Lady Indians lose a heartbreaker

TED WADDELL
Posted 1/4/17

LIBERTY, NY — Even a lucky tie didn’t help. Despite an early five-point lead (8-3) at the close of the first period, the Lady Indians were defeated in the end of the girls’ varsity …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Lady Indians lose a heartbreaker

Posted

LIBERTY, NY — Even a lucky tie didn’t help.

Despite an early five-point lead (8-3) at the close of the first period, the Lady Indians were defeated in the end of the girls’ varsity basketball game against the Lady Raiders of Port Jervis 36-24.

The home team drew first blood on December 21 at about the midway point in the opening frame, and then added another point from the free-throw line to make it a 3-0 game.

Port Jervis responded with a three to even it up, while the Lady Indians replied with a bucket and a three-pointer from outside the paint, thus giving the home-team fans a glimmer of hope.

But then someone apparently put a lid on the Liberty bucket, as the Lady Raiders outgunned their opposition in the second frame, outshooting Liberty 12-0 to take a 15-8 halftime lead into the locker room.

In the second half, Port Jervis held onto the lead, as they outscored Liberty in the closing periods 11-8 and 10-8 despite a late-game surge by the Lady Indians.

Top guns for Port Jervis: Lauryn Rodriguez (11 points including a 3) and Rudae Gadson (10 points, including a pair from outside the arch).

Liberty: Kelsey Morgans (seven points including a three) followed by Camryn England and Olivia Racette with six-points each.

Stats from the free-throw line: Liberty 1/4 (25%); Port Jervis 8/16 (50%).

Carlton Williams, former veteran coach at the Family Foundation School, is in his inaugural season at the helm of the Lady Indians (0-3).

“I thought it was a good game,” he said, adding his team had “a little mental lapse that hurt us” in the second frame, as the Lady Raiders picked up four rapid-fire points on a trio of turnovers.

“We were down by six [points], and never really recovered,” said Williams.

His goal for the season?

“To get better with each game,” he replied.

Caitlyn Gunderman is in her sixth year as coach of the Lady Raiders (4-4).

“Honestly, I thought the game was pretty sloppy all around,” she said. “My team needs to work on moving the ball against the zone, and finishing shots.”

“I will commend my team on hustling to get some turnovers and then turning them into points.”

Her goal for the season?

“To make sectionals,” said Gunderman.

Although Williams wore his trademark good karma tie, resplendent with bright orange basketballs, it wasn’t enough to stem the rising tide against a heartbreaking loss.

Comments

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