By The TimesLedger
Playing without center Tina Khiani, the rest of the Our Lady of the Snows Novice girls basketball team stepped up and played beautifully to defeat St. Matthias of Ridgewood, 18-11, in the St. Mary Winfield Christmas Tournament.
St. Matthias opened up with the lead and extended it to 5-2 by taking advantage of a big edge in height. Snows fought back to grab a 6-5 halftime lead on two baskets by Nicole Weinman and two free throws by Nicky Kaouris. St. Matthias grabbed the lead again early in the third quarter, but baskets by Kaitlin Frangella, Christine Wrynn, Michelle Gasperetti and Nicky Kaouris gave OLS a commanding 14-7 lead heading to the final quarter.
Michelle Gasperetti, who led OLS with six points, hit two more baskets to open the lead up to 18-9. Jessica Wrynn also contributed to the excellent overall team effort with her hustle on both ends of the court.
The girls advanced to the winners’ bracket in the tournament with a 16-13 win over Our Lady of Hope, Middle Village.
Snows jumped out to a quick lead as Tina Khiani won the tip-off and Nicole Weinman passed ahead to Nicole Kaouris, who sank the layup. Baskets by Nicole Weinman, Christine Wrynn and Michelle Gasperetti gave OLS a 9-3 halftime lead.
Hope stormed back to tie the game and send it to the fourth quarter tied at 9-9. Snows never relinquished the lead, but Hope rallied to tie at 13 with just more than a minute to play. Tina Khiani was fouled in the act of shooting and sank her first free throw to put OLS into the lead to stay. Nicole Weinman’s layup off a steal sealed the exciting win.
With the game on the line, the OLS fifth-graders shot 5-of-9 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter. Nicole Weinman led Snows with seven points. Jessica Wrynn and Kaitlin Frangella contributed to an excellent overall team defensive effort.
In a second round match up versus Corpus Christi of Woodside, OLS jumped out to a 4-0 lead on baskets by Nicole Kaouris and Christine Wrynn. Corpus Christi ran off seven straight points to grab the lead, but baskets by Michelle Gasperetti and Nicole Kaouris gave OLS an 8-7 halftime lead.
The lid was on the basket in the third quarter, as OLS once again fell behind. A basket by Nicole Kaouris to start the fourth quarter brought OLS within 15-11, but that was as close as it got. Nicky led OLS with six points as they fell to the Woodside opponent 17-11.
OLS Bantam girls eliminate St. Clare’s, 21-16
The opening round of the St. Mary Winfield Christmas tournament had coach Paul Hnath’s sixth-grade girls facing a formidable opponent in St. Clare's from Rosedale. St. Clare’s was the undefeated Diocesan Champion of the PeeWee division last season. Snows’ outplayed their opponent in the first half to grab a 10-5 lead. In an exciting finish, OLS held on for a 21-16 victory. Again an OLS team was clutch from the free throw line, as Danielle Hnath sank four straight foul shots. Cadie Chu and Cody led the offensive effort along with Danielle Hnath. Kelly and Erin Stanton helped OLS control the offensive and defensive boards. Stefanie Posa, Michelle Pelan and Jamie Hannigan contributed to a fine overall team effort.
OLS Bantam boys defeat Holy Family
The Our Lady of the Snows sixth-grade boys team won their first game in the St. Gregory’s Christmas Basketball Classic. 29-18, over Holy Family. The boys jumped out to an early 8-4 lead and were up by one at halftime.
The Snows team opened the second half with a suffocating trapping press, which allowed them to open up a 11-point lead at the end of three quarters, 24-13. They then settled in to win 29 -18.
Snows was led by Ray Potestio, who scored 15 points, while Brian Biscotti, Jonathan Dupuy and Arnab Mitra each chipped in four, while Leroy Herbert added two points. The press was lead by Ryan Paroulek, Anthony Civitano, Billy Fitzgerald and Jorel Phelps.
OLS tops OLS to stay unbeaten
Last Thursday. the OLS Intermediate Boys (Sweeney) team improved its record to 6-0 with a 39-24 win over the OLS Intermediate Boys (Conway) team, before a standing room only crowd at PS 191. The score was no indication on what a tough game this was. It was close throughout until the fourth quarter when the Sweeney team outscored the Conway team 17-9.
The OLS Sweeney team resumes its schedule on Sunday, Jan. 6, against OLBS (P) team with a 4:30 p.m. tip-off at OLBS.
