Jamesville-DeWitt’s girls basketball team will not have an undefeated season – but the tests it got at the Diamond State Classic can only help the Red Rams’ cause as it goes after an elusive state championship.
Placed at no. 2 in the initial state Class A rankings of the season, J-D went to Delaware for the Diamond State Classic, only to stumble in Sunday’s opening round, falling to the host school, Ursuline (Delaware) by a 43-39 margin.
The Red Rams had to adjust to playing without a shot clock, and though it led early, Ursuline controlled the tempo and held J-D to just two points in the second quarter.
Trailing Ursuline 17-14 at the break, J-D would produce more in the second half, but could not catch up. Carly O’Hern finished with 11 points, while Meg Hair added 10 points. Kasey Vaughan finished with six points.
Following a day of rest, J-D returned to the court Tuesday to face Central Dauphin East, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and thanks to a dominant second quarter returned to its usual winning ways, prevailing over the Panthers 56-43.
Only with a 9-8 lead through one period, the Rams turned up its defensive pressure, which translated into baskets and a 20-4 run that closed the half, created a 29-13 halftime margin and, more importantly, allowed J-D to dictate the tempo without worrying about a shot clock.
Vaughan went to the forefront on the offensive end, setting a career mark with 17 points, including a pair of 3-pointers. Hair, with 13 points, wasn’t far behind as Jamie Boeheim earned eight points and Angela Bussone finished with seven points.
Then, in the final game at Wilmington on Wednesday afternoon, J-D faced Bishop Loughlin, from New York City, who led by 13 at one point, but J-D stormed back and, with some late free throws, pulled out a 55-52 victory over the Lions.
All through the first half, the Rams struggled on offense, Loughlin gaining a 28-19 lead. And that deficit grew before the Rams roared to life late in the third quarter, closing the gap to five, 41-36, setting up a final period where it zoomed out in front.
Between them, the trio of O’Hern, Kelner and Vaughan made 13 foul shots. O’Hern led with 17 points, including three 3-pointers, with Kelner contributing 14 points and Vaughan earning 11 points. Hair finished with nine points.
Much closer to home, Christian Brothers Academy played in the Camden Tournament, and earned a big victory in Monday night’s opening round, using a strong second half to defeat the host Camden Blue Devils 59-46.
The two sides traded the lead throughout the first half. CBA trailed, 28-25, at the break, but quickly erased that modest deficit in a third quarter where it outscored Camden 17-8, maintaining that momentum the rest of the way.
Four players scored in double figures, with Rosalee Winderl pacing the Brothers’ balanced attack by earning 13 points and nine rebounds. Nafysa Williams also got 13 points, adding six rebound as Natalie Nardella got 10 points, 10 rebounds and three assists, with Paige Nicholson stepping up to earn 11 points. Camden lost despite 11 points, 11 rebounds and five assists from Kiersten Leos.
The final on Tuesday pitted CBA against Central Square, exactly two weeks after the Brothers beat the Red Hawks in a tense 43-40 battle Dec. 15.
Central Square had defeated Class C contender Pulaski 72-54 to get the chance at payback against CBA, but never got close here as the Brothers, strong from the outset, cranked up its defense and steadily put the Redhawks away in a 54-31 romp.
Steady first-half play produced a 28-17 margin, but the Brothers were far from content, going out in the third quarter and holding Central Square in check while going on a decisive 16-5 run. No Redhakws player had more than the seven points produced by Lizzy Straub and Sammi Bentz.
Winderl earned tournament MVP honors by pouring in 20 points, also getting three rebounds, three assists and three steals. Nicholson continued to surge, too, earning 11 points as Nardella got seven points, five assists, four rebounds, three blocks and two steals. Kate LaCasse had six points, three rebounds and three assists.
This improved CBA to 7-2 as it meets Phoenix and Fulton before its big rematch with J-D on Jan. 9.