Sports
In Crosstown Rivalry, Bears Rout Panthers
Briarcliff defeated the Pleasantville for second time in a matter of days.
It was only a matter of days, but the result was the same for a strong Bears girls’ basketball squad and rebuilding Panthers team, 59-30, Monday thanks to successes on defense and shooting the ball.
“We’re starting to come around,” Briarcliff Head Coach Don Hamlin said. “We’re starting to put it together.
The Bears previously beat the Panthers 69-24 Thursday at home in a rescheduled game from Wednesday.
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Pleasantville (3-11) came into the evening fresh off Friday’s 53-46 home victory over Croton-Harmon High School, while the Bears (12-3) stretched their winning streak to five games.
Four three-pointers early on stretched the visitor’s deficit 28-6 after one. Pleasantville Head Coach Gina Perino’s regrouped players then came out stronger on the defensive end but offensive production still appeared a struggle 36-13 at the break.
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“Our inexperience showed,” Perino said of her young team of eight players.
The Panthers stepped it up even more in the third cutting the Bears advantage 48-22 heading into the fourth before the visitors sped away for the 59-30 final.
“I thought our defense played well,” Hamlin said. “If we can turn you over we’ll out run you,” Hamlin said.
Added Perino of the Bears: “They have a lot of weapons.
The Panthers implemented multiple defenses, but only saw success with the 3-2 zone.
"We shut that down a little," Perino said.
Perino’s players end the season 4:15 p.m. Tuesday against Ossining for their second of two tough opponents.
“This is a down year for us,” Perino said.
A core group of junior varsity players will be relied upon to lead the charge, which should not be a problem as Perino kept them at the JV level in order to become acquainted with one another before varsity next season.
“We need some experience and we’ll be back," she said. "We will be back."
The Bears host Sleepy Hollow Tuesday at 4:45 p.m. before closing out the regular season at 7 p.m. on Friday versus Harrison.
Brianna Celaj and Kasey Heyda each led the Bears with 12 points while Leanna Cornacchio scored 11.
