Bishop Kearney shot out to an 11-0 lead in the first three minutes of Monday night’s girls basketball showdown at Mercy. The Monarchs answered by scoring the first 15 points of the second quarter, and back and forth they went.

The Private-Parochial League rivals traded counter punches and showed why they’re the top-ranked teams in the Democrat and Chronicle large-school coaches’ poll, but No. 1 Mercy prevailed, 75-65, to stay unbeaten at 6-0. The feisty Kings fell to 6-2.

“If you look at the last couple games we’ve had against each other, that’s just the way it is,” Monarchs coach Tom Vasey said of the pace and big swings. “It doesn’t matter what team gets up. The other is coming back.”

He remembers a few years ago Mercy built a 20-2 lead. By halftime, it trailed by four. Monday was a rematch of last year’s Section V Class A1 title game, won 65-60 by Mercy. Kearney won the Section V title over the Monarchs in 2015. Both schools are in Class AA this season.

Junior forward Katie Titus led Mercy with 26 points and 21 rebounds and junior guard Traiva Breedlove added 21 points and 10 rebounds and made a couple of back-breaking plays in the fourth quarter to keep Kearney and its frantic, full-court pressure at bay.

After trailing by 15 points with four minutes left, the Kings cut the deficit to six. But Breedlove beat the press, sized up her defender, eighth-grader Camille Wright, and converted on a layup as she was fouled. Her free throw to complete the three-point play made it 73-64 with 1:20 left.

“If you don’t have anyone on her that’s her size you have a serious mismatch,” Kearney coach Kevan Sheppard said of Breedlove, who plays bigger than 5-foot-8

Ruth Koang, a 6-4 junior center, scored 10 of her 18 points during Mercy’s 15-0 surge to open the second quarter. It led 39-31 at halftime. Koang and the 6-1 Titus held 6-2 Kearney eighth-grader Saniaa Wilson, who was in foul trouble, to seven points and 11 boards. She averages 16 points.

“That’s probably the only team that can neutralize Saniaa. She really only played a quarter and a half,” Sheppard said.

Eighth-grade guard Marianna Freeman played fearlessly, scoring 27 points, including nine in the fourth quarter, for Bishop Kearney. Wright added 17 points and junior Allure Simmons had only 3 points but 7 steals and 8 assists. Lytoya Baker, a 5-10 sophomore, had 11 points and 14 rebounds.

Kearney’s full-court press repeatedly frazzled Mercy, and that’s a concern for Vasey, whose team has 12 returnees from last year but only two starters (Breedlove and Titus).

“We’re like yin and yang. We have trouble guarding their bigs and they have difficulty guarding our guards,” Sheppard said.

The rematch is Feb. 10 at Kearney.

“When you have a pressure team like that, they force you into mistakes,” Vasey said of the Kings’ speedy guards. “But we played them and we battled.”

JDIVERON@Gannett.com

Mercy 75, Bishop Kearney 65

Bishop Kearney  21  10  18  16 – 65

Mercy   12  27  17  19  - 75

Kearney (6-2) leaders: Marianna Freeman 27 points; Camille Wright 17 points; Lytoya Baker 11 points, 14 rebounds; Allure Simmons 7 steals, 8 assists.

Mercy (6-0) leaders: Katie Titus 26 points, 21 rebounds; Traiva Breedlove 21 points, 10 rebounds; Maggie McDonough 6 points.

Jeff DiVeronica talks with the Mercy girls basketball coach Tom Vasey and junior forward Katie Titus about the big win over Bishop Kearney and the Monarchs' bid to repeat as Section V champions. Jeff DiVeronica, Olivia Lopez, Virginia Butler

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/videos/sports/high-school/2017/01/11/varsity-voices-girls-bb-hard-fought-win/96404246/

Mother Nature hasn't been kind to Mercy and Bishop Kearney. The schools, who remain the top-ranked teams in the Democrat and Chronicle's large-school coaches' poll, have each had two games wiped out due to inclement weather. That may have slowed down their improvement this season, but the good news for each squad is they were already really talented.

Who is better?

