Lady Bears nosh on Lady Indians

TED WADDELL
Posted 1/18/17

LIBERTY, NY — It was a game of slogans. The visiting Lady Bears of Tri-Valley took to the court before the December 9 girls bon-league varsity basketball game against the home team Liberty Lady …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Lady Bears nosh on Lady Indians

Posted

LIBERTY, NY — It was a game of slogans.

The visiting Lady Bears of Tri-Valley took to the court before the December 9 girls bon-league varsity basketball game against the home team Liberty Lady Indians sporting warm-ups emblazoned, “It has nothing to do with talent. It has everything to do with effort.”

In case you missed the point, the jayvee team’s warm-ups read, “Hustle and heart set us apart.”

The same slogans could have been used by both teams, as they played with heart, with a “never-say-die” attitude, despite the visitors’ (5-5 overall) defeating the so-far winless home squad (0-6) at the final buzzer by a convincing 23 points (47-24).

Morgan Shamro is a point/shooting guard for Tri-Valley. She racked up a game-leading 17 points (including a three) and aced the charity line 4/4.

“Tonight we played really well defensively and pressed their key player, Kelsey Morgans,” said the 16-year-old junior co-captain.

“We killed it!”

Olivia Racette, one of Liberty’s trio of co-captains, said “We’ve had a lot of rough games this year…. [For] half the team, this is only their second year playing basketball.”

“We’ve definitely gotten better thanks to our coaches,” added the 16-year-old junior forward/post player.

Top scorers: Tri-Valley’s Shamro (17), Angie DeToro (3 threes plus a two for 11 points); Jaclyn Musa (8), and Nicole Beach (with a pair of threes); Liberty’s Kelsy Morgans (12), Olivia Racette (5), and Nicole Keyes (who posted a three).

Stats from the FTL: TV 4/7 (57%); LIB 3/6 (50%).

Carlton Williams, coach of the Lady Indians, said his team played “an excellent first half,” but once they got behind it was hard to catch up, as Tri-Valley started to run the court in the closing frames.

“I think we will win one,” he said. “Somebody will be a victim.”

John Tenbus is returning at the helm of the Lady Bears.

“Tonight, our goal was to come in and work hard defensively, take care of the ball offensively and rebound,” he said, adding that while Tri-Valley “struggled a little early, we really hustled after it.”

Summing up the game for the home team hoopsters, Racette said, “Our team has a lot of heart.”

And when you get right down to it, who could ask for anything more?

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here