Lady Trojans Fall to Harborfields

There was good news and bad news from the Adelphi gym on Saturday following the Long Island Championship game against Harborfields. The bad news is that the basketball season came to an end for the Garden City girl’s varsity on just short of a visit to States. The girls fell 55-27 at the hands of the Harborfields Tornadoes in the Long Island Championship game.

The good news is that coach Anthony Sparacia's young team put together a run through the season and the playoffs that produced another memorable basketball season that included their second appearance in the last three years in the Championship by winning the Nassau County Championship a week ago. The future bodes very well for the next few years with the team being so young and deep. Captains Sam Auricchio, Tara DeAngelo and Taylor Carpentier as well as other top players Kerry McCarraher, Becky Riefler and Mikaela Bruno will all be back next season one year wiser.

Although looking loose and ready to play during warm-ups of the Championship game, the Garden City girls came out a little overwhelmed in the opening period and couldn’t handle the early Tornadoes pressure. The key stretch of the game bridged the first and second quarters as Harborfields went on a 23-2 run to take control of the game.

At the half the score was a lopsided 35-13 and Harborfields was in total control. With a strong inside game the Tornadoes had Garden City outmanned under the boards as their front line had a decided height advantage across the board.  Even when the Trojans stopped the initial attack Harborfields grabbed the offensive rebound or forced a turnover to retain possession and ultimately add to their lead.

The third period saw the Garden City girls come out more poised and relaxed after Sparacia's halftime talk. DeAngelo hit a three pointer and Carpentier made a couple of free throws as the Trojans kept up with the Tornadoes and matched them in points for the quarter. But the damage was done.

With the score out of reach coach Sparacia was able to get some well deserved applause for his starters and key players down the stretch. With four minutes remaining in the game he took out his five starters - McCarraher, DeAngelo, Auricchio, Riefler and Carpentier to rousing cheers from the Garden City crowd. An especially loud cheer was saved for senior captain Kim Townsend as she stepped off the court for the last time a few minutes later.

Now it will be on to their Spring sports for many of these stellar multi-sport players that have another County Championship under their belts.