Repetition, Superstition Part Of Preparation For Lady Panthers

"Coach Dan called — he says he's out of state," girls' varsity basketball Assistant Coach Chris Corsinetti called out to the team during their practice Tuesday afternoon, March 7.

In reply, the team hollered its approval.

Normally, one would think this is an odd reaction from a squad who are so dedicated and loyal to their coach. But these aren't normal circumstances — the Lady Panthers are trying to win the school's first division title since 2006.

"They kicked him out of practice today — he hasn't been at practice for a month; I've been running the practices, and they've been winning, so they wouldn't let him in," Corsinetti explained. "It's sort of a superstition now, so he called and said he was out of state."

Corsinetti said the team has also been keeping up the routine of eating together at Corsinetti's home the day of games, leading him to joke: "I tell them, 'I'm happy we're winning, but you guys are costing me a lot of money.'"

The Lady Panthers are hoping the good results continue tonight, as they face The Prout School in the Division II semifinal game at Rhode Island College. Johnston defeated West Warwick in the quarterfinal round on Sunday, 53-46.

For Johnston — who entered the postseason tournament as the number-two seed from Division II North — the Prout game will be the third straight contest against a Division II-South team they haven't played this year.

"We never saw anybody from South," Corsinetti acknowledged, though he took a positive tack on the situation. "We're both at a disadvantage."

Following their victory Sunday, the Lady Panthers stayed to watch Prout during the first half of the Crusader's game against Cranston High School East, so they did get a look at their upcoming opponents, Corsinetti explained.

At the top of the Lady Panthers' game plan is defending against Prout's Emily Caswell, who scored 25 points in Sunday's contest.

"We've got to stop her," Corsinetti said. "She's very economical with her shots; she takes shots she knows she can hit."

And where West Warwick placed their shooters on the perimeter — "I don't think any of their big (players) stepped inside the three-point stripe," Corsinetti recalled — Prout is more of a drive-to-the-hole squad.

"We're going to concentrate on more of a match-up plan," Corsinetti said.

Tonight's game is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Murray Center on the RIC campus in Providence. The winner will proceed to Saturday's finals game against the victor of the 8 p.m. Mount St. Charles-Rogers High School game.

Watch for live updates during tonight's game, plus full reports following the contest, here on JohnstonPatch.