WPCNR COURTSIDE. By "Rims" Sheehan. March 8, 2008: The White Plains Lady Tigers loss to Kingston in the Regional Semifinals Tuesday night in New Paltz did nothing to diminish the Cinderella season turned in by this fine group of student athletes. A recap of this amazing season and the improbable run through the playoffs that resulted in an unprecedented 4th consecutive Gold Ball (Section 1 Championship), won at the County Center, when White Plains knocked off the Number 2 team in the State Rankings, the Mount Vernon Lady Knights. Here is the first of a two--part recap of another season to remember:

How About That?  The 2008 Section 1 Basketball Champions.

Photos by Tim Sheehan.

Going into the playoffs, White Plains draws a 10 seed based upon a 10-10 record that mixed some quality wins with some head scratching losses.  Nonetheless, the team improved from its opening game loss to Maria Regina and under the tutelage of Coaches Sue Adams, Debbie Flooks and Laura Owen, and late season rematches with Section powerhouses Ursuline and Mt. Vernon – though losses – were much closer games.  In fact, WP was leading MV by a point with less than a minute left and was the only team to hold the high scoring Lady Knights under 50 points in the regular season.

OPENING ROUND

February 15 at John Jay East Fishkill vs. #7 seed Patriots

I had a tear in my eye as I entered the “Skip Ransom” gym where I once played high school ball.  It was easy to root against the alma matter when they came down to play WP in the regular season – won by WP – but it would be tougher to do that here.  WP’s early season win against JJEF was fueled by the emergence of two defensive stars for WP, as senior Simone Tharkur smothered JJEF scoring ace Caitlynn Moran and sophomore Shelby Fields stifled JJEF’s lefty center Kristin McIntyre.  Could WP hold JJEF’s “M & M” girls off in their home gym on the rematch?

Where's 44?

The answer was yes, as WP mixed man to man coverage with match up zone to take a 3 point lead at halftime.  In the second half, the defense concentrated on stopping JJEF’s Moran (#44).  Even the traveling Tiger rooters, notably including former NBA superstar Mark Aguirre, were attuned to the whereabouts of #44.  Aguirre’s booming voice – “Don’t lose #44, Stay on her – could be heard all over the gym.  At one point, it seemed that Moran turned around to find out who was calling out her number from the stands.

By the third quarter, WP had an 8 point lead.  WP senior Angelei Aguirre was humming along at both ends of the court, assisted on offense by a high/low post setup with Shelby Fields.  This created space for Aguirre in the low blocks and she scored 36 points to lead WP to a first round upset of the lower seeded Patriots.  JJEF’s Moran had 21 points but Kristin McIntyre (seen guarding Aguirre, below) was held to just 8 points.

QUARTERFINALS  

February 20, at Number 2 seed Ursuline

Though Ursuline beat WP twice in the regular season, the second game was much closer and it is said that it is tough to beat the same team 3 times in one season.  This fueled the Tigers as they invaded the cramped Ursuline gym looking for both redemption and revenge.

It was a tight fought game for the first half and though Ursuline star Shelby Sferra was forced to the bench early in the second quarter, Ursuline was still ahead by 5 points when WP star Angelei Aguirre was whistled for her second foul with less than 2 minutes left in the half.  With Aguirre forced to grab some bench, Ursuline had to feel pretty good and seemed poised to add to their lead.  However, instead of folding without their star scorer, WP scored a couple of quick hoops, the last on a nice drive by Valde Hayward, and took a one point lead going into the locker room that stunned the Ursuline crowd.

In the third quarter, Ursuline focused too much of their defense on stopping Aguirre, who found open teammates as easily as he hits her pull up jumper.  She fed teammates Shelby Fields and Valde Hayward for layups and outside shooter Danika Rexhempi hit some key buckets as well as the WP Tiger scoring was spread out rather nicely and WP maintained its slim lead going into the 4^th quarter.

A key sequence occurred with about 4 minutes left in the 4th quarter, with WP trying to extend a 5 point lead and Ursuline trying to get back into the game. Shelby Fields missed a short shot, two Ursuline defenders seemingly had the rebound scooped up and all other players headed up the Court. All except one—WP's Simone Tharkur—who poked the ball loose, scrambled to snare it and instead of waiting for her teammates to come back for help, went right back up to the hole and got fouled. She converted a foul shot to extend the lead and Ursuline just could not get it together after that.

Ripping the Koalas at the Charity Stripe

Ursuline was forced to foul WP for the last 3 minutes of the game in order to try and get the ball back.  WP hit enough of their foul shots (see above) and stopped Ursuline from getting open three point shots and secured the next upset win 62-54.  Moreover, Shelby Fields stopped Ursuline star Shelby Fields from dominating inside and Valde Hayward and Simone Tharkur stopped Ursuline guards from driving or spotting up for easy 3 point shots.  Aguirre led the Tigers with 23 points while Valde Hayward scored 13. 

On to the County Center for a 4^th straight year!

       SECTION SEMIFINALS  

 February 28 at the County Center against #6 seed North Rockland

North Rockland beat WP in the regular season, had Division I player Mary Abrams and two other girls over 6 feet tall and scored 78 points in its quarterfinals upset of #5 seed Ossining.

Raiders Stymied by the Women in Black

The first quarter was low scoring for both sides as they got used to the much larger confines and crowds of the County  Center.  Using a suffocating man to man defense, with an occasional zone, the Tigers began pressuring the NR guards and made it difficult for them to get the ball inside to their tall low post players. 

 By halftime, WP had opened up a 9 point lead 29-15.  Angelei Aguirre had 16 for WP while NR star Mary Abrams had only  2 points.  In the third quarter, WP scored 9 points but the story of the quarter was the Tiger defense, which completely shut out NR, who scored ZERO POINTS.        

North Rockland scored a couple of three pointers in the closing minutes to make it somewhat closer but WP prevailed 41 to 29.  Angelei Aguirre had 18, while Danika Rexhepi had 17 points for the victorious Tigers.  Amazingly, NR star Abrams never scored again after her first bucket!

 (Tommorrow: The Championship Round)