IHM Wins 2008 CYM C Division Title

Lady Raiders Fall to the Spartans, 41 - 32

Ursuline's Meghan Carter drives to the hoop taking three-fifths of the on-court Spartans with her.

February 25, 2008

by Jim Charles & Tom Dunn

The CYM C Division Title Game was one for the ages.  A very hard-fought and well-played game on both sides.  There was something for everyone in this contest.  One of the more unpleasant highlights was a dispute at the scorer's table over the foul count on Meghan Carter, who, according to the official book, had four by halftime.  Ursuline coach, Dan Gladnick, reacted in the only way he could.  Meghan had to sit out long stretches of the game in the second half.  This was a key turning point in the game as Carter was on fire -- scoring 10 points in the first half alone -- on her way to a 15-point performance overall.  Who knows how the game would've been different if the foul count had been fewer?

While Meghan Carter is one tremendous talent, she is by no means Ursuline's only weapon.  While Carter sat out in the 3rd and 4th quarters, point guard Lindsey Henzes changed UA's style and pace by calling her own number more frequently than usual.  Henzes is a master at drawing shooting fouls, and this was clearly on display in the second half.  She went 4-for-8 from the free-throw line, added another bucket in the 4th, putting the cap on a 6-point day. 

Other Raider standouts, try as the may, just couldn't make up the points the team needed to prevail.  Diva McGreevy had 5 and former iPOW winner, Brenna Williams added another 4.

On the opposite team benches, IHM may have come into the game underdogs in some observers' eyes.  But, anyone who saw them during the regular season would quickly realize that this is foolish thinking.  This is the same IHM team that came back to win a regular season game when they were on the short end of a 29 - 9 score with just 6 minutes left!  They have what it takes and they seem to enjoy winning and displaying their skills.

The offense begins at the point position in the person of 7th grader Mary Abram.  If Henzes is the best point in CYM this season, surely Abram has enough game to claim the runner-up spot.  And it was only fitting that the two top points should face off in the Title Game.  Abram is gifted with impeccable court sense and a feel for how the game is going and for what needs to be done for her team.  If she doesn't throw the hardest passes, certainly no one could accuse her of throwing bad passes.  The bottom line is that the ball gets to where she wants it to be.  Period.  And if that sometimes means she has to go into scoring mode herself, all the better.  Abram helped out her team big time on the scoring end by contributing 13 to the cause, including a brilliant 6-for-8 job from the charity stripe and a three-pointer.

As incredible as Mary Abram was, if you asked her who she thought brought the most, she'd probably tell you Lindsey Nichols.  There is no way to describe Nichols' performance without using the word "amazing."  There are players.  There are great players.  Then there is a separate category.  This is for those rare players who come through in pressure-packed situations and who lead their teams to victory when it seems no one else can.  Lindsey had just that kind of day.  And boy, was her plate full!  She scored 19 points, for starters.  That included an Elena Delle Donne-like 9-for-10 performance at the line!  And many of those shots came at "must have" times.  On defense?  She finished up with 4 fouls, so she's no stranger to banging bodies if need be.  In fact, she went down hard in the 4th quarter and injured her leg.  As her team was celebrating its victory, she was still being tended to in another room.

Oddly enough, though every IHM player left her mark in the game, only two others scored.  Jill Lyons, who goes around 5' 10" and is one of the tallest of CYM's 8th grade crop, had 6 points and was a perfect 2-for-2 from the line.  Lyons will have to make friends quick with her UA opponents as she seems headed to Franklin St. and Pennsylvania Avenue this coming fall.  Look for her to fit in nicely in that program.

Claire McDermott, daughter of Spartan coach Dan McDermott, had 3 -- all of which came on a beautiful three-pointer.  Claire is a fantastic defensive presence for the team, as you'll see in the pics below.

An incredible game featuring two great teams who showed us all that they can play this game of basketball very well.  Our hats off to both squads!

Images from the C Division Final

Click on the photo above or on this text for video of the final moments

of the C Division Title Game.

The two big guns for both teams:  Lindsey Nichols (left) and Meghan Carter (right)

Claire McDermott feeling pressure from Tori Grimm (left) and Diva McGreevy (right).

Brenna Williams with a 16-foot jumper.

Amazin' Meghan driving to the hoop showing excellent form.  Her right leg is up, as it should be, matching her right hand shot.  She brings the ball above her head to originate her shot from an all-but-impossible-to-block position.  Folks, this is how the pros shoot!

Mary Abram

Your runner-ups, Ursuline Academy...

...And your 2008 Wilmington CYM C Division Champions, the IHM Lady Spartans!

Jim Charles