Lady Cyclones fall in semis

For the second consecutive season, South Side’s quest for a girls’ basketball county championship ended just one step away from the title game.

Junior Kristen Stuart scored 10 points, pulled down 14 rebounds and blocked three shots to lead No. 1 Division to a 53-44 victory over the third-seeded Lady Cyclones in a Class A semifinal round game played at Freeport High School on Feb. 23. Junior Lauren Lopresti and senior Colleen Burke each scored 13 points to lead South Side.

Lady Cyclones coach Kendall Richards thought Division’s athleticism was the difference. “We were a little sloppy with the ball, and in a game like this everything counts,” Richards said. “They’re very athletic, long, and well-coached. You can’t afford to hesitate, because they force turnovers, and then capitalize on mistakes. They’re a very solid team.”

Both teams played stingy defense in the opening quarter, on-the-ball and getting in passing lanes. Junior center Megan Lonergan blocked a pair of shots during one Division one possession midway through the quarter. Division, which went on to beat Lynbrook for the crown, held a 12-10 lead after the opening eight minutes. 

The Lady Blue Dragons came out flying in the second quarter. A three-pointer by junior Breanne Connolly capped a 7-0 run to start. South Side’s struggles on the boards led to far too many second chances for Division. It was 22-14 at the break.

Richards was concerned about Division’s dominance on the backboards. “We played them twice, so we knew they’d be tough inside,” he said. “They’re unique. Their six-footers are not only tall, they’re athletic. They present a lot of matchup problems, because their big girls can rebound, run the floor, handle the ball, and shoot.”

With Burke and Lopresti leading the charge, South Side (13-7) went on a 13-2 run to begin the third quarter, and looked like it might be taking control of the game. But back came Division. The Lady Blue Dragons scored the next 14 points to take a, seemingly, commanding 38-30 lead. Stuart was unstoppable during the run. 

With Lonergan on the bench with four fouls, and things looking bleak, South Side came alive. Lopresti scored eight points in the first four minutes of the final quarter, the last two to tie the score at 41 as the teams prepared for the stretch run. However, a clutch three by senior Kristen Costello put Division ahead to stay. The Lady Blue Dragons went 12-for-14 from the free throw line to put the game away.

Richards was proud of the way his team battled back. “I was happy to see we didn’t throw in the towel when we fell behind,” he said. “The girls willed their way back in the game. The girls played hard all year long. I’m very proud of the effort they gave.”