Girls’ basketball

Sweet redemption

Eldred’s intense play motivated by previous letdown against Manor

By RICHARD A. ROSS

LIVINGSTON MANOR, NY — Though Eldred’s shocking last-second 43-41 loss at home against the Livingston Manor Wildcats was more than a month ago, its bitter memory lingered for the Lady Yellowjackets as they took the floor February 16 in Manor. Having squandered a 10-point lead in the final minute of that first outing, the Yellowjackets were bound and determined to play intensely for the full 32 minutes in the rematch.

Aside from a loss to Class D-leading S.S. Seward, the Yellowjackets had won four out the last five games on their schedule, but historically, Eldred (11-8, 5-5 OCIAA) had not fared well in the home of the ’Cats. This time out the Yellowjackets were out to reverse that trend.

For its part, Manor (10-9, 5-5 OCIAA) was seeking a win and a possible number-three seed in the upcoming sectionals. Manor came into this game on a three-game winning streak that supplanted a four game losing streak to Chapel Field, Tri-Valley, S.S. Seward and Tuxedo.

With the Section 9 seeding committee meeting on February 17, the outcome of this game would certainly favor the winner with a better placement in the Class D bracket that already features two state-ranked teams: Chapel Field and S.S. Seward. The loser of this rematch would likely end up with an even more arduous tour through the tournament, obligated to play an additional round, perhaps on the road.

Manor controlled the tip but it was Eldred that got off to an early 9-2 run. Jen Gutman, Stephanie Berger and Kim French contributed to the flurry. Eldred led 13-4 at the end of the first quarter. As the second quarter began, Manor made a run. Two baskets by Carrie Lewis and a three-pointer by Heather Sherwood had the Wildcats right back in, trailing with the score at 14-11, but a strong move to the basket by Eldred’s Jessica Cherry pushed the lead to five again.

Sherwood’s steal set up another Lewis score but Eldred’s attacking strategy got Cherry and French to the line. They iced all four free throws after Sherwood hit another shot. French answered with a great feed to Cherry. Lewis floated one in but Cherry’s put back of her own rebound ended the half with Eldred leading 24-17.

French got her second steal of the game, this time off the inbounds pass at the outset of the third quarter. The agile point guard quickly scored. Manor’s Ashley Mann, who was guarding French most of the night, is a quick and agile defender, but a stiff knee confined to a brace slowed her just a bit.

Cherry’s score on a put back gave Eldred an 11-point edge and Manor’s coach Kevin Clifford wanted to talk it over. Jackie Trotti got Manor’s next run on track, scoring six points on three straight trips. Gutman scored for Eldred, but five turnovers in the quarter gave Manor extra chances. After Lewis hit a pair of free throws the lead was cut to 30-25 with 3:17 remaining in the quarter. Schombs and Lewis traded baskets but Eldred knuckled down. A basket by Berger, a great block of a Lewis shot by Becky Hallock, followed by an uncontested Hallock basket off a French steal, gave the Yellowjackets a 39-32 lead after three quarters.

The fourth quarter offered Manor its chances. Eldred went dry on six straight trips but Manor rushed its shots instead of pulling the ball back out and resetting its offense. Jessica Cherry and Schombs led the final charge as Manor managed to put up only three points in the final frame.

Cherry led Eldred with 16 points and Schombs added nine. Lewis was Manor’s high scorer with 14 points. Sherwood posted 11, including a pair of three-pointers. Eldred’s 50-35 win was satisfying to Coach Frank Kean: “We didn’t rattle with their early pressure. Breaking the press was key. I couldn’t use a full-court press because I’m playing the same girls almost all night. We didn’t want them to have another late run like the last time.”

Clifford acknowledged Eldred’s intensity: “They wanted this game more than we did. They used that last game as a motivator and our girls seemed to take this game lighter. They’re a better team than their record shows because we have two state-ranked teams in our division.” Clifford was concerned that the loss would make Manor’s sectional path more difficult.