Eldred girls win 15 in a row

By TOM KANE

ELDRED — What makes the Eldred girls varsity basketball team so successful?

They were ranked seventh in the state in Class D this past week by the New York State Sports Writers’ Association, and they won their 15th straight game last Tuesday evening by defeating Tri-Valley 48-37.

Yet, the team doesn’t have a height advantage or great a shooting percentage from outside.

“We’re a team that gets a lot of our points underneath the basket,” said Coach Frank Kean. “We play a good running game and tonight moved the ball well. We’re only modestly successful with outside shots.”

A big part of Eldred’s success is senior Christine Lizzi, but an outstanding team doesn’t rule with only one player. Lizzi had 10 points against Tri-Valley, but was responsible for setting up scores by her teammates nine times. Top scorer was junior Stacie Blaut, who had 17 points and 15 rebounds.

Eldred is 15-1 overall and 7-0 in the league. The girls lost to Ellenville in the first game of the season.

Tri-Valley’s top scorer was senior Megan Sheeley with 16 points and freshman Amanda Krom netting 13.

“We had serious foul problems,” said Tri-Valley coach Karen Furman. “Heather Bachman, our top scorer, had three fouls from early in the third quarter.” Bachmann fouled out in the middle of the fourth quarter.

Tri-Valley’s record is 8-8 overall, and 4-4 in the league.

Eldred played Tuesday’s game without starter Erin Donnelly.

On Wednesday, February 14 at home the girls played Sullivan West - Jeffersonville Youngsville (SW/JY), who were selected eighth in the state by the sports writers’ association and are in second place in Division IV behind Eldred. Eldred met SW/JY once this year and won by 20 points. “We’re not counting on anything,” Kean said of Wednesday’s match up. At TRR press time the outcome of the game was not known.

Soccer grant funds fields

By TOM KANE

BEACH LAKE — The Honesdale Soccer Club was awarded a $28,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) to build two new playing fields outside of Beach Lake at the old group home.

“So many groups want to play on our field that we have to limit the number,” said club president Jeff Wander.

The new fields, which won’t be ready until the Fall of 2002, will make it possible for a lot more teams to play games, he said.

“It’s a matching grant so we have to raise $28,000 ourselves,” Wander said.

So far the club has $20,000. “We’re currently holding fundraisers to get the remaining $8,000,” he said. “We welcome any help we can get. Anything you give is tax deductible.”

Ten years ago when the club began, there was only one team. Now there are 10. At the present site of the club’s games, there are also one hardball field and two softball fields. “The current soccer field is made up by the outfields of the baseball and softball fields,” Wander said. The new fields won’t have to use these fields.

The soccer league is for youths from eight to 15 years of age.

“With new fields, we could join in with the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) in New York State,” Wander said. “We can hold tournaments with fees that can help us raise money.”

Wayne County, which funneled the grant to the group, will help maintain the fields.

Anyone interested in contributing to the club should send donations to Wayne County Community Foundation, 302 Ninth St., Honesdale, PA 18431.

Graby signs with UConn

SCRANTON — Seven Lackawanna Junior College football players signed national letters of intent on February 7 with NCAA Division 1 programs after helping spark the Falcons to a 10-1 record and No. 10 national ranking during the 2000 season.

Offensive and defensive tackle Nick Graby will join the University of Connecticut (UConn), competing in Division 1-A.

Graby, a former all-stater at Delaware Valley high school in Callicoon, will major in Elementary Education. He started as a defensive tackle as a Lackawanna sophomore and was named to the Northeast Football Conference All-Star Team. He had 18 solo tackles, one sack, one fumble recovery and one pass deflection.

Graby also saw some action at offensive tackle in the 2000 season and was a starter at both offensive and defensive tackle in the Golden Isles Bowl.

Before signing with UConn, Graby was also in talks with Temple.