By Kim J. Harmon

The temperature outside was fairly moderate.

But inside the Reed Intermediate School, things were definitely cold … at least when it comes to the collective shooting touch of the Suns and the Nighthawks in the Intermediate Girls championship game last Saturday.

There were just two field goals in the first period and only eight in the first half and when that was over it was the Nighthawks clinging to a 10-9 lead.

But the Suns – who had shot very well in their first-round playoff game – finally found a way in the second half to get the ball through the iron and earned the Intermediate Division championship with a 24-16 win over the Nighthawks.

Marilyn LaCroce canned 10 points, shooting 4-of-6 from the free throw line, and Kelly O’Connor chipped in with nine points to lead the Suns. Shannon Paproski and Christina Naldini popped in six points apiece for the ‘Hawks.

Marissa Cucco and O’Connor gave the Suns and early 3-0 lead, with Cucco scoring her only two points to open the scoring and O’Connor dropping in a free throw. But Paproski hit a bucket before the first period closed and Naldini added a bucket to start the second period and five the ‘Hawks a 4-3 lead.

Paproski came back with another basket and the ‘Hawks had a 6-3 lead.

But LaCroce – who, along with Paproski of the ‘Hawks, was a workhorse through the game – hit a pair of baskets (one in heavy traffic) as the Suns grabbed the lead back. Kelley Gaston of the ‘Hawks and O’Connor of the Suns traded baskets before the ‘Hawks closed the half with a 10-9 lead on another basket by Paproski.

Even though there was just one field goal in the third period (Naldini hitting a bucket with 2:20 left to play), the Suns took the lead back as LaCroce hit 4-of-6 shots from the free throw line and Steph Clavette went 1-for-2 from the free throw line.

The Suns had a 14-12 lead late in the period when Jill Jagoe canned a free throw to trim the lead to one.

But apparently that was much, much too close for the Suns. O’Connor banked one in off the glass to start the fourth period and followed up with another long shot off the glass and the Suns were on the way to the win.

After O’Connor’s second basket put the Suns up 18-13, Gaston hit a free throw to trim the lead to four. But Clavette and O’Connor both hit long shots and LaCroce added a banker to stake the Suns to a 24-14 lead.

The game was in hand, but there still was some excitement to be found.

Yes – with just 1.2 seconds left on the clock, Naldini gave the Nighthawks and their fans one last thing to cheer about with a long-range basket to close out the game.

Suns (24) – Marilyn LaCroce 10, Kelly O’Connor 9, Steph Clavette 3, Marissa Cucco 2.

Mavericks (16) – Shannon Paproski 6, Christina Naldini 6, Kelley Gaston 3, Jill Jagoe 1.