Lady Colts Outsized, Not Outclassed

Size matters, and it was on the mind of Calhoun coach Dave Radtke well before the opening tip on Wednesday.

How would his Lady Colts deal with the big frontcourt Syosset brought to the table as his team opened league play?

As it turned out, pretty well - to a point.

Overcoming a huge early deficit, Calhoun rallied but were unable to overtake the visiting Braves in a 39-34 defeat, dropping the Lady Colts to 0-3.

Both teams were cold offensively from the get go.  The first field goal was made with less than four minutes left in the opening period - a field goal by the Colts' Danielle Losee.  Calhoun would soon lead 4-0, but it would be its only lead of the day.

A Katelyn Lesse three opened the floodgates for Syosset, as the Braves went on a 17-0 run that extended well into the second period. 

Jessica Ruggiero's basket ended the run, but by then, the Braves' size had begun to wear down the Lady Colts, much as Radtke had feared.  Specifically, the play of Syosset forward Lauren Maturo.

The sophomore recorded a double-double (10 points, 10 rebounds), throwing her size around from start to finish.  Calhoun forward Meghan O'Sullivan found herself on the bench with three early fouls, not helping matters in the first half.

"I thought there were times [Maturo] was really using her size, pushing around, she got away with a couple [fouls]," Radtke said. "That little advantage sometimes helps...she's tough, strong."

Victoria Ciavarella led Syosset (2-3) with 13 points in what was looking like a rout, but Calhoun didn't go quietly.

Down 21-9 at halftime, the Lady Colts began heating up from beyond the arc in the second half. Ellie Rosenblum hit a three early in the fourth quarter, bringing Calhoun to within seven.

From there, Losee (a team high 15 points) tried to finish the comeback singlehandedly.  Her third three of the game cut the lead to five with a minute left, and moments later, she sank two free throws to bring the Colts within three.

"She's a kid that has to get her confidence...shooters shoot the ball, no matter how many they miss, you have to go in with that mindset," Radtke said of his sophomore guard.

Losee's efforts weren't enough, however, as time soon ran out on Calhoun.

Despite the winless start, the first-year Calhoun coach believes his team will only continue to improve as they buy into his system, and each other.

"It's tough playing league games so early, if we could start them in January when we have a few under our belt that would really help," Radtke said.  "But overall I was happy with the effort."

Sophomore forward Ruggiero (8 points), matched up against the larger Maturo most of the afternoon, echoed her coach's sentiments.

"We're working really well as a team," Ruggiero said. "We're really young...our friendships are growing, which is helping us."

If only she could have grown a few more inches by game time.

The Lady Colts continue league play at home next Tuesday as they take on Freeport.