Sunday, February 2, 2014

LADY BEARS CRUSH TUXEDO


LADY BEARS CRUSH TUXEDO    
                                         


  Facing reality sometimes is difficult and such was the case Friday night following the Lady Bears crushing defeat of Tuxedo when Tuxedo coach Dave Powers refused to talk to the press issuing a statement several times of "no comment."
  Taking reality in another direction is the fact that what a difference a week makes as Tri-Valley swept Tuxedo off the court 56-25 in contrast to their 44-41 come from behind victory a week earlier at Tuxedo. 
  The two games had no resemblance and key factors in the 44-41 Tri-Valley win was the Bears ability to overcome a tight harassing Tuxedo defense, a smaller sized court that helped contain the Bears run and gun offense and an very ill Kathlynn Graffrath who was fighting a severe ear infection with a high temperature. 
  Graffrath fouled out in that game in the fourth quarter with 14 points. Sabrina Smith also fouled out.
  Friday night's home game featuring a healthy Graffrath, the larger regulation home court and the ability to return to their favorite run and gun game.
  And run and gun they did with Graffrath starting it off with a three pointer at the 6:44 mark and consecutive first quarter scoring by Smith, Graffrath, Coleen Jones, Graffath and Caroline Martin before Tuxedo with several foul shots put the score at 15-3 as the clock ticked down to 2:11. 
  Tri-Valley outscored Tuxedo 15-5 in the first quarter, 9-8 ind the second quarter and put the nails in the coffin in the third quarter by outscoring the Lady Tornadoes 21-2 with the two points coming on foul shots. 
  Graffrath left the game with a little more than two minutes left on the first quarter clock because of two fouls but returned to play at the start of the third quarter.
  Score by quarters found the Bears leading 15-5, 24-13 and 45-15.
 Tuxedo committed 25 turnovers to Tri-Valley's 22. 
  Noting the difference in the two games Bears coach Jason Closs said, "
this is important for our girls to comeback as a week ago we played down there and had to work very hard to win a game by three."
  In referencing the game at Tuxedo Closs said, "we didn't play well and up here it was important that we set the standard early in this game and the energy level today was exceptional."
  Rebounding and the lack of it at Tuxedo became a part of the Closs interview who noted the team had not done well with this aspect of the game in several games "because we were getting the inside position but were not creating the space we needed because we are still undersized so if we get in a reaching contest we lose."
  High praise was given to Ashley Exner who Closs said, "works so hard when she comes in a game and gives us quality minutes and Kayla Butler today came in today and played some good minutes."
  Junior Jessie Leszczynski saw action late in the game and received a thunderous applause from the Tri-Valley fans when she scored her first three-pointer. Tri-Valley fans were also treated to the antics of Bear-Mascot Sam Tingley who at several points in the game showed his skills doing push-ups and then just laying flat out face up  on the court.  
  Leading the scoring for Tri-Valley, 12-0 and 4-0 in OCIAA league play , was Greffrath with 20, Smith with nine and six steals,  Martin with eight points and seven assists,  Jones pulled down 11 rebounds and Sara Dertinger added 10 rebounds.  
  Alison Toscano scored nine points for Tuxedo who now posts a 5-5 record. 

                                                                   
                                                                             

Tri-Valley's Caroline Martin drives to the hoop in the Lady Bears defeat of Tuxedo 56-25 Friday night. Attempting to guard her is Tuxedo's Kathenne Purdy.

                                                        
                                                                   


Bears Mascot Sam Tingley takes a breather following push-ups and back flips to lay down on the court to the amusement of some of his fellow boys varsity team members during the Lady Bears game Friday night.

ADDITIONAL GAME PHOTOS

                                                                         









                                                                     

No comments: