Team Lighting Melious 17U Gold started out in an 18-6 hole, putting it behind the eight ball. But it managed to battle back.
However, the Lightning ultimately came up short, losing, 55-52, to BounceNation FBC in the Splash National semifinals Sunday at the Kentucky Exposition Center.
Rising junior point guard Stella Ziogas led the Lightning with 17 points, eight assists and eight rebounds, while 2025 guard Claire Fitzpatrick contributed a double-double of 15 points and 11 boards.
“We fought back behind tough defense from Ziogas, Sara (Landry), Fitzpatrick and Skye (Pressley),” Lightning head coach Dan Melious said. “Stella made a big run for us. Claire hit some threes. I give them all the credit. (They) fought back to take a two-point lead with two minutes to go. (But) FBC is a historic program, and they made some plays, and we missed some shots.”
Although the Lightning played from behind most of the contest and faced some rough physicality, Melious praised his girls for hanging tough.
“Stella had this refuse-to-lose attitude and after Skye was hit in the face, with Fitzpatrick making both techs, we rallied around her, and fought back on the court,” he said. “Skye is a tough kid. She kept her head and we just played. I’m beyond proud of all they accomplished. I hope they can refocus and be ready tomorrow.”
Playing an iron women-like schedule in July, Melious said the Lightning have held up pretty well, despite the physical and mental demands.
“We played 22 games now in two-plus weeks, going back to Spain tourney,” Melious explained. “The new AAU schedule is tough, man. The last few years, the periods are separated. Now, they are not. But we are 18-4 over this stretch.”
More importantly, he said “this season had (its) ups and downs — Lambo ACL (injury), (Iva) Corluka going to FIBA Tournament. But with that said, this July group has been special, and they became more then teammates. They became friends.”
On Monday, the Lightning play for third place at 9:00 a.m. in the Splash National Championship.
— Jerry Del Priore
NY NJ Sports World/Brooklyn Sports World 