If the determination, ball stealing and
stellar defense displayed by the Tri-Valley varsity girls basketball team last
Wednesday night at Livingston Manor holds throughout the season their opponents
had better bring their best game if they want to steal a victory away from the
Bears.
The final score did not paint a pretty picture for the Manor who
only scored one point in the first quarter and added only 17 additional points
through three additional quarters in route to a 61-18 loss.
The Lady Wildcats entered the game with only one returning
senior, Ami Calo, from a team last year that competed in the state Class D Final
Four where they lost to Section IV's Oriskany.
Livingston Manor's team entry into varsity
girls competition this year features only one other senior, transfer Danisha
Raethka and sophomores Ta-Shauna West, Katie Ray, Emily Gorr, Kiara Pagan, Jade
Bivins and Devon Dutcher.
This young team found it very difficult to match-up with the
veteran Bears players Katlynn Greffratrh, Caroline Martin, Sabrina Smith and
Colleen Jones who brought depth and the willingness to work extremely hard to
record victories and a trip into the season ending sectionals.
The Bears roster this season also features Kayla Butler, Jessie
Lesczynski, Ashley Exner, Sara Dertinger and Danielle
Shafarsky.
Turnovers also play a leading factor in the final outcome of
games and in this game the Lady Wildcats committed 22 in the first half and 14
in the second half for a total of 36 turnovers with many resulting in easy
transition hoops for Tri-Valley.
Ball hawking and steals pushed Tri-Valley's half time lead to
32-7 and a third period score of 44-15.
Extra summer and off season training by Tri-Valley's Greffrath
has made her into a dynamic hoop star as was more then evident in this game as
she poured in 20 points off eight two-point field goals and four foul shots.
Caroline Martin and Sabrena Smith each added 12 points to the Bears scoring
column.
Wildcats Devon Dutcher pulled down 10 rebounds and scored nine
points.
With the win Tri-Valley is now 2-0 while Livingston Manor is
0-2.
Bears new head coach Jason Closs' in commenting about the win
said that "I want us to pressure the ball and to get out and get after loose
balls." As to what Closs wants out of his team after recording two easy wins he
noted, "I want to improve on our half-court offense."
Tri-Valley presently is showing a good get out and run offense
with steals and transition buckets but Closs admits "sooner or later we are
going to run into teams that will force us into a half-court
game."
"Our energy level that we are presently playing is something I'm
pleased with at this point of the season and we have a lot of unselfish
players," Closs added.
As far as competition in league play Coach Closs said he expects
"Tuxedo and Chester to be our big game opponents because they are both well
coached and they both have established programs."
Lady Wildcats coach Kevin Clifford was not available for
comments.
PHOTOS FROM THIS GAME:
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