Spartans, Raiders, Jaguars & an Eagle!

(posted 01-24-10)

by Jim Charles

St. Mark’s Keeps Rolling, But Appoquinimink Doesn’t Make It Easy

St. Mark’s 50, Appoquinimink 41

This was a weird game on a lot of different levels, but a rather enjoyable one, too.  It didn’t start off well for the Spartans as they lost Annie Rivituso early due to injury of the hand or wrist.  But, as the Green & Gold are no one-trick pony, the lineup proved they could absorb the loss and simply sub in quality player for quality player.  At halftime, St. Mark’s enjoyed a 25 – 13 lead.  The third quarter was most even frame with St. Mark’s only able to bank two more points to their cushion.  They began the 4^th quarter up, 39 – 25.  In the last period, the Jags would valiantly mount about 3 separate comeback efforts – each time to only see St. Mark’s belatedly respond with a basket here and a couple free throws there to maintain the space between the two teams.  While they actually won the 4^th by a 16 – 11 margin, it obviously wasn’t enough.

When it was over and done, the scorebook showed that eight of the ten St. Markians that had played had scored in the affair.  Most prominent of these were Briana Goodge and Lindsey Nichols with a dozen each.  Alison Zimny had 9.

The thing with St. Mark’s (and there are actually several “things” with them) is that they are so defiantly not like other programs.  And I mean this only as a compliment.  For example, watching them, the boundaries between forwards and guards are blurred.  Just who is playing what position isn’t so obvious.  They may give you three different looks (position configurations) in three consecutive possessions.  Compared to other schools, their frontcourt girls are excellent with the ball – dribbling and passing.  Annie Rivituso, though nominally a forward, has a background at point and could play any position thrown at her.  Likewise, forwards like Briana Goodge and Kara Gallagher would make capable perimeter players if ever called upon for such service.  At St. Mark’s, the code words are flexibility and interchangeability.

For Appoquinimink, Tierra Scott quietly put together an 18-point day to lead all scorers in the game.  Amani Clark chipped in 10 of her own.  Together, they accounted for over two-thirds of the Jaguars’ offensive output, and that may have been critical.  More players need to contribute to the scoring.  Still, the Lady Jaguars can hold their heads high.  They faced a premier program in the state and made a game of it.  How many opponents are within 10 points of matching St. Mark’s at the final buzzer?  Only one other in-state team has done it this season (Concord High School – 12/17/09).

Random Notes:

Our first time in Appoquinimink High School was interesting.  The facility, rather new as it is, is very attractive and can hold a ton of fans, but, as I have to complain about something, it was cold in there.  Most fans kept their coats on, and though it was a cool winter’s day, there seemed to be little difference in temperature between the gym and the parking lot.  It also bears reporting that spectator behavior (riding the officials) from some isolated individuals in the visitors’ rooting section was regrettable.  The home team supporters, while they had to endure a game in which they hardly ever held the lead, nevertheless displayed model comportment, which reflected well on their team and school.

Saturday, January 23, 2010 2:30PM
 

Game Summary

ST. MARK'S - Durbano 2 0-0 5, Farrell 1 1-2 4, K. Goodge 0 3-4 3, Nichols 5 1-4 12, Grey 1 0-1 2, Rivituso 0 0-0 0, B. Goodge 3 5-6 12, L'Italien 0 0-0 0, Zimny 3 2-6 9, Gallagher 1 1-2 3. Totals 16 13-24 50.
APPOQUINIMINK - Clark 4 2-2 10, Smith 1 3-5 5, Cwiertniewicz 1 0-0 2, Scott 8 2-3 18, Foster 1 1-2 3, T. Bond 1 1-4 3, Minner 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 9-16 41
3-Point goals-SM 5 (Durbano, Farrell, Nichols, B. Goodge, Zimny).

Ashley Smith is guarded by Briana Goodge.

A tussle for the ball involving the same two players.

Lindsey Nichols going strong right side.  Nicole Cwiertniewicz contests the shot.

Cwiertniewicz collides with Goodge - both girls in mid-flight!

Appo's Dan Pisani imparting his wisdom to his team.

St. Mark's Kara Gallagher cuts down the angle on AHS' Toresha Foster.

Going for the ball, left to right, Lindsey Nichols, Tierra Scott and Briana Goodge.

Spartan point guard, Amanda Farrell looks upcourt for a promising target.

Tough day on the hardwoods for the Jags, as evidenced on the face of Nicole Cwiertniewicz.

