Valerie Villaneuva scored 8 second-half points, including both free throws she attempted, to lead her Our Lady of the Snows’ sixth-grade girls’ team on a comeback that fell just short.
Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament of Bayside prevailed at the final horn, 21-20. Jen Maurer scored 6 points for Our Lady of the Snows. Tebsy Paul hit two of two important fourth-quarter free throws and Divya Johnson also scored 2 points during the Snows’ fourth-quarter rally. Sara Lagasca’s 2 points rounded out the OLS scoring.
Bantam ‘A’ girls suffer first loss in Christmas tourney
The OLS sixth-grade girls suffered their first defeat of the season, a 26-18 loss at the hands of Good Shepherd from Suffolk County. The teams faced off in the opening round of the Our Lady of Blessed Sacrament Christmas tournament.
Tina Khiani’s basket staked Snows to the early lead. The lead changed hands several times in the first half. Michelle Gasperetti’s free throw put OLS back into the lead once. Christine Wrynn’s outside shot gave the Snows their final lead of the game.
Good Shepherd led 11-8 at the half as neither team got many good looks at the basket. The girls from Suffolk opened up an 8-point lead during the third quarter, and OLS could not battle all the way back against a very tough Good Shepherd defense.
Adara Simonelli and Tina Khiani led OLS with 5 points each. Christine Wrynn scored 4 points and sister Jessica Wrynn added 2 points. Gasperetti and Nicole Weinman each hit a free throw to round out the Snows’ scoring. Nicole Kaouris also contributed to the Snows’ team effort.
The Snows team hopes for a rematch with Good Shepherd, but to make it happen it must battle all the way to the tournament final through the loser’s bracket of the double elimination tournament.
