Bureau Valley uses storm of 3-pointers to shock St. Bede

MANLIUS - St. Bede was breezing throughout the game Saturday afternoon at Bureau Valley, leading 19-4 in the first quarter, 26-15 early in the second half and 34-28 at the end of the third quarter.

Then they ran into a storm of 3-pointers by Bureau Valley.

The Storm (9-17) hit three straight 3-pointers to open the fourth quarter, turning a six-point deficit into a three-point lead, and added another on the way to a 43-41 upset win over the Bruins (17-11).

Freshman point guard Brooke Helms, who made two 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, and first-year head coach Jon Henegar said it was a big comeback win for the Storm.

“We’ve been working very hard the last week in practice and it finally paid off for us,” Helms said.

“That is by far our best win of the year,” Henegar said. “That’s a team that went to state last year and a program’s that’s been good for a lot of years. They just won their conference championship. We’ve had a lot of close games the last couple weeks and throughout the season. We just haven’t finished games like we wanted to.

“Today, our fourth quarter was exceptional. We hit shots. Got stops when we needed to. Got some big plays from some of the girls we needed to.”

Sophomore Libby Endress opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer and Helms followed with another to tie the game at 34.

Helms liked it so much, she hit another, a “logo” shot that rimmed all around the iron and in to give the Storm their first lead of the game at 37-34.

“We work every day in practice because we haven’t been shooting the best the last few games. The second half we really shot well,” Helms said.

Helms said she’s confident she can make those long ones.

“I’ve done it in a few games and my teammates have my back, so I know can make it,” she said.

Endress dropped in a 10-footer from the left baseline to cap a 11-0 run, and Bella Birkey buried her second 3-pointer of the second half from the left corner to extend the Storm’s lead to 42-36.

The Bruins drew within 42-40 on baskets by Savannah Bray in the post and a drive by Quinn McClain. They got a good look on an inbounds play with 1.5 seconds left but Ashlyn Emm’s shot from the right corner fell short and the Storm held on for the upset win.

“We shot the ball pretty well. But I think it was our defense. That was our best defensive effort,” Henegar said. “We got down 19-4 in the first quarter. They just battled and battled. I’m very proud of our team. It’s a huge win for us.”

St. Bede coach Tom Ptak said the Bruins didn’t execute when they needed to.

“We didn’t handle Bureau Valley’s pressure very well in the fourth quarter,” he said. “We made some bad decisions that cost us. We have to guard the 3-ball better and give them the credit. They shot lights out in the second half.

“We started out strong and let them back in the game. We have to have a better understanding of game situations and what we need to do.”

Endress led the Storm with 16 points. Birkey, Wright, Helms and freshman Brynley Doty chipped in six apiece.

Lili McClain led St. Bede with 21 points and Ehm added nine.

It was all St. Bede early with the Bruins jumping out to a 19-4 first-quarter lead with Lili McClain and Emm each scoring seven points.

But they only scored three points, on a 3-pointer by Lili McClain in the second quarter, and the Storm closed the second quarter on an 8-0 run to close within 22-15 at the half.

“We only scored three points in the second quarter, and it’s hard to win games that way,” Ptak said.