GFS Tigers tested by familiar Friends League foe

by Tom Utescher
Posted 2/3/22

Germantown Friends registered an important victory last Tuesday over longtime FSL power Friends Central.

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GFS Tigers tested by familiar Friends League foe

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As Friends Schools League basketball teams began to think about their seeding for the league tournament, Germantown Friends registered an important victory last Tuesday over longtime FSL power Friends Central. The host Tigers of GFS led at the end of each quarter, fending off a fourth-period rally by the Phoenix to seal a 41-33 victory.

Two fifth-year varsity players for the Tigers, center Clare Meyer and guard Martina Kiewek, scored 19 and 15 points, respectively, as GFS improved to 15-3 overall and 4-1 within the FSL. Friends Central, which saw Sanaa Garrett reach double figures with 11 points, departed with a mark of 3-2 in the league and 9-8 overall.

"Our game plan was the same as it is for every game; we take every day as an opportunity to get better," commented GFS head coach Mike Lintulahti. "While we had a favorable outcome, there are still a lot of areas where we need to improve to become the team we want to be at the end of the season."

Aside from Kiewek and Meyer, the other two seniors on the Germantown Friends roster (Cadence Kelly and Caroline Rickels) have been on the varsity squad since their freshman year. Friends Central is an experienced group, as well, returning all of the starters from last year's young team.

This winter, however, Westtown School boasts one of the top teams in Southeastern Pennsylvania and is firmly in command of the Friends School League. Facing fellow playoff contenders GFS and Friends Central earlier in January, Westtown defeated the Tigers by 29 points and FC by 43.

Realistically, last Tuesday's contest at GFS was a battle for second place, as each team came in with a 3-1 mark in the FSL.

Germantown Friends' Lintulahti was glad that the 6'3" Meyer would have the experience of going up against players of similar stature in FC junior Amani Savage (6'1") and freshman Logyn Greer (6'2").

"Clare's a big part of our game plan because we know she gives us an advantage inside," he noted. "She's a unique player who continues to improve and impress us. She has really grown into her leadership role this season."

A small forward for the visitors, Madison Smith, began Tuesday's game with a lay-up. No one on hand would have predicted that the junior would not score again that evening. After Meyer hit a basket from the paint and then converted two free throws, three-point baskets were exchanged between FC's Savage and GFS junior guard Ndaia Blakney for a 7-5 Germantown edge.

With 3:30 remaining in the first quarter, FC's Smith went down with what was plainly a painful ankle injury. She left the gym and would return later on crutches, a very unfortunate development for her and her team.

"It was a devastating blow to lose Madison Smith," Coach Lintulahti said of the 1000-point scorer. "They're obviously not the same team without her. Our team has a lot of respect for her, and we hope she's able to come back soon."

Still, GFS only led 9-7 at the quarter, and the score was bumped up to 11-9 early in the second round. After Meyer bagged a turnaround jumper, the Phoenix scored on a baseline drive. Next, Germantown's Kiewek countered for the Tigers with an industrial-strength three-pointer from the right wing.

The home team's lead gradually increased as the Phoenix missed a pair of free throws and Meyer made a pair of her own at the other end of the court. Later, with seven seconds left in the half, Kiewek bagged another trey, giving GFS a 23-14 lead at the intermission.

"The last three or four games she's kind of found her rhythm," Lintulahti said of the seasoned senior guard. "She's shooting the ball very well. We have some other players who will also hit jump shots for us, which we need. I think several of them are on the verge of having a break-out game."

After halftime, the Phoenix offense produced seven points for the third quarter in a row, while the Tigers added a bit to their lead in the third frame. Meyer maneuvered inside for three field goals, and converted two of four attempts at the foul line.

Kiewek knocked down her third three-pointer and the home team took a 34-21 lead into the last eight minutes. The senior would score on a drive with a little over two minutes gone in the closing quarter, matching an earlier bucket by FC's Jordyn Adderly to keep the margin at 13 points. Neither she nor Meyer would score again from the field, though.

The score seesawed up to 38-25 as a hook shot by Savage for the visitors was answered with a baseline jumper by GFS freshman Katie Day with five minutes left to play.

"She's very confident, and she gives us a lot of energy," Lintulahti said of the ninth grader.

Soon after that, Germantown Friends' lead was almost cut in half as the Phoenix strung together a pair of three-pointers, one from the right by Garrett, and one from the left by Adderly. The Tigers called time-out, with the score now 38-31.

That figure was still on the board when another time-out was called later on, then with 2:14 remaining Day scored for GFS off of an offensive rebound. The visitors were back within seven after a successful drive by Garrett, but then they committed their seventh team foul of the half. That sent the Tigers' Meyer to the line to make the first of two free throws with 1:33 on the clock.

Coming back down the floor, FC needed to start getting shots off with some sense of urgency, but instead the Phoenix passed the ball around the perimeter in a relatively passive manner as time ticked away. When they did release a shot, it was blocked by Meyer and Kiewek came up with the loose ball. The score of 41-33 would become the final.

Backing up the two scoring leaders for the Tigers were Day, with four points, and Blakney, with three. Adderly ended up with eight points for the Phoenix.