There’s great starts to a game, and then there’s what Anna Chunco did for Newfane on Sunday afternoon.
Chunco scored 18 of her game-high 26 points in the first half to propel No. 4 Newfane to a 59-38 win over No. 2 Health Sciences, as the Panthers claimed the Section VI Class B1 title at Buffalo State University.
“The shot was on,” Chunco said. “I was making my free throws, we were playing as a team so the shots were open, I wasn’t having to force anything. It was just a great team game.”
Newfane’s last sectional title came in 1996, when head coach Kevin Klumpp was a junior at the school.
“We put a lot of work in,” said Klumpp, whose team upset top-seeded Southwestern in the semifinals. “Everything kind of came together, and then we come here and finish the deal. It means a lot especially with this group.”
Even outside Chunco’s heroics, the Panthers (17-5) couldn’t have asked for a much better start.
After a back-and-forth opening few minutes, Newfane took control with a 13-2 run to close the first quarter and never looked back.
With two of Health Sciences’ key players, Noora Akaldi and Tahjanique Brooks, both picking up three fouls by the early second quarter, Chunco and teammate Kameryn Boyer continued to take advantage and push the Newfane lead. The duo combined for 31 of the Panthers’ 33 first half points, as their team held a 15-point advantage at the break.
Boyer finished with 17 on the game, as she and Chunco both outperformed their points per game average on the big stage.
“We play really good together and I’m just glad that we were able to help each other execute,” Chunco said. “We help each other stay calm and relaxed. We don’t let each other get in anyone’s heads.”
Another key factor in the Panthers’ first half run was their efficient free throw shooting, going 11 of 12 at the foul line. Combine that with aggressive defense and winning the battle on the boards, and it resulted in a recipe for success.
“We kind of put a lot of pressure and make them turn the ball over,” Klumpp said. “We got a couple defensive stoppers that if we don’t want one girl to touch the ball, they might not touch the ball.”
Alkaldi came into the game averaging just over 22 points per game for the Lady Falcons (15-5), but due to her early foul trouble, she was forced to sit the entire second quarter. A 3-point play from Alkaldi helped draw the Lady Falcons within 11 in the third, but that was as close as they’d come the rest of the way.
Brooks and Alkaldi both had 13 points for Health Sciences.
The Panthers advance to the Class B crossover game where they’ll meet the Class B2 champions Salamanca (17-6).
“I know they’re long, lanky,” Klumpp said. “I know they also lost to Southwestern. So we’ll get to the film and see what we can do.”
The Class B crossover game is set for 5 p.m. Wednesday at Buff State.
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