Rams Rock Bears, Roll Gaels

CARMEL—The Carmel High girls basketball team is hoping to do some good things this winter, and the Rams started things off on the right foot last weekend, rolling to victories over quality Brewster and Kennedy teams at the Ronnie Weaver Memorial Tournament at Carmel High School.

BASKETBALL
CARMEL 61
BREWSTER 41
CARMEL 38
KENNEDY CATHOLIC	35
BREWSTER 60
MAHOPAC 28

Brittany Horne of Carmel drives over Emily Tapio in Carmel win Friday. SKIP PEARLMAN The Rams opened with a 61-41 victory over Brewster Friday night in a game that was close until the fourth quarter. Carmel completed the sweep by holding off a feisty Kennedy Catholic team, 38-35, Saturday afternoon.

Kennedy’s Natalie Cantarelli shoots, as Mahopac’s Kerry Bakken defends. The Brewster girls blew out Mahopac, 60-28, in Saturday’s second round of the friendship format tournament.

In Carmel’s win over Brewster, the Rams grabbed a 16-9 advantage after a quarter, but Brewster responded with a 15-8 second-period run to tie the game at 24-24 at halftime.

Carmel’s Brittany Horne ended the third by draining a shot from the corner, then following with another from the top of the circle, giving Carmel a 41-34 bulge after three.

Brewster found itself in trouble in the fourth after senior forward Emily Tapio fouled out of the game. That left a void on both ends of the court for the Bears, and Carmel took advantage.

The Rams slowly stretched the lead and put the game away.

Emily Tapio of Brewster scores two, as Brittany Horne looks on. A Kim Broccoli bucket made it 49- 36 Carmel with 5:08, and 30 seconds later Broccoli hit again for a 51-36 lead. Horne dropped in two points moments later for a 17-point lead, and the starters were heading for the bench.

Horne had a monster game and did a little of everything for the Rams. She finished with 24 points, 13 rebounds, five steals and four blocks. Marie Mullen added 13 points, Nikki Oliver had 12 points and grabbed 10 boards, and Broccoli finished with six points and five assists.

The game was extremely physical, with both teams taking a beating. But that only motivated Horne.

“When I get bumped, I choose to go harder,” she said. “I take that as a challenge. I think we did a great job getting help defense, and played a great game. When they were catching up we tried to make a run, we played more to our tempo. But we can always do better..to get where we want to go we have to shut people down on defense and make shots.”

Mahopac’s Sam Nardo drives around Kennedy’s Amanda Viteretti. Tapio felt the slow start hurt Brewster.

“I think we came out a little nervous, but we got it together at halftime,” she said. “But then in the third the energy dropped a bit. We didn’t run our offense as well, and they ran their pace and got some calls.”

Tapio added that the Bears – now in the same league with Carmel – are looking forward to seeing the Rams again. “We have two more against them—and I’m happy about that,” Tapio said. “We want to play them again.”

Tapio led the Brewster attack with 15 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks. Marisa Delzio added 19 points and Lauren Quattrocchi snatched 10 rebounds.

Brewster’s Lauren Quattrocchi puts up shot as Carmel’s Nikki Oliver defends. “It was a very hard-fought game,” Rams coach Dan O’Hare said. “Both teams were very aggressive, and it got a little sloppy on both sides. We were fortunate Tapio fouled out, her pres- ence is obviously very important for them. I was impressed with them… we need to take care of the ball better. We had too many turnovers. But I was happy with Oliver, and the back court play of Mullen and Broccoli was big. And Horne was strong, in the fourth five of her six baskets were very important for us. And Sabrina Diaz, Alyssa D’Apice and Sam Parlato played well.”

Bears coach Doris Schukin agreed that Tapio’s exit was the end for her team. “When Tapio fouled out, that was the end of our game,” the Brewster coach said. “She was on Brittany… then we had no one to match up on her. I was surprised we did seem a little tense, nervous… we didn’t play our best game. I think we put a little pressure on ourselves.”

Carmel’s Marie Mullen drives to the basket as Bears’ Emily Tapio defends. In Carmel’s win over Kennedy Catholic (1-2), Horne had 13 points and Broccoli added 12.

Allison Santini led the Gaels with 12.

Broccoli broke a 35-35 tie with a pair of free throws with under a minute to play, then hit one of two with 20 seconds for the final margin.

“It was a battle all the way defensively,” O’Hare said. “We got in early foul trouble, and Horne had to come out in the first. But she was back in the second, and we got some big shots at crucial times from Broccoli and Diaz. And Kim had three important free throws with under a minute.”

Brewster’s Marisa Delzio grabs rebound in front of Carmel’s Nikki Oliver. In Brewster’s win over Mahopac (0-2), Tapio led the way with 19 points and 14 rebounds, Vania Simpri added 14 points, and Delzio had nine. Quattrocchi came up with 11 steals and added five points.

Brewster led 12-2 after one and 26-9 by halftime.

“I think the shock of the first game had not worn off yet,” Mahopac coach Jerry Fioretti said. “It is difficult for a young team to sustain success. We just have to go through the growing pains. It’s new to them. They have ability. It’s just a matter of learning to play at this level.”

The Indians dropped their tournament opener to Kennedy Catholic, 54-28.

“We have a very young team,” he said. “There were some jitters, but there was also a lot of good effort. We have to build on that.”

Amanda Viteretti of Kennedy shoots over Mahopac defenders Friday. Carmel was set to visit Lourdes on 12/17 at 6 p.m. Brewster travels to Haldane Friday for a game, with tipoff time TBA. Mahopac is at Arlington Friday for a 6 p.m. game.
Alexa Madden of Mahopac puts up a shot as Kennedy’s Lauren Tracy looks for block.