Anxious to get out there and prove itself in real, live competition after a month of practice time, the Liverpool girls basketball team did so — and caught a break right away.
Ever since the 6-15 struggles of a season ago, head coach Mike Olley and his players have worked hard to make sure that didn’t happen again.
Still, the Warriors faced a daunting opening assignment last Tuesday against Utica Proctor — that is, until the Raiders saw its star player, Brianna Kiesel, break her wrist, likely sidelining her for the rest of the season.
Catching Proctor at something far less than full strength, Liverpool didn’t waste the chance, beating the Raiders by a score of 54-42.
Hot shooting at the start pushed Liverpool in front, 17-12, and it maintained that margin over the course of the next two periods, matching every Proctor basket.
Finally, the Warriors’ defense came to the forefront, holding the Raiders to just six points in the fourth quarter as it got clear.
Nina Tassone hit on five 3-pointers on her way to a career-best 20 points on the Warriors’ behalf. Ally Zywicki earned 13 points, while Nicole Ciricillo stepped up to score 12 points. Lyteshia Price had six points. Proctor’s Kierra Arthur led her side with 13 points.
Liverpool is home again to face Rome Free Academy Friday before playing Pittsford Mendon (Section V) in Saturday’s Syracuse/Rochester Shootout at Cicero-North Syracuse High School.