We find out Monday when the Private-Parochial League rivals square off at 7 p.m. at Our Lady of Mercy. The No. 1 Monarchs (5-0) are coming off Saturday's 74-47 win against Sacred Heart, their first action since Dec. 22. Junior forward Katie Titus led the way with 24 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists.

No. 2 Kearney is 6-1, but hasn't played since Dec. 29. The Kings' game Saturday against Mount Saint Mary's at St. John Fisher College was postponed because of snowy weather in the Buffalo area prevented the visitors from traveling.

Some other schools, such as third-ranked Pittsford Mendon (11-0), have played more than twice as many games as Mercy. But Monarchs coach Tom Vasey knows this: "Whenever we play (Kearney) I know this: We’re going to get the best out of each other," said Vasey, who's team finally got the better of the rivalry last winter.

There is a healthy respect between the coaches, Vasey and Kevan Sheppard. Some players have also suited up on the same AAU teams, and Vasey said, only half-jokingly, the programs also share a kinship as local private schools. They feel they're viewed by many public schools as the enemy because they're allowed to play in the Section V and state public schools tournaments.

Kearney holds a 6-2 advantage in the rivalry's last eight games but seven have been close. The Kings swept both regular-season matchups in 2013-14 (by five and seven points) and 2014-15 (by nine points twice). Last year featured three great games. Kearney won the first, 59-56, in January but Mercy won 57-53 in February and then rallied to win the Section V Class A1 title game, 65-60.

It ended Kearney's four-year run as a sectional champion. That included the only blowout in the last three years, a 64-46 romp in the 2015 sectional title game by the Kings. Many Section V Girls Basketball fans think Kearney and Mercy will be the teams left standing again in this year's Class AA championship on March 4.

With 12 returnees from last year's state semifinalist, the Monarchs hold the edge in experience. They're led by junior guard Traiva Breedlove, who averages 15 points per game, and also rely on twin towers, Titus and Ruth Koang, both juniors. The 6-foot-1 Titus and 6-3 Koang each average about 14 points.

Kearney features four eighth-graders, two seventh-graders and two sophomores on its 11-player roster. Eighth-graders Saniaa Wilson (16.1 points per game/10.6 rebounds) and Marianna Freeman (12.1 ppg) are the top scorers and junior guard Allure Simmons (7.8 ppg) can also be a dynamic scorer slashing to the basket. Wilson already has been offered a scholarship by Syracuse University.

Wilson has led Kearney in scoring four times and Freeman three times.

"We know what each other is going to do every time we play," Vasey said of himself and Sheppard. "It's a matter of who makes adjustments and who plays better."

It's a big week for Kearney. It plays at another private-school rival, Aquinas, on Thursday.

The Little Irish (11-0), who got 23 points, 10 rebounds and 5 steals from junior forward Kayla Jackson in Saturday's 65-38 win over Buffalo Nardin, are the No. 1 team in the D&C's small-school poll.

JDIVERON@Gannett.com

No. 1 vs. No. 2

Matchup: Mercy (5-0) plays Bishop Kearney (6-1) in a Private-Parochial League girls basketball showdown.

When/where: 7 p.m. Monday/at Our Lady of Mercy.

Rankings: The Monarchs are ranked first and Kearney is second in the Democrat and Chronicle's large-school coaches' poll.

Last year: After splitting regular-season games decided by four points, Mercy won the Section V Class A1 title game, 65-60, over the Kings.

Return matchup: Feb. 10 at Kearney.

LARGE-SCHOOL POLL

1. Mercy (5)

Record: 5-0
Points: 59
Previous rank: 1

2. Bishop Kearney (1)

Record: 6-1
Points: 55
Previous rank: 2

3. Pittsford Mendon

Record: 11-0
Points: 48
Previous rank: 3

4. Penfield

Record: 8-2
Points: 41
Previous rank: 4

5. Fairport

Record: 6-3
Points: 33
Previous rank: 5

6. Brighton

Record: 8-1
Points: 26
Previous rank: 9

7. Edison Tech

Record: 11-1
Points: 18
Previous rank: --

8. Hilton (tie)

Record: 5-4
Points: 15
Previous rank: 7

8. Honeoye Falls-Lima (tie)

Record: 7-2
Points: 15
Previous rank: 6

10. Irondequoit

Record: 6-3
Points: 12
Previous rank: --

Also received votes: Gates Chili, Pittsford Sutherland, Wilson

When Mercy’s trip to Erie, Pennsylvania, for a game last Friday was canceled because of bad weather, the Monarchs didn’t take the night off. They had an “impromptu team dinner,” coach Tom Vasey said.

