Tigers Move On in Playoffs

The Mamaroneck Tigers girls basketball team beat the Fox Lane Foxes in an outbracket game, advancing to the first round of the Class AA sectional playoffs Friday, 47-34.

Not playing up to par statistically, the Tigers still prevailed.

"We were 4 for 21 and still winning," said Tiger Head Coach John Savage.

Rebounding and second shots helped the Tigers maintain their lead, no matter how small, thanks to rebounds from Nikki Smith, Danielle DeAndrea, and Randi Degina.

Abby Balgelman also had a big night for the Tigers with 14 points, including three three-pointers in the first half, along with successful drives to the basket in both halves, demoralizing the Foxes.

Mamaroneck was able to utilize Balgelman in order to maintain their close lead.

"She basically took away the pressure," Savage said of her key jump shots throughout the night. 

The Foxes had energy issues to deal with along with burdens from Balgelman.

"We came out flat," said Fox Lane Head Coach Ayo Hart. "They got out to a good lead," she said of the Tigers. Rebounding and offensive production also hurt her team.

Mamaroneck jumped out to a 4-0 lead on a Fox Lane foul, with 6:08 left in the first, as Danielle DeAndrea went 1-for-2 at the line. The Foxes would follow with two of their own at 5:14, forcing a Tiger timeout. 

Fox Lane crept back to trail 4-2 as shots did not fall for the Tigers. Mamaroneck would prevail 14-5 at the end of the quarter on a three from Balgelman.

DeAndrea made it 16-5 at 7:07 amid the Foxes Zone Defense. Balgelman netted her third three of the half, with 6:51 to go before halftime, ahead 18-5 from the left side of the court.

The game got away from the Foxes as the Tigers held a 12 point lead at 6:05.

"We were in it until she started driving," Hart said about Balgelman's dominance in the second quarter.

Both teams played tough defense throughout the rest of the half, the turning point being Balgelman's 3-pointers, as the Foxes were never able to overcome the deficit, only able to cut the lead down to as much as 10, leading 25-14 at the half.

The Foxes continued to struggle to cut the lead to anything less than 10 in the third. The Tigers led by as much as 15 when Fox Lane's Haley Giampino lost control of the ball fouling Balgelman. She went a perfect 2-for-2 at the line midway through the third and contributed to Mamaroneck's 35-25 lead at the
end of the quarter.

A two by Giampino at 7:16 cut the Foxes lead down by seven, 35-28, but a two by Smith diminished this as the Tigers regained control of their 11 point lead despite tough defensive pressure from the Foxes.

In the fourth the Foxes would cut it to less than 10 one last time, with under two minutes to play, but the Tigers were unfazed as Smith went 1-for-2 at the line, giving the Tigers a 12-point lead with under a minute left to play, 46-34 and the eventual 47-34 playoff victory.

DeAndrea, who led all Tiger scorers with 16 points, combined for 18 total rebounds with Nikki Smith. "They dominated the rebounding," Savage said. DeAndrea had 10 to go along with four assists.

Smith scored seven, four of which came in the fourth, when it was needed.

"Nikki Smith's four points off of offensive rebounds in the fourth provided the Tigers with the necessary cushion to stay ahead. 

"We needed those four points to keep the close lead we had," Savage said. Smith also had seven points and two assists.

Allison Lombardi led Fox Lane with 12. Jacqueline Coloa and Giampino each had seven. Julia Raue had six and Christina Lombardi contributed two.