Lady Cougars Knock Lady Rebels from Undefeated Ranks

The Conference AA-II leading Great Neck South Lady Rebels traveled to John F. Kennedy High School yesterday sporting an 8-0 record in league play.

Bellmore JFK's inspired play ensured they left with their unbeaten streak no longer intact. Behind a game-high 11 points from junior guard Carly Thea and the inspirational play of junior guard Allie Keller, the Lady Cougars surprised the visitors and captured a 49-40 victory – their third straight - that kept them alive for the conference title.

"We had to play our game," Keller said. "We knew they were a good team but we knew who to focus on."

Keller opened the scoring for the Lady Cougars with an 18-footer from the baseline as the home team began its upset bid and Thea buried a triple to give Kennedy a 5-2 lead. The Lady Cougars were able to withstand several early turnovers, and consecutive baskets by Thea and center Taylor Kruter helped the hosts to a 9-6 lead.  

Late in the quarter, forward Morgan Kitton was fouled during an aggressive drive and delivered a foul shot to make it 10-6. A well-timed swipe by guard Steph Roney denied Great Neck South towards the end of the quarter, as the Lady Rebels were uncharacteristically careless with the basketball. In the closing seconds of the period, Great Neck South guard Charlotte Freed was fouled on a three point attempt. The team's third-leading scorer and floor leader knocked down two of three to halt the Lady Cougars' scoring run, and the quarter ended with the Lady Cougars leading 10-8.

The Lady Rebels had a size advantage and were aggressive on the offensive glass, due in large part to the contributions of center Michelle Ross and forward Silvana Parada. However, Bellmore JFK was able to neutralize them in the early going. 

"We fronted their best player - Ross - and gave weak side help," Kruter said. "We watched them outside so they couldn't kick the ball out. We wanted to shut down their three-point shooters."

"As soon as the lead pass came in we had help," Keller said. "We used our speed to our advantage."

"Our goal was to shut down Michelle," Kitton said.

With the game between two of the conference's best teams becoming a defensive battle early in the second, the Lady Rebels could not convert several point-blank opportunities, but the Lady Cougars were unable to extend a 12-10 lead until a Roney free throw with 4:50 remaining in the half. Great Neck South responded with a three to tie the score, the team's first field goal since midway through the first.

A Parada three gave the Lady Rebels their first lead, but Thea matched her with a long range bomb to make it 16 apiece. Ross responded on the other end, hitting a pair of foul shots as the Lady Rebels continued an outstanding day at the line. 

"Their free throw shooting kept them in the game," Kruter said.

Thea again delivered, making a floater to draw her team even. On the next Lady Cougars possession, Roney crashed the boards and scored a put-back and Thea followed with a steal. She was fouled from behind on a gliding move to the basket and capitalized on the opportunity, giving the home team a 22-18 lead at intermission.

One half away from an upset of the Lady Rebels, Bellmore JFK came out aggressive, with Keller and Kruter active on the offensive glass. Great Neck South guard Sara John scored the first field goal of the half, but Kruter answered with a banker to make it 25-20. Roney then made a great individual effort by driving around two defenders and floating a right-handed lay in to give the hosts their largest lead at 27-20, compelling the Lady Rebels to call for time. 

During the third, the Lady Cougars moved Thea off the ball and allowed Keller to control the offense. Up by five, Keller pushed the ball down the floor and, after fine ball movement, she drained a jumper from the top of the key to put the Lady Cougars up 29-22. Her spirited play invigorated her teammates and the junior buried a three from the wing to put her team up by eight. She followed with a long-range deuce to extend the lead to 34-24.

"Allie is a great shooter," Thea said.

"My dad, a friend on junior varsity, and both my coaches said 'keep shooting' and I kept shooting," Keller said.

The crowd inside John F. Kennedy High School's gymnasium was thinking upset and, when sophomore guard Victoria Ferry's buzzer-beating jumper fell through the net to extend the lead to 12, there was an impending sense the Lady Cougars would deliver.

A determined Ross began the comeback bid with an interior score and then assisted on a John banker that narrowed the deficit to eight early in the fourth, but Ferry connected from beyond the arc to widen the margin. John did her best to keep the Lady Rebels within striking range, drilling two jumpers inside the paint within the span of a minute to make it 39-32 with 5:30 left.

With less than five minutes to play and their nine-game win streak on the line, Ross scored four consecutive points for the Lady Rebels. In a precarious position after seemingly controlling the game, Roney connected on a huge three pointer to lift the Lady Cougars.

"Steph is one of our main outsider shooters," Thea said.

The home team finished the game strong. Kitton was fouled hard as she double pumped inside and hit the first of two. Freed sped down the floor and scored on the break, making it 43-38. Desperately in need of a basket, JFK forward Kerri Stalzer stepped up and scored inside to make it a seven point edge with just over two minutes remaining.

Up 45-39, Bellmore JFK played ball control and, with five seconds remaining on the shot clock, Kruter provided an insurance basket, giving the Lady Cougars (7-2, 9-5) an eight-point lead.

"I was trying to go under the basket and get up as much as I could," Kruter said.

She finished the scoring with two made free throws to make it 49-39. The loss ended Great Neck South's (8-1, 12-2) hopes of an unbeaten conference campaign. 

"I really wanted to beat this team," Thea said. "We knew we could bring it to the first place team and we laid everything on the table."

The Lady Cougars' quest for first place continues in Syosset on Feb. 2; Great Neck South will look to hold onto first place at Calhoun on Feb. 5.

Great Neck South: 8 10 6 16 – 40
Bellmore JFK: 10 12 14 13 – 49

Great Neck South: Michelle Ross, 11; Silvana Parada, 9; Sapir Edalati, 8; Charlotte Freed, 7; Allison Finkel, 3; Nicole Chaplin, 2
Bellmore JFK: Carly Thea, 11; Allie Keller, 9; Steph Roney, 8; Taylor Kruter, 7; Victoria Ferry, 5; Kerri Stalzer, 4; Morgan Kitton, 4