That’s how much they like being together.

The Monarchs have developed a bond, more like a family, Vasey said, and they’re going to need it this winter because they’ll get everyone’s best shot. Not only is Mercy a defending Section V champion, but also it debuts as the No. 1 team in the Democrat and Chronicle’s first girls basketball large-school coaches’ poll. The Monarchs (2-0) received seven of 10 first-place votes.

Their Private-Parochial League rival, Bishop Kearney, is ranked second and got one first-place vote. No. 3 Pittsford Mendon received two after a head-turning, 57-52 win Tuesday over No. 4 Penfield, the defending Section V Class AA champion

Mercy returns 12 players from a state semifinalist team that rallied from 10 points down twice in the second half to beat Kearney in last year’s Section V Class A1 final, knocking off a school that had won four straight titles. But Section V has moved both Mercy and Kearney (3-2) up to Class AA for this season.

“We certainly understand that and we’re up for the challenge,” said Vasey, who is in his eighth year as coach.

Despite the abundance of familiar faces, only two returnees were starters: guard Traiva Breedlove, a junior who averaged 13 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists; and 6-foot junior Katie Titus, a forward (9.6 ppg, 7.2 rpg). Leah Koonmen would have been a key playmaker again, but the junior guard tore her ACL playing AAU basketball last fall and is out for the season.

That puts more pressure on the dynamic Breedlove to carry the load with junior Alex Hetterich and sophomore point guard Maggie McDonough. Junior Emily McDonough, Maggie’s sister, and freshman Emily Tabone are other backcourt players, and 5-foot-10 senior forward Danielle Raymond will lend front-court depth. Tabone averaged 8.5 points for Churchville-Chili last season.

But the big transfer — and we’re not exaggerating — is Ruth Koang. The 6-3 junior center used to live in the Rochester area and moved back last summer from Minnesota. She basically slides into the starting spot vacated by 6-2 Jayla Myles, the All-Greater Rochester center who graduated and is now at Division I Howard University.

“With (Koang) they can extend the floor and be aggressive (defensively) because she can protect the basket and make up for any mistakes,” Penfield coach Mark Vogt said.

That’s exactly the plan. Vasey said the Monarchs, who mixed in lots of 2-3 zone last year, plan to use more pressure on the perimeter. They allowed only 39.8 points per game last year. In two wins this winter, they’re right on track, allowing only 39 per game in a 56-21 win over Section VI’s Mount Mercy and a 70-57 win at Fairport.

“The addition of (Koang) might just be too much of an added bonus to an already really good team,” said Kearney coach Kevan Sheppard, who has an ultra-young but talented squad anchored by 6-foot Saniaa Wilson, an eighth-grader who already has been offered a scholarship by Syracuse University. “But we’re excited for the challenge.”

The rivals play Jan. 9 at Mercy and Feb. 10 at Kearney. Mercy lost the 2015 sectional final to the Kings 64-46 and the 2014 title game 42-40 to Pittsford Sutherland. Last winter, the Monarchs came out on top and reached the state semifinals before losing to Jamesville-DeWitt. They want to experience that again.

“I think they’re pretty focused,” Vasey said. “Trai, Katie, the girls that were there last year, they’re really motivated. They want to win sectionals again and get back to states, realizing it’s going to be a tougher challenge going through Penfield or Kearney again.”

Top 10 Large Schools

1. Mercy

Coach: Tom Vasey (8th season, 105-45 record). 

Last season: 22-4 (won Section  V Class A1, lost in state semifinals).

Key players: G Traiva Breedlove, jr.; 6-foot-1 F Katie Titus, jr.; 6-3 C Ruth Koang, jr.

