CYM Opens with Three-day Turkey Shoot Tournament

November 27, 2007

(additional material inserted November 29, 2007)

It may not be the Pre-Season NIT, but for CYM's Girls C Division, it comes pretty close.  By my count, ten teams participated this year in this annual event hosted by St. Elizabeth's.  Games are played at both The Box and at St. Anthony's Fournier Hall.  Not all of the teams were C Division (the top competitive conference in CYM) either.  There was a smattering of "second teams" and a first team or two that will probably enter the season in either the Y or O Divisions.  For me, this is part of the charm of this tournament - the mix of talent on display.  For many of the players on the non-C teams, this tournament might be their only opportunity to play top-level competition all year.

What follows is a review of all the teams in the tournament in alphabetical order with the C Division teams listed first.

Corpus Christi

Setting the pace for the Lady Warriors are Emily Nowell (pictured at left), Kara Gallagher, and the Krakowski twins, Jenna and Emily.  Gallagher may lack a bit of style and grace but there is hardly a tougher, more determined forward in CYM.  What Kara is to the forward position, Jenna Krakowski is to the backcourt.  She doesn't play "pretty."  Her style looks nothing like a "how to play basketball" video.  She's a loose cannon.  But I couldn't be more complimentary.  Jenna plays well.  She goes all-out.  She plays tough and physical.  And she gets results.  The two Emilys are a great contrast and compliment to Kara and Jenna.  Both play smooth, athletic, and in control of their game.  Both are excellent point guards, yet either can bounce over to the two-guard spot with ease as situations require.

A year ago, Corpus Christi was one of my darling teams.  They ended up taking a few more losses than I figured they would.  Perhaps this will be their year and they will fulfill my expectations.  A curious thing about them is that all of their games seem to feature unusually low scores.  Fifth/sixth grade kinds of scores.  This is a team that has been steeped in a very good, very aggressive man-to-man defense.  And they've been playing it for years now.  They can keep opponents in the low 20s (or lower) that are used to scoring in the 40s.  If they can match this stellar defense with a bit more offensive production, this could be a very fun season for CC.

Jenna Krakowski waiting for a free throw attempt.

St. Anthony of Padua C Team

Last year, I was accused of shortchanging St. Anthony's in my review of this tournament.  Not wishing to make the same mistake twice, I was able to attend three of their games over the course of the weekend. 

Eighth grader, Victoria Boyd (pictured at left) provides on-court leadership out of the forward position, assisted from time to time by seventh grader point guard, Alexis Cautillo.  The starters are filled out by Samantha Hrivnak (guard), Danielle Winter (forward, pictured below), and Catherine Herron (guard/forward).  Most seasons find the Tigers lacking in height and this year is no different with Winter the only starter who can stand eyeball-to-eyeball with the bigs on other teams like Ursuline and St. John's.

Watching the team in action, I thought the most glaring problem was a lack of confidence on offense.  Sure, there were defensive lapses from time to time, but those are your typical November mistakes.  That will work itself out as the season progresses.  In a 42 - 27 loss to a very solid St. John the Beloved team, the biggest difference seemed to be swagger.  The Eagles had it.  They know they're good.  Well, St. Anthony's is good too.  They just don't know it.  ...Yet.    When St. Anthony's walks onto a court like they own it - and that day will come - look out!

Special props to Winter, who, in a 20 - 16 loss to St. E's, made what I thought was the best single pass of the entire tournament.  This was executed on the fly with Danielle firing the ball cross court over traffic and leading her target guard with what was a "perfect 10" pass.  Too bad the subsequent layup didn't go in.  Would've made a great assist!

St. Elizabeth's C Team

The tournament host team, St. Elizabeth's, has to figure out how to get more offensive production from its lineup.  They were held to single digits in a loss to the defensive juggernaut of Corpus Christi.  And, they won a game, 20 - 16 versus St. Anthony's.  A total of 26 points over two games is not much to write home about.  But, this is a well-coached team, and the girls seem athletic enough.  I expect a whole lot of improvement from this squad as the season unfolds.

At left, St. E's C Team inbounding against a very tough Corpus Christi defense.

St. John the Beloved C Team

The Lady Eagles are, for the most part, perennial contenders for the C Division Title and probably have won more championships over the last 20 years than any other team.  A common thread that ties the St. John's teams of today to those storied teams of the past is a culture of being competitive.  St. John's expects to win every year and if they don't, they figure something is wrong.  This manifests itself in ways such as lopsided scores, pressing overmatched teams as much as the rules allow, and, as I mentioned earlier, the famous St. John's swagger.  Over the long haul, St. John's are the Dallas Cowboys of CYM.  They have produced more than their fair share of star high school players, including the likes of Michelle Albanese (now coaching at St. Mark's) and Erin Calloway (former standout at Goldey Beacom).

