The talented roster for the Tamarac Bengals can beat you on both sides of the ball and that was on full display Thursday night in Schaghticoke.
The visitors from Clum’s Corners forced 22 Hoosic Valley turnovers while knocking down 6 of 12 shots from beyond the arc in posting a 47-25 decision over the Indians.
Tamarac wasted little time in taking control, quickly running out to an 11-0 lead fueled by the long ball.
Tina Ray drilled a trey from the top to get things started followed by a Renna Poulin triple off the right wing. Emily Erickson scored at the rim after a Valley turnover and on Tamarac’s next possession the junior guard buried a deep three from the left wing for the 11-0 advantage less than four minutes in.
But the Valley closed the quarter with four Alex Rifenburg free throws and a Sam Lanoue bucket, and when Lanoue scored again to start the second period the Bengal lead had been trimmed to 11-8.
Tamarac responded with six straight points ending with a Gabriella Cellucci jumper at the 1:32 mark, giving the Bengals some breathing room at 17-8.
Rifenburg and the Bengals Amani Henderson exchanged inside scores before the Valley’s Jessica Espey got her runner to go to end the half as the teams went to the break with Tamarac holding a 19-12 lead.
The Bengals started the third on a 10-3 run highlighted by a pair of Erickson triples, the second giving Tamarac a 29-15 cushion at the 5:30 mark of the quarter.
The Indians meanwhile, continued to struggle offensively, plagued all night with turnovers against the Tamarac press as well as their half court man and at the end of three, the Bengals were in control at 37-19.
A Renee Serafin bucket followed by an Ashlyn Chartier coast-to-coast foray cut the deficit to 37-23 with 7:30 remaining as the Indians showed signs.
But a pair of jumpers by Poulin and a long ball by Ray from the top ended any thoughts of a Valley comeback as Tamarac earned their 12th league “W” in 13 outings.
Hoosic Valley ( 7-6, 10-7), was led by Lanoue and Rifenburg with six points each and will play host to Mechanicville tonight in a Wasaren crossover matchup.
Erickson with 15 points and Poulin with 13 paced the Bengals who will face undefeated Cambridge at Skidmore College on Sunday at 6:30 in the league championship run.