St. Paul 29; Calvert 13