The Lady Colts hung tough, with a chance to overcome ice cold shooting and register their first win. That's how the story versus Seaford read for three and a half quarters.
Unfortunately the game lasts for four.
The visiting Vikings went on a 13-2 run at game's end to top Calhoun 44-33 Tuesday afternoon, keeping the Colts winless in the young season.
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Unable to break through Uniondale's pressure defense in last week's opener, Calhoun had plenty of open looks against Seaford, but simply couldn't get their shots to fall.
The ugly second half stats: 5 of 31 from the field, including 0-13 in the final period.
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"At one point in the third, we had four shots in a row in the paint on the same possession and came away with nothing," Calhoun coach Dave Radtke said. "That's tough to swallow."
Despite their offensive woes, strong defense and solid rebounding kept the Lady Colts close.
Sophomore forward Jessica Ruggiero (a team high 16 points) sank both free throws to tie things up at 31 midway through the fourth quarter.
Shortly thereafter, Seaford's Stephanie Lebitz nailed a three, and it was downhill the rest of the way for Calhoun.
"Stephanie's our leader, she's our senior...not necessarily a 3-point shooter but she stepped up and came through," said Vikings coach Bob Vachris of his veteran forward, who led all scorers with 17.
A Colts turnover led to a Stephanie Meyer layup, and Erica Fischetti soon sliced through the Calhoun defense for one of her own, and just like that the Colts were down by seven.
Ruggiero hit two more foul shots, making her a perfect 6 for 6 from the line, and inching the Colts closer, but it would be the final baskets Calhoun would make on the afternoon.
Erin Green came off the Colts bench to score 8, and Danielle Losee added 5 in the losing effort.
For coach and players alike, the theme stressed after the game was one of patience and experience, hand in hand.
"The new players getting on the court, they're not used to being in the varsity game, now they're having opportunities," said junior forward Meghan O' Sullivan."We're going to show that we're able to run with it and win some games."
Of his inexperienced players, Radtke said: "Some of them have never played a varsity minute...and they're in 11th grade, so now I'm asking them to play 8,10,12 minutes a game, and it's tough for them."
After addressing his team in the locker room, Radtke came back to the sideline to retrieve his bag, only to have its contents spill out on the floor.
When told that things were falling for him a bit too late on the court, Radtke didn't disagree.
"I'm going to have to remember that one," he said.
The Lady Colts (0-2) next play host to 0-2 Syosset on December 16.