This year's team looks like another really strong one.  A Top Five team, for sure.  I'm not too familiar with the roster these days, but I see a lot in Jenna Wolff (pictured above).  They also have Jennifer Cusack, a guard who plays with great maturity and poise.  If she sticks to basketball, I believe she will do well at just about any high school.  (She can be seen in the picture to the left boxing out #31 for St. Anthony's.)  Another standout is #14.  Again, I don't know the name, but she's good!  (I believe she is the player behind #31.)

Left:  A St. Anthony's shot goes up while St. John's players automatically box out.

St. Matthew's

If there's a Cinderella Story to come out of the tournament this year, it's gotta be the play of the St. Matthew's Wildcats.  I believe they went 3 - 2 on the weekend, to a very tough Ursuline team and to SJB#2 by a single point.  Over the last few years, this team has had their hard times.  But things are looking a lot better for the team these days.  Standout players are Kelly Williams, Sara Weiss and Shelby Henderson.  This is going to be one of these teams that will make mistakes, but they will learn from them.  More importantly, they look like they're having fun.

Left:  Sara Weiss fronts a Lady Viking.

Ursuline Academy

Ursuline's lineup seems to have been together forever.  In fact, the nucleus of the team goes back several years to the St. E's JV (5th/6th Grade) League.  In those days, they dominated the opposition.  Very few teams could hang with them.  Today, they are still pretty darn good!

One of UA's better players is Meghan Carter.  Since her days in the St. E's League, she has consistently displayed talent one or two grade levels ahead of where she actually was.  Right now, she could start for many high school JV teams.  But the Lady Raiders are no one-trick pony!  They have an outstanding point guard, Lindsay Henzes, who I only wish would play more.  She's a prototypical point guard.  Plays with her eyes up, reads the court like a book, and seems to have a plan on every possession.  Most high school points can't say that!  Another real impressive player is #33.  Again, one of these players whose name I do not know, but whose name will almost certainly be known in high school ball.  She plays with a ton of confidence, plays both ends of the court equally well, and has a real nice jump shot, too!  I won't be the least bit surpised if Ursuline isn't in the CYM Title Game this coming season.

Non-C Division Teams

St. Anthony of Padua

St. Anthony's second team features several girls who would be welcome additions on other schools' C team rosters.  Additionally, like all the second teams in this tournament, you have to hand it to them for even entering a tournament where they know they will see higher level teams.  The only game of theirs I attended was a 35 - 13 loss to St. E's C Team.  But the score is not indicative of all this Tiger squad brought to the table.  The game was competitive most of the way, St. Anthony's staying within 10 points for the longest time.  Newcomer, Leigh Henjes (pictured at left), brings solid skills and a lot of energy to the team.

St. Elizabeth's

The second St. E's team played with a lot of heart and determination over the course of the three-day holiday tournament.  Like all of the secondary teams, there are players who, in another time and place, would have no problem making it onto the rosters of first teams.  A great example of this is #12 for St. E's.  My guess is that the first Viking team already is loaded with point guards, and therefore could not make room for her.  At any rate, she has C Division-like skills and is a good team leader.

Right:  #12 displaying proper hand positioning prior to a free throw.

St. Joseph on the Brandywine

Alexandra Beatson is a girl who could play any position on a basketball court and make it look like each was her best.  She has the physicality of a good forward, can play with her back toward the basket like a center, and handle the ball and shoot like a guard.  I also was impressed with #3 for the Lady Titans, although I do not know her name.  Props to the team for entering this tournament!

Left:  Beatson in her defensive stance.

St. John the Beloved

Like all SJB teams, the Lady Eagles employ a full-court zone trap press to throw opponents off their game.  In their own division this coming season, they should be a dominating force.  Standout players include Elizabeth Bates, a great guard, and a really fantastic forward named Katie Sharkey.  Sharkey is the definition of the word "opportunistic."  She waits for any little opening - any chance, any mistake by the other team - to pounce upon.  I saw her defend a girl who was a good head taller than her as if she was guarding a kindergartener.  For my money, this girl is right up there with Beatson on St. Joe's as the best player of the non-C teams.

Above:  St. John's #2 Team inbounds against St. Joe's.

Other Images from the Tournament

Above:  A few girls on the St. Matt's bench.

Above:  Two UA players waiting for their opponents to bring the ball up.

Above and right:  Action from the St. E's #1 vs. St. Anthony's #2 game.

Above:  St. Anthony's Natalia Romero plays defense on St. John's Jenna Wolff.

Above:  St. Joe's Alex Beatson puts up a shot while Katie Sharkey

(#33 gold) for St. John's does her best to box out #30.

Above:  Maddy Boland has a word with her coach.

Above:  Kelly Williams displays the black shoes & socks

look made famous by the Lady Terrapins of Maryland.

Above:  Coach "D" discusses things with Samantha Hrivnak.

Above: Lindsay Henzes waits to spring into action.

Above: Alexis Cautillo waiting for the ball.

Above:  Catherine Herron waiting to shoot technical

foul shots that were waived off before she ever got the chance!

Above:  Coach Nitsche goes over the plan.

Jim Charles