Bishop Grimes’ girls basketball team would host its annual Christmas Tournament on Friday and Saturday, welcoming Oneida, Watertown IHC and Rochester Mercy to the “Cobra Pit” to raise money for the “More Than a Game” Foundation that benefits Golisano Children’s Hospital.
In the opening round, the Cobras faced IHC, and it turned out to be a one-sided affair as Grimes unleashed lots of offense in well-time spurts to pull away from the Cavaliers 64-33.
Sparked by Tina Hoag’s seven points, Grimes jumped on IHC, leading 18-4 after one period, but even when it cooled off in the second quarter, the Cavaliers could only pull within 22-14 at the break.
Any doubt about the outcome got erased in the third period. Jordan Vaught’s nine points and Megan Driscoll’s seven points were part of a 24-13 outburst, and the Cobras kept it up down the stretch, too.
Overall, Vaught had 15 points, the highest individual total for any Grimes player in any game this season. Hoag and Driscoll finished with 10 points apiece as Alex Guhin and Katy McInerney each had eight points.
The final pitted Grimes against Mercy, who beat Oneida 45-34 in the other part of the opening round. It proved to be a tense, exciting affair, but the Cobras would take a 59-54 defeat to the Monarchs.
Picking up where it left off the day before, Grimes pushed the tempo and led, 17-13, early in the second quarter before foul trouble (four Cobras starters had to sit for long stretches of the half) allowed Mercy to get in front, aided by making all 12 of its free throw attempts.
All told, it was a 24-5 Monarchs run that stretched into the third quarter. Then it was the Cobras’ turn to draw whistles, as free throws from Vaught and Julia Freeman pushed Grimes back into contention.
Yet in the stretch Mercy held on, despite Hoag’s 13 points as she, Guhin (11 points) and Vaught (10 points) all reached double figures, with Driscoll adding eight points. Anelina Spampinato led the victorious Monarchs with 16 points.
Guhin and Vaught made the All-Tournament team, joining Spampinato and her teammate, Danielle Cleary, who was named tournament MVP. Oneida edged IHC 35-33 in the consolation game as the Indians’ Jenna Didio and the Cavaliers’ Olivia Miles rounded out the All-Tournament team.
Eight days earlier, on Dec. 21, the Cobras visited Chittenango, where it claimed its third consecutive victory, battling its way past the Bears 41-28.
Again, when it was needed, Grimes’ defense gave cover to an inconsistent attack. The two sides were tied, 8-8, through one period, but the Cobras held Chittenango to one field goal in the second quarter and inched out to a 17-11 halftime lead.
A pair of crucial baskets from sophomore forward Julia Freeman in the third quarter kept Grimes out in front. When the Bears tried to protect the inside, Jordan Vaught and Tina Hoag both made crucial 3-poitners down the stretch to help Grimes pull away.
Vaught finished with 12 points overall, just ahead of Hoag, who got 10 points. Teresa Shattuck finished with six points. On Chittenango’s side, Sierra Shafer (10 points) and Kaitlin Antelmi (seven points) led the way.
As for the Bishop Grimes boys team, a big group of games awaited in 2013, starting with Friday’s visit from main league rival Westhill. First, though, it had to take care of one more bit of 2012 business as, on Dec. 21, it hosted Chittenango and produced an 81-59 victory over the Bears.
Setting a relentless pace, the Cobras (6-1) steadily built a 42-32 halftime lead. Then it doubled that margin in the third quarter, Grimes outscoring Chittenango 25-15 to erase any doubts about the outcome.
Connor Evans continued his hot play, draining four 3-pointers on his way to 23 points overall. Jon Carnegie had a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Casey Evans managed 14 points and five assists. Tom Steinberg (10 points) and Akol Ater (seven points) helped out, too.