Outlook: The Monarchs lost some leaders off last year's title team and junior guard Leah Koonmen tore her ACL in the off-season, but they still return 12 players and are really good. Titus averaged 9.6 points and 7.2 rebounds and Breedlove (13 ppg, 5.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists) is explosive going to the hoop. Two transfers will help, especially Koang, a standout from Minnesota. Freshman Emily Tabone also arrives from Churchville-Chili, where she averaged 8.5 points last season.

Coach: Kevan Sheppard (8th season).

Last season: 17-5 (lost in Section V Class A1 final).

Key players: 6-foot F Saniaa Wilson, 8th; G Allure Simmons, jr.; F Lytoya Baker, soph.

Outlook: What the Kings lack in experience — they have 10 underclassmen and just one senior — they make up for in emerging talent. That starts with Wilson, who averaged 14.3 points, 13.5 rebounds and 4.5 blocks last winter and has already picked up a scholarship offer from Syracuse University. Kearney will miss Rosa Graham's floor leadership, but Simmons (10.6 ppg last year) is one of the area's best finishers in the open floor. The Class AA final could end up just like the last two A1 finals: Mercy vs. Kearney.  

3. Pittsford Mendon

Coach: Todd Julien (15th season, 288-59).

Last season: 18-4 (lost in Class A2 final to Batavia).

Key players: G Sara Lyons, sr.; G Mackenzie Winn, sr.; F Caroline Cullinan, sr.; F Alana Fursman, soph.

Outlook: The Vikings opened plenty of eyes with Tuesday's 57-52 win and that was coming off a 60-56 upset of Williamsville South, one of Section VI's top teams. That should provide a jolt of confidence. Lyons is off to a terrific start, averaging 18 points and leading her team in scoring in three wins during Mendon's 4-0 start. Winn returns from an ACL injury and Fursman also has made a quick leap from a JV squad that went 20-0. She's averaging 10.8 points. She had a team-high 16 points against Penfield.

4. Penfield

Coach: Mark Vogt (17th season, 252-68).

Last season: 22-2 (won Section V Class AA title, lost in regionals).

Key players: F Makaila Wilson, jr.; G Brianne Moxley, soph.

Outlook: The Patriots relied heavily on All-Greater Rochester pick Wilson and Moxley in their first two games, a lopsided win and a 57-52 loss to Mendon, and that may not change for a while. Developing that third option as a scorer will help, but Wilson is good enough to dominate at times on both ends all by herself. With only three seniors on the team — guards Gabby Pancio, Olivia Colombo and Jenna Russell — the Patriots will need to mature to be a contender. Some tough tests await over the next two weeks.

5. Fairport

Coach: Mark Schaller (2nd year).

Last season: 13-9 (lost in Class AA semifinals).

Key players: F/C Caroline White, sr.; F Hannah Miller, sr.; G Megan Yawman, sr.

Outlook: An AGR pick last year, White is one of the area's top players and has led the Red Raiders in scoring three times in their 3-1 start. She had 14 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks in Tuesday's win over Webster Thomas. Miller and Yawman are also off to good starts in supporting roles. White left the 70-57 loss to Mercy with an injury but came right back and the Red Raiders rebounded with solid wins over Hilton and Webster Thomas, both ranked in the D&C poll, and will get another huge test Tuesday hosting Mendon.

6. Honeoye Falls-Lima

Coach: Steve Willoughby (27th year, 455-155).

Last season: 12-10 (lost in Class A2 semifinals).

Key players: G Taryn Wilson, jr.; F Megan Slymon, sr.; G Maddy Meehan, sr.; 6-foot F Kara Oatman, soph.

Outlook: A 4-0 start for the Cougars has included wins over Pittsford Sutherland, Webster Schroeder and Canandaigua by five points or fewer. That's how a team with four returning starters that was just above .500 last winter can learn how to win the close ones. Paige Smith, last year's top scorer on JV, also should help. Wilson has scored 25, 20 and 19 in three of those wins and is averaging 17.5 points. Meehan has also hit double figures in the last two wins. If Willoughby's team can get past Batavia and Greece Odyssey next, that could set up a Dec. 28 showdown of unbeatens on Dec. 28 in the first round of the Mendon Holiday Tournament with the host school.

