Lady Cougars' Defense, Veteran Leadership Are Keys to Victory Over Freeport

With her team's once seemingly safe 11-point second half lead down to three and less than two minutes remaining in an important Conference AA-II contest, Bellmore JFK Lady Cougars junior guard Allie Keller had the ball in her hands with the game on the line and one goal in mind.

"You need to be aggressive," Keller said. "I wanted to take it right to them and I wanted to win the game."

The Lady Cougars' second-leading scorer penetrated past two Freeport Lady Red Devils' defenders in the paint and scored a crucial layup to extend Kennedy's lead to 34-29 en route to a 36-30 home victory. The win solidified the Lady Cougars' position in the top half of the conference, one-half game behind Syosset (the same number of wins as first place Great Neck South.)

Early in the game, the young Lady Red Devils attempted to gain control of the game by running their offense through sophomore guard Monique Jones, one of the best scorers in AA-II. Jones opened the scoring after intercepting a pass and taking it the distance for a breakaway lay in. Kennedy junior forward Carly Thea got her team on the board with a driving layup and converted the foul shot to complete the three point play.

Jones also drew several fouls in the opening minutes, prompting Kennedy coach Debra Cipolla-Minafo to substitute in freshman guard Kerri Baum, who ignited her squad.  A beautiful 40-foot pass from Baum to senior guard Stephany Roney led to a layup that evened the score at five points apiece midway through the period. During the quarter, the quick freshman authoritatively pushed the ball up court and distributed the basketball and contributed a first quarter steal.

"Kerry is a very quick point guard," Cipolla-Minafo said. "She likes to push the ball."

With Jones resting during the final two minutes of the quarter, the Cougars extended their lead on a jumper by Keller, but Freeport's LaTashia Morris beat the buzzer with a short shot to make it 9-7 Kennedy after one.

The second quarter belonged to the Lady Cougars due to two primary factors - Kennedy senior forward Taylor Kruter and stifling defense. The team's leading scorer knocked down a ten-footer to make it 11-8 and a pair of free throws by Kruter made it 14-8. Moments later, Kennedy sophomore guard Victoria Ferry found Kruter inside and the senior was fouled while making a layup. She converted the free throw to make the score 17-8 in favor of the home team.

"I just wanted to stay calm and get the ball inside," Kruter said. "I try to think before I make my move."

During the quarter, the Lady Cougars' defense held Freeport without a field goal for the entire eight-minute period, limiting the Lady Red Devils to a single point courtesy of a foul shot. Freeport maintained its strong defensive play, but inept offensive play left them down by nine at halftime.

Keller attributed her team's dominant play to a unified defensive effort.

"We switched, stayed outside on their shooters, and pressed," Keller said.

Defending the explosive Jones, who impressed fans of both teams with her offensive repertoire, was a key in limiting the Lady Red Devils.

"We used zone and man-to-man [to contain Jones]," Cipolla-Minafo said.

The Lady Cougars extended their lead early in the third, as Ferry picked up a loose ball near midcourt during Freeport's opening possession, dashed to the basket, and made a layup to extend the Kennedy lead to 11. Jones broke her team's scoring drought by aggressively attacking the Kennedy zone and knocking down a pair of free throws after being fouled on a baseline drive.

Jones' score ignited the Lady Red Devils after a lackluster second quarter, and a perfect bounce pass from senior guard Star-Asia Harris to sophomore center Deasia Goodson led to a Goodson layup, as Freeport cut the lead to single digits.

Later in the quarter, Jones narrowed the deficit with a slicing drive and lay-in to make it 22-14 as the visitors began to convert offensively.

With an opportunity to make further inroads into the Kennedy lead, Jones missed a pair of foul shots that could have cut the deficit to five with just under two minutes to play in the third quarter. Kennedy responded with a well-executed fast break, which culminated in a Thea basket in the paint. Keller followed with another score, making it 26-15.

A three by Harris closed out the scoring in the period, but the Lady Cougars maintained an eight point lead in front of its home crowd heading into the fourth.
The display of impressive Kennedy passing continued during the fourth. After forcing a steal, Keller made a pinpoint 50 foot chest pass to Kruter, who raced down the court and was alone underneath the basket. The talented forward laid the ball in to give Kennedy a ten point advantage.

Trailing by double digits against one of the elite teams in Conference AA-II, Jones did her best to prevent Kennedy from earning another victory, and her three-point play with 6:11 remaining brought Freeport within 28-23. The teams exchanged quick baskets on the following two possessions, but a clutch floater by junior guard Brittany Venezia provided the Lady Cougars with a 32-25 edge with less than five minutes to play.

The visiting team was undeterred, as Goodson was fouled and made two free throws on the next trip down the floor. Jones' half court drive culminated in another made layup and her strong scoring day continued; the score made it 32-29.

Kennedy struggled from the field during the fourth, but Keller provided a crucial basket with a drive past two defenders and basket to make it 34-29 with 1:20 remaining. Jones responded by making one of two from the line.

The home team played ball control on its next possession but were unable to get an open look at the basket. An errant pass was deflected and the ensuing scramble for the loose ball ended in a foul against Freeport. Kennedy missed the front end of a one-and-one, but the Lady Cougars controlled the offensive rebound and Keller was intentionally fouled after dribbling the ball around the top of the key for 10 seconds. She also missed the first of a one-and-one, but JFK was again able to secure the offensive rebound, and Ferry was fouled to stop the clock.

The sophomore made the first of two shots, proving the Lady Cougars with an insurance point, and a Freeport (2-7, 2-11) missed layup effectively ended the contest. The final point of the evening was a free throw by junior forward Morgan Kitton, sealing a 36-30 Kennedy victory.

Team leaders Keller and Kruter led the way in another balanced effort for the Lady Cougars (5-2, 7-5), who improved to 3-0 at home and completed a two-game sweep of their conference rival.

"[Keller and Kruter] work well together," Cipolla-Minafo said. "They are confident and solid."

Kruter identified the maturity of a young team during the 2008-2009 season into a conference championship contender this season as a factor.

"We are doing well after having a young team last year," Kruter said. "Having many familiar faces has helped."  

Freeport: 7 1 10 12 – 30
Bellmore JFK: 9 8 9 10 - 36

Freeport: Monique Jones,  13; LaTashia Morris,  4; Deasia Goodson, 4; Star-Asia Harris,  3; Rahkeya Raiford , 3; C Williams,  3.
Bellmore JFK: Taylor Kruter,  11; Allie Keller,  7; Carly Thea,  6; Morgan Kitton, 5; Victoria Ferry,  3; Brittany Venezia, 2; Stefany Roney,  2.