Suffolk News-Herald

Ellen Giermak celebrated her 17th birthday with nine points, all in the second half, as Nansemond-Suffolk Academy charged to a 10-1 first quarter lead and never lost control in a 49-31 win over visiting Cape Henry on Friday.

&uot;Our loss to Norfolk Academy was such a heartbreaker,&uot; said Giermak, whose team fell to the Lady Bulldogs on Tuesday. &uot;We needed this for our confidence.&uot;

After six Lady Saints scored in the first half, led by five points from Parris Grieder, Giermak snuck in for a layup a minute into the second. She, Grieder, Courtney White and Michelle Boucher led the squad on a 9-0 run, and Kaitlin Edwards and Jessie Kitz scored to close the quarter ahead.

Giermak opened the fourth quarter by scoring five in a row, and Grieder looped in a pair of free throws. That was the start of another run, as the Lady Saints’ last eight points came from the line, from Grieder, Lindsay Jarman, Edwards and Chris Saunders.

&uot;We know we’re fast,&uot; said Grieder, who led the way with 11 points. &uot;We played good defense and hustled to keep scoring.&uot;

The Lady Saints will visit Walsingham on Tuesday.