7. Hilton

Coach: Jeff Eichas.

Last season: 19-4 (lost in Section V Class AA final).

Key players: G/F Alyssa Juergens, jr.; G Allyson Strauss, sr.; G Chloe Graupman, jr.; F Meghan Schiano, soph.

Outlook: Cadets counted on standout guard Cameron Graupman to make them go last year. She averaged 24.4 points per game. They'll need everyone to do a little bit more this winter, and Strauss and Juergens are keys. Each averaged about 8.5 points per game last winter and are capable of more. A 1-2 start has included losses to Kearney and Fairport. The schedule eases up over the next two games, but then it's Penfield (Dec. 22) and Fairport (Dec. 28).

8. Webster Thomas

Coach: Jason Charno (3rd year, 32-31).

Last season: 9-13 (lost in Class AA quarterfinals).

Key players: F Kelly Weeks, sr.; G Miranda Lynch, jr.; G Kayla Farney, jr.; F Caitlin Sanders, sr.; F Emily Glagolev, sr. 

Outlook: All five starters return, led by Weeks, who averaged 12 points and eight boards, and Lynch, who averaged 11 points. In addition to experience, Charno likes his team's depth. Weeks scored 24 and 17 points in the Titans' first two wins but was limited to only six in Tuesday's 44-29 loss to Fairport. Three winnable games are next; that could help boost confidence in the early season. 

9. Brighton

Coach: Sam Rizzo (10th overall, 5th at Brighton, 96-92).

Last season: 17-5 (Lost in Class A1 semifinals).

Key players: G Meg Flanagan, sr.; G Miyah Sizer, jr.; G Makalah Sizer, jr.

Outlook: Flanagan, an All-Monroe County pick last year averaging 14.2 points and 5.3 rebounds, gives the Barons a guard with size who presents matchup challenges for smaller opponents. She'll have to lead the way, much as AGR pick Brooke Wolff did last winter. Flanagan has averaged 15 points in the Barons' 2-1 start and Miyah Sizer has averaged 13. Brighton gets a decent test Friday when it hosts a 4-1 Brockport team.

10. Pittsford Sutherland

Coach: Dan Judd (16th season, 219-120).

Last season: 10-12 (lost in Class A2 semifinals).

Key players: G Lena Kaufman.jr.; G/F Ellie Pestorius, jr.; G Mary Bayer, sr.; G Hannah Catallo-Stooks, jr.

Outlook: Four starters are back for the Knights, so there is experience on the perimeter. However, they'll need a stable of young forwards — sophomores Cami Eder and Libby Kenneally and junior Julia Koron — to develop and provide some low-post offense, or defenses will be able to push out on the guards and close out more on shooters. Pestorius and Bayer each scored in double figures in wins over Victor and Canandaigua that followed a season-opening loss to Honeoye Falls-Lima, 58-52.

Large-School Coaches' Poll    

1 –  Mercy (7)    
Record:  2-0
Points:  97
Class: AA
    
2 – Bishop Kearney (1)    
Record: 3-2
Points: 86
Class:  AA
    
3 –  Pittsford Mendon (2)    
Record: 3-2
Points: 83
Class:  A1
    
4 –  Penfield    
Record:1-1
Points: 72
Class: AA
    
5 –  Fairport    
Record: 3-1
Points: 55
Class: AA
    
6 –  Honeoye Falls-Lima    
Record: 4-0
Points: 40
Class: A2
    
7 – Hilton    
Record: 1-2
Points: 33
Class: AA
    
8 – Webster Thomas    
Record: 2-1
Points: 21
Class: AA
    
9 – Brighton    
Record: 2-1
Points: 17
Class: A1
    
10 – Pittsford Sutherland    
Record: 2-1
Points: 10
Class: A2
Also received votes: Brockport, Edison, Gates Chili, Irondequoit, Irondequoit, Rush-Henrietta, Wilson, Wayne.    

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/sports/high-school/basketball/2016/12/15/girls-basketball-poll/95438802/