The first game of the 11th annual Breakdown Tip Off Classic at the Hopkins’ Lindbergh Center saw the #7AA-rated Foley Falcons and #10AAA Simley Spartans face off in the day's only interclass game.

Foley took early leads of 15-3 and 30-11 en route to a 55-31 win over Simley. 

6-5 post Tara Dusharm dominated inside for the Falcons throughout. At the 11:00 mark of the first half, she hit the floor hard on her offensive block. But the ball bounced back to her and she made a shot from her knees. 

An anticipated duel with Simley post Abby Kain, a 6-1 junior who averaged 18 ppg last season, didn't materialize. Kain has just returned from a stress fracture in her foot and she scored her first basket, a layup, at 1:24 in the half with Foley ahead 30-11.

Dusharm finished the half with 12 points, Kain with just those 2. Simley shot just 12 percent from the field in the first half.

Foley had 11 first half turnovers, but the turnovers were plentiful for Simley as well. The Simley guards took long quick shots in transition that often resulted in a Dusharm rebound. Foley played a 2-3 and the Spartans couldn’t get anything going inside.

Foley started the second half 6-3 run, but  Simley guard Jenna Paulson made a pair of threes to get within 43-27 at with 6:45 left in the second, but defensively the Spartans couldn’t contain Dusharm. She scored on drop steps, rebounded and kicked it out to her teammates who would score on midrange jump shots.

Foley finished the game with a 55-31 victory over Simley.

Foley 55, Simley 31

Score by half:
Simley 14-17—31
Foley 30-25—55

Simley: Atkins 10, Ruiz 6, Paulsen 6, Kain 4, Mena 3, Boswell 2.

Foley: Dusharm 18, Dingmann 14, Knapek 6, Lewandowski 5, Kelvington 4, Larson 3, Walz 3, Leggat 2.

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