By The TimesLedger
The Our Lady of the Snows fifth-grade “white” team opened up the 2001-2002 CYO basketball season with a resounding 35-7 win on the road at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament in Bayside.
In the last meeting between these two teams last December, OLBS had topped Snows in the annual St. Gregory’s Christmas tournament. The OLS girls have come a long way since last December and it showed in both a powerful and balanced scoring attack and on the defensive side of the ball.
Nicole Weinman, Tina Khiani and Christine Wrynn each scored four first-half points, Adara Simonelli swished an 18-foot shot and Nicole Kaouris went to the free throw line and sank both as OLS led at the half 16-0.
OLS exploded for 15 more points in the third quarter to lead 31-4. Nicole Weinman led all scorers with 11 points. Jessica and Christine Wrynn scored eight and six points ,respectively and Tina Khiani, Nicole Kaouris and Adara Simonelli rounded out the scoring for OLS. Michelle Gasperetti and Kaitlin Frangella also played well in this outstanding team effort. The white team next faces American Martyrs at PS 191 on Sunday, Nov. 21 at 12:15 p.m.
The Snows fifth-grade “blue” team opened its season at home at PS 191 versus Our Lady of Lourdes from Queens Village and came away with a 16-11 win. Sarah Lagasca’s 15-foot shot found only net to give OLS the first lead of the game, but Lourdes responded to lead 8-4 late in the second quarter. Divya Johnson scored to cut Lourdes’ halftime lead to 8-6.
Snows’ defense took over in the second half, as Lourdes was held to no points in the third quarter and Snows took a 12-8 lead. OLL’s R. Hazelwood led all scorers with nine points, while Divya Johnson led Snows with eight points. Jennifer Maurer, Beverly Rivera and Valerie Villaneuva also had baskets for OLS. The defensive efforts and passing of Danielle Carberry and Stephanie Payawal were the real keys to the OLS victory. Gina James also played well in the opening day win. The blue team’s next game is on Sunday, Nov. 21 on the road at St. Ann’s in Flushing.
In other OLS opening weekend games: The Bantam A team dominated St. Fidelis sixth graders, 24-4, at PS 191. The Bantam “blue” team fell, 21-8, to St. Mel’s at Bayside High School. The fourth-grade “PeeWee” division team lost to St. Kevin’s, 14-9, at PS 191. The seventh-grade “Rookie” division team showed much improvement with a convincing 28-19 win over St. Luke’s of Whitestone.
The OLS ninth-grade “Cadet” team suffered a one-sided defeat at the hands of St. Stan’s at Martin Luther High School in Maspeth. The Snows third-grade “SubNovice” team played a very exciting and fun filled game at PS 191 against OLBS of Bayside. The efforts of Julia Hannigan, Kaitlin Smolen, Sara Correa, Carleigh O’Rourke, Colleen Harrison, Rita Romeo and Ada Lee received the most enthusiastic cheering of the day. In other games, both Intermediate teams opened on the road at St. Gregory’s and St. Andrew’s.
