WEEDSPORT - The Weedsport girls basketball team may have lost a close 47-41 matchup against Bishop Grimes Tuesday, but they succeeded in one thing - humbling the first-place Cobras.
Sam Tenney / The Citizen
Weedsport's Kaitlin Hammersley drives around Bishop Grimes' Cassidy Weeks during the first half of the Warriors' 47-41 loss at home Tuesday evening.
Weedsport's Kaitlin Hammersley drives around Bishop Grimes' Cassidy Weeks during the first half of the Warriors' 47-41 loss at home Tuesday evening.
“We knew this would be the toughest league game we'd have and the toughest challenge in the regular season,” Cobras' coach John Cifonelli said. “That is exactly what they were, they only had six girls to work with, yet they held us down better than anyone else has this season.”
But a few missed free throws and field goals cost the Warriors what might have been their only shot at the Patriot National title. Had Weedsport defeated Bishop Grimes, it would have been tied for first place instead of tied for second.
“With only six players to work with, it was amazing to see what kind of energy they kept up with,” Cifonelli said. “We have the ability to rely on so many different players for so many different things, we usually rely on everybody to give us something but they really covered us.”
Cifonelli said that what was most impressive to him was how Weedsport managed to hold back his point guard, Amelia Heiselman, who has been a strong player all season long. Despite the tough defense, the Warriors still couldn't come up with the victory, which Cifonelli attributed to his team's ability to move the ball.
“We had great possessions at critical times because of unselfishness,” Cifonelli said. “We haven't shot this poorly all year though, it was definitely a humbling experience.”
The heat was undoubtedly on during the talk at halftime, with the Cobras up 19-17.
The Warriors came back in the third to tie it up immediately, 19-19, with a field goal from senior Margaret Roberts. The quarter was a back-and-forth battle for the lead until the last couple minutes ticked by and Weedsport seemed to run out of gas.
“With only six girls I think we did our best,” Warriors' junior Kaitlin Hammersley said. “We definitely got tired out there but we picked it right back up and kept at them.”
Hammersley led Weedsport with 21 points, two 3-pointers, 13 rebounds, five steals and three assists.
Also scoring for the Warriors were Allison Roosa with nine points and six rebounds, Roberts collected four points and 10 rebounds, Brittany LaForce contributed four points and three assists, and Jordan Roe finished with four points.
“We played hard and fought to the end,” Roberts said.
The Cobras' Cady Kalemba scored 12 points while Amanda Marcely added 11 points.
“We had a game plan and we stuck to it, we were just a few free throws and field goals away from knocking off an eighth-ranked team (in the state),” Weedsport coach Chris Vargason said. “I couldn't be any prouder of them.”
With 30 years since their last Patriot National title, Vargason said the Warriors have their sights on getting a home game for the Section III playoffs.
“We had our hearts set on being in contention for the league,” Vargason said. “We were playing for that tonight, it's sad but we have to move forward and look at sectionals, something we definitely have a chance at this year.”
Weedsport (9-4) travels to LaFayette Friday.
Cobras 47
Warriors 41
But a few missed free throws and field goals cost the Warriors what might have been their only shot at the Patriot National title. Had Weedsport defeated Bishop Grimes, it would have been tied for first place instead of tied for second.
“With only six players to work with, it was amazing to see what kind of energy they kept up with,” Cifonelli said. “We have the ability to rely on so many different players for so many different things, we usually rely on everybody to give us something but they really covered us.”
Cifonelli said that what was most impressive to him was how Weedsport managed to hold back his point guard, Amelia Heiselman, who has been a strong player all season long. Despite the tough defense, the Warriors still couldn't come up with the victory, which Cifonelli attributed to his team's ability to move the ball.
“We had great possessions at critical times because of unselfishness,” Cifonelli said. “We haven't shot this poorly all year though, it was definitely a humbling experience.”
The heat was undoubtedly on during the talk at halftime, with the Cobras up 19-17.
The Warriors came back in the third to tie it up immediately, 19-19, with a field goal from senior Margaret Roberts. The quarter was a back-and-forth battle for the lead until the last couple minutes ticked by and Weedsport seemed to run out of gas.
“With only six girls I think we did our best,” Warriors' junior Kaitlin Hammersley said. “We definitely got tired out there but we picked it right back up and kept at them.”
Hammersley led Weedsport with 21 points, two 3-pointers, 13 rebounds, five steals and three assists.
Also scoring for the Warriors were Allison Roosa with nine points and six rebounds, Roberts collected four points and 10 rebounds, Brittany LaForce contributed four points and three assists, and Jordan Roe finished with four points.
“We played hard and fought to the end,” Roberts said.
The Cobras' Cady Kalemba scored 12 points while Amanda Marcely added 11 points.
“We had a game plan and we stuck to it, we were just a few free throws and field goals away from knocking off an eighth-ranked team (in the state),” Weedsport coach Chris Vargason said. “I couldn't be any prouder of them.”
With 30 years since their last Patriot National title, Vargason said the Warriors have their sights on getting a home game for the Section III playoffs.
“We had our hearts set on being in contention for the league,” Vargason said. “We were playing for that tonight, it's sad but we have to move forward and look at sectionals, something we definitely have a chance at this year.”
Weedsport (9-4) travels to LaFayette Friday.
Cobras 47
Warriors 41
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