When he assembled his non-league schedule, Francis Lewis girls’ basketball coach Mike Eisenberg wanted a chance to play a quality opponent before the start of the PSAL playoffs.
Enter Our Lady of Lourdes, the three-time defending Class B state Federation champions.
Without starting guards Teresa Rozza (coach’s decision) and Maria Miaoulis (mononucleosis), the Patriots played perhaps their best defensive game of the year in a 48-44 win at Marist College in Poughkeepsie in the 10th annual Red Fox Shootout.
“We usually score 65-70 points a game, and to win a 48-44 game is good for us,” Eisenberg said. “It means we could win a game on defense and rebounds.”
Despite facing an intimidating frontcourt of 6-foot-3 Kelly Roche, who along with Julianne Viani scored a game-high 17 points, and 6-foot-2 Jocelyn Kelly, Francis Lewis dominated the glass led by Alaina Davis (6 points, 5 rebounds) and Natasha Page (7 rebounds).
The Patriots also did a good job defensively, contesting Lourdes’ perimeter shooters with its 2-3 zone.
Francis Lewis led throughout, but Lourdes (14-3) rallied to take a 34-33 lead with 1:01 left in the third as Kelly slashed to the basket, capping a 10-2 run.
But freshman Diatiema Hill (7 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists) answered with the shot of the game, burying a three from the left wing to put the Patriots back ahead for good, 36-34.
Our Lady of Lourdes, whose only other two losses were to powerhouses Red Bank Catholic (N.J.) and St. Peter’s, had two chances to tie the game in the final 18 seconds but the Warriors turned the ball over twice.
“Defensively, we played good,” said junior Jasmin Lawrence, who led Lewis with 9 points. “We could’ve worked our offense better, but for the most part we did what we wanted to do. For once, we rebounded.”
— Dylan Butler
