RHS Girls’ Basketball
Banged-Up Garnets Keep Fighting

An injury-riddled Rye girls’ basketball team persevered January 8 at home against Ardsley, overcoming various dents and dings to win, 47-43.

The young Garnets, mostly freshmen and sophomores, are a study in teamwork and depth. Starting sophomore point guard Lillian McCabe was questionable up until game time with 10 stitches in her foot from a non-basketball-related injury. Senior co-captain Jasmin Telfer was sidelined as a precaution – she banged her head in practice the day before.

Despite the health woes, there was no need to panic. Sophomore starter Catharine Greer shifted over from shooting to point guard and filled McCabe's role admirably. She led the team with 12 points and six assists.

“We have been having some growing pains lately, but this was a great team win,” said Greer. “I passed the ball around a lot and everyone on the team was involved – they all took their shots and scored."

McCabe proved to be tough as nails by rotating into the game and, in her inimitable fashion, drew three fouls and contributed six points despite obvious pain. Freshman forward Christina Palmese started and chipped in seven points, while the other three starters, sophomore forward Jillian Chittenden, sophomore guard Karly Fitzgerald, and freshman guard Katie Killup, combined for eleven more.

Ardsley jumped ahead 2-0 by scoring a lay-up off the initial jump ball. The moment was fleeting, as Rye answered with a basket of its own and never again relinquished the lead. They worked the ball, passed beautifully, and dominated the rest of the first quarter. The Garnets held a 16-9 lead after one quarter and rolled into halftime up 31-20.

It seemed Rye