NCN SPORTS BLOG

1) Briarcliff (11-1) – After the loss to Lourdes at the County Center, the Bears got right back on track demolishing Byram Hills, 86-28, and Westlake in league games. Byram is in second place in their league, so it shows how much of a gap there is between the Bears and the rest of the league. Shelby Coon scored 19 and Taylor Pescetti added 18 in the win over Byram.

The Bears only led JFK by four at the half on Tuesday, but pulled out a 52-40 win.

2) Mahopac (8-1) – After falling to JJ-East Fishkill in their first league game, the Indians rebounded well by defeating Ramapo, 76-64. Jessie Kavana scored a game high 22 points with Gillian Felix scoring 21. Mahopac may need a more consistent third option to be successful in their grueling league. Sarah Demarzo could be the answer.

Nice win over Arlington. Kavana had a monster game with 29 points.

3) Ossining (8-5) – After taking one of three games down in Florida over the break, Ossining came back to NY more united than ever. They put the screws down on defense with their suffocating full court press in league victories over Panas and Poughkeepsie. Kelsey Vallach runs the fast break to perfection as she draws the defense and kicks to the open player with lightning quick passes.

Fell to Greeley in a close one by three points. Vallach hurt her wrist and wasn’t the same shooting wise after that as she finished with only 5 points. She still fought threw and had 9 assists. Brittany Garrett had another double-double with 19 points and 15 boards. Alex Venuto added 16 points and 7 steals.

4) Lakeland (4-5) – How is a team with a 4-5 record ranked in the top five you may ask? In their last three wins (before todays win) they have held opponents to an average of 29 points per game. With a defense like that, and the offense improving game by game – look out for the Hornets. Greeley, who is first in their league, will be a true test on Friday of how far they have come.

Defeated Somers in a close one today behind 28 points from Tori Jarosz. Jarosz stepped up in a huge way with Kerry Johnson plagued by foul trouble throughout the game.

5) Yorktown (5-7) – The ‘Huskers have been en fuego of late, winning three straight with their biggest win coming over league foe John Jay, 58-50. Ann Kelsey was dominant at both ends of the court, scoring a game-high 19 points, grabbing 10 boards, and swatting four shots.

Town fell to Somers by 1 in a nail biter yesterday for the second time this season. The teams in the middle of the pack are so evenly matched as Yorktown, Peekskill, Lakeland - have all shared the 5 spot. Teams like Somers, Kennedy, and Put Valley all have the ability to crack the top 5 - and obviously John Jay who I believe will be back soon.

Lakeland 50, Somers 45 - With Kerry Johnson plagued by foul trouble throughout the game, Tori Jarosz took the Hornets on her shoulders, scoring 28 points in the W. Point guard Kristin Pappalardo was quiet throughout most of the game, but knocked down 4 clutch free throws in the final minute to secure the win.

Kaitlin O’Sullivan played well for Somers as she was very aggressive, as was the entire Somers team, forcing the Hornets into early foul trouble. She finished with 19 points. Point guard Alyssa Gerety played a solid game, contributing 10 points. The problem for the Tuskers is that they don’t have any depth as the five starters usually play the entire game. By the fourth quarter the starters are completely gassed.

Lakeland showed tonight that they can win games when their #2 and #3 options have off nights/foul trouble in Pappalardo and Johnson. Cassie Kardias and Vicky Kowalski both stepped up and played well on both ends of the court as well as Christiana Gjelaj inside as she filled in nicely for Johnson.

(top left): Tori Jarosz looks determined as she goes up for two of her game-high 28 points.

(top right): Cassie Kardias works her way inside the Somers D.

(bottom): Alyssa Gerety pushes the Somers attack.