By Joseph Staszewski
It’s going to be season of multiple adjustments for Carla Marfe. The St. John’s Prep senior guard is getting used to playing with and being a leader of a much younger basketball team, which starts three freshmen.
“It’s harder,” she said. “I’ve been on varsity for two years. They have to get used to it. It’s hard for me because I’m already use to it.”
The Red Storm experienced growing pains in a 30-26 loss to host Fontbonne Hall in CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens Division II girls’ basketball Dec. 19. St. John’s trailed 11-4 early in the game, but found a way to rally back against the defending diocesan champions.
“They have to keep going,” said Marfe, who scored eight points. “They are not use to missing so many shots.”
St. John’s Prep (2-2, 1-1) had to play the final 1:46 with Marfe, who was called for four offensive fouls in the game, something she said shouldn’t happen. It was the first time she had fouled out at St. John’s Prep. Red Storm Coach Ed Flood said his dead-eye shooter needs to learn the balance of being aggressive and forcing things.
“Green light, red light,” Flood said. “She’s green a lot.”
Both he and Marfe are optimistic about this group once they find their confidence. Leeandra Ricks scored seven points and Nicole Schweit was a force in the paint with Amalia Downer at times. Flood felt guard Simone Khedan is better than she showed against Fontbonne (1-1, 1-0).
Flood isn’t disheartened by the loss. He noted that he’s had stronger, more veteran clubs that lost early in the season at Fontbonne only to go on and make long playoff runs. It’s something he mentioned to his players.
“It’s going to take awhile,” he said.
The Red Storm was within 28-26 on a Ricks layup with 1:10 left in the game. Cindy Henderson missed a three-pointer and Ricks bolted down the court in transition only to be blocked from behind by Sioban Sammon with 15 seconds remaining in the game. Kate Oliver (10 points) scored immediately on the other end to put the game away.
“We just have to go back to practice,” Flood said.
