The Pawling Varsity Girls’ Basketball team has one senior this year whose height soars above most … that is Ashley Owens. In addition to Ashley, are returning Varsity members – juniors Michelle Piazza, Elaine Roman, Brenna Smith, and Erin Waters. New to this year’s Varsity team are sophomores Dana Farese and Shante Sanchez, and a freshman, Courtney Meissner. These dedicated players will miss Ashley after this season, but will carry the Pawling team forward after she graduates this year.
The team is being coached by John Sullivan for the second year in a row. The Pawling Tigers Girl’s Varsity Basketball team may be small in number, but they display remarkable sportsmanship on and off the court and have worked hard this season.
On November 29, Varsity Girls started their season off with a scrimmage with Brewster followed, by the season opener on December 11 against Dover. Pawling lost its season opener in a close battle 31 to 32. The team made up for a slow start and clawed their way back in the second half. With 2 minutes remaining, the team took the lead for the first time. The Tigers could not hold the lead, but with 4.7 seconds remaining in-bounded the ball but could not convert the final shot. Erin Waters finished with a game-high 15 points for Pawling
In the months of December and January, the lady Tigers Varsity team traveled to Poughkeepsie. They also participated in The North Salem Booster Club Basketball Tournament and competed against Alexander Hamilton and North Salem. The team lost with a final score of 49 North Salem and 36 Pawling. In the third quarter Pawling only trailed by 2 points, 31 to 29. The team worked hard and played a great game. They are a resilient team that has a lot of passion for the sport.
On January 18, the Pawling Girls earned their first victory of the season with a 17-3 final quarter on the road. Erin Waters led Pawling with 21 points and 15 rebounds and Ashley Owens added 10 points and 10 rebounds. Brenna Smith contributed 5 points, 1 rebound and 5 steals, Dana Farese scored on a free throw and had 1 rebound. Courtney Meissner had a steal and a rebound, Elaine Roman had 7 rebounds, 1 block, 2 steals and 1 assist. Also, Michelle Piazza had 3 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 assists, and Shante Sanchez had a rebound. The final score was Pawling 37, Putnam Valley 31.
“Just a great overall team win,” Pawling coach John Sullivan said. “Everyone contributed, everyone made something happen.”
On January 19, The Pawling Girls Varsity Basketball Team lost a close game against Walter Panas at Pawling High School. Erin Waters had 21 points and 20 rebounds as the host Tigers fell at home. Ashley Owens had six points and 17 rebounds for Pawling. Pawling was tie at the end of the first quarter and ahead at the end of the 2nd quarter but Walter Panas passed them for the win in the 4th quarter.
The Girl’s Pawling Tigers remaining games are: January 28 at Haldane, January 30 versus North Salem at PHS, February 1 at JFK, February 4 at Dover, February 5 vs. Putnam Valley at PHS and the Pawling Tigers SENIOR Night, February 7 at Solomon Schecter, and February 8 at Rye Neck.
This article submitted to Pawling Public Radio….
