The fourth-seeded
Holy Cross girls basketball team jumped out to an 11-0 lead in the opening part
of the first quarter of their Class M quarterfinal game against No. 5 East
Hampton in Tim McDonald Gymnasium on Monday night.
Holy Cross girls basketball team jumped out to an 11-0 lead in the opening part
of the first quarter of their Class M quarterfinal game against No. 5 East
Hampton in Tim McDonald Gymnasium on Monday night.
It’s a good
thing the Crusaders had that burst, because then they attempted to give the
game away in the final quarter. Holy Cross saw a 15-point lead get trimmed to
51-45 in the final minutes. Happily for the Crusaders and their fans, shots
didn’t drop for the visiting Bellringers, and the home side hung on for a 54-46
victory. Holy Cross moves on to the semifinals, but not before breaking a major
sweat.
thing the Crusaders had that burst, because then they attempted to give the
game away in the final quarter. Holy Cross saw a 15-point lead get trimmed to
51-45 in the final minutes. Happily for the Crusaders and their fans, shots
didn’t drop for the visiting Bellringers, and the home side hung on for a 54-46
victory. Holy Cross moves on to the semifinals, but not before breaking a major
sweat.
“I think we
just were not focused at all,” Crusader senior Caitlin Cipriano said. “I don’t
know where our heads were.”
just were not focused at all,” Crusader senior Caitlin Cipriano said. “I don’t
know where our heads were.”
Cipriano said
her team must be more focused if it wants to win its next game and get to
Mohegan Sun Arena for the state final. RaShana Siders led Holy Cross with 17
points, and Idalis Miranda added 13.
her team must be more focused if it wants to win its next game and get to
Mohegan Sun Arena for the state final. RaShana Siders led Holy Cross with 17
points, and Idalis Miranda added 13.
“RaShana had
a super game,” head coach Frank Lombardo said.
a super game,” head coach Frank Lombardo said.
Lombardo said
Siders provided some big rebounds, steals and deflections in a solid all-around
game. Miranda had eight early points as the Crusaders built their lead.
Siders provided some big rebounds, steals and deflections in a solid all-around
game. Miranda had eight early points as the Crusaders built their lead.
Lombardo
liked the way his team played for much of the contest.
liked the way his team played for much of the contest.
“I thought
for 27-28 minutes, we played a very good game,” Lombardo said. “In those last
two minutes, we were a little tired, our passes weren’t as strong.”
for 27-28 minutes, we played a very good game,” Lombardo said. “In those last
two minutes, we were a little tired, our passes weren’t as strong.”
Cipriano only
had 5 points, but two of them were huge. Cipriano corralled a loose ball late
in the fourth quarter and laid it in to help put the game away.
had 5 points, but two of them were huge. Cipriano corralled a loose ball late
in the fourth quarter and laid it in to help put the game away.
Cipriano went
to a state final as a sophomore, but this one feels different.
to a state final as a sophomore, but this one feels different.
“It feels
different just because I’m the upperclassman, and I know my team better,”
Cipriano said.
different just because I’m the upperclassman, and I know my team better,”
Cipriano said.
As far as
Mohegan goes, that’s not the focus.
Mohegan goes, that’s not the focus.
“I haven’t
really thought too much about Mohegan,” Cipriano said. “We’re taking it one
game at a time.”
really thought too much about Mohegan,” Cipriano said. “We’re taking it one
game at a time.”
Next up is
the semifinals against undefeated Cromwell, and a trip to Mohegan is on the
line.
the semifinals against undefeated Cromwell, and a trip to Mohegan is on the
line.