A Tale of Two Halves

Haddonfield Memorial HS 48, Ursuline Academy 45

In most situations where you find the Raiders up 9 at halftime you won’t find them on the short end of the score at the end of the night.  But, in this interstate match-up with Haddonfield, a team with an 11 – 1 record, there were really two “games.”  Game One was the first half.  A half that saw UA win each quarter by scores of 13 – 7 and 12 – 9.  Game two was the second half.  Sixteen minutes of basketball that saw Haddonfield make adjustments and Ursuline lose a little steam.  The third quarter went to Haddonfield by an 11 – 10 margin, but it was the fourth quarter where the wheels came off Ursuline’s cart.  In just 8 minutes of game clock, Haddonfield would roll up 21 – 10 tally, virtually gaining more than a point (1.375, to be exact) on Ursuline every minute.

Like Appoquinimink in their game against St. Mark’s, the Ursulinians needed to find more than a couple girls who can put the ball in the basket.  Audra Cranston led all scorers in this game with a cool 21 in what was perhaps the best game DGB.com has witnessed from her.  Nine of those points came on three-pointers.  And she went a Delle Donne-esque 8-for-8 from the free-throw line.  Things you won’t find in the box score are the interceptions she made and the plays she broke up.  Audra was a force.  But, her teammates largely didn’t show up.  No other Raider had more than 7 points, and only 5 other UA players (beside Cranston) scored any points at all.  What did Audra Cranston have all figured out that her teammates did not?

Oh well.  On the positive side of the ledger, the Raiders are still undefeated in-state.  This website picked UA as State Runner-ups for this season, and we see no glaring reason to revise that opinion downward.  Let’s not fail to remember one very important factor:  John Noonan.  I’ve always maintained that in most games, a coach contributes about 10% to the game’s outcome, win or lose.  The other 90% comes from the players.  But in Ursuline’s case (and St. Mark’s case), the coaching portion of the pie might be closer to 15 to 20%.  A coach like John Noonan can take a good team and turn it into a great one.  What will happen the rest of the way is anybody’s guess, but I have a feeling the Ursuline crew will do just fine.

Saturday, January 23, 2010 7:00PM
 

Game Summary

HADDONFIELD MEMORIAL-Grabiak 6 0-0 15, Marshall 5 1-2 11, Mulave 2 2-2 6, O’Malley 0 0-0 0, Davis 2 5-7 10, Kiep 1 0-1 2, Brogan 1 2-2 4. Totals 17 10-14 48.
URSULINE-Perrotti 1 1-2 4, Cranston 5 8-8 21, Lyons 3 0-0 6, Williams 1 2-2 4, Wendel 0 0-0 0, Witt 1 1-2 3, Miller 3 1-2 7. Totals 14 13-16 45.
3-point goals-HM 4 (Grabiak 3, Davis), U 4 (Cranston 3, Perrotti).

Audra Cranston was simply incredible laying down 21 points and playing killer, disruptive defense.

Mary Kate Williams provides veteran leadership for the Raiders.

Alex Witt is always great fun to watch.  Not blessed with a lot of height, Witt nevertheless makes up for it with great instincts under the basket.  She uses her fakes well, which opens nice shooting opportunities up for her.

Of course, when you're talking UA frontcourt, you can't ignore Kelsey Miller.

Of course, the night belonged to Cranston.  This point guard doesn't just hang around the arc.  A real good inside-outside one-guard, here she is using her left hand on a nice take.

CYM Player of Note

Over the Christmas Break, I was hanging out at the IHM Tournament and I saw something that I don't think I ever saw before in a basketball game.  I saw a player just kind of run out of her body.  There was an 8th grader playing for St. John the Beloved who, on a defensive pursuit of a player, ended up sprawled flat on the floor when her legs refused to take her body at the speed her brain was telling them too.  Her legs literally gave out from under her.  But it was really cool!  I never saw a player so intent on tracking down an opponent.  She just simply overextended herself.

Well, I kept that incident in my head until I ran into St. John the Beloved today in a game against Ursuline (January 24, 2010).  Now I got another chance to see her play.  She drew one of the toughest defensive assignments in all of CYM.  She had to guard Adrianna Hahn, UA's super whiz kid point guard.  Now, Adrianna did score and she was able to lead her team to a nice win over a quality St. John's lineup.  But the defending Eagle, who I come to find out is named Carmella Cinaglia, did an admirable job nonetheless.  She was able to break up plays, grab interceptions, and basically make Adrianna work a bit harder than most defenders she runs into.

And so, I just wanted to share with this website's visitors my "discovery" of this determined and tough player.  Perhaps the grittiest defender in all CYM.

If I currently had a team, I'd take a dozen players with Carmella's approach to defense.

I also like her overhand "baseball" passes.  Very cool!

And hey, she can shoot the ball, too!  Here she is in a sea of red shirts, but if memory serves, she actually scored on this play.

Kate Payne for UA challenges.

DelGirlsHoops@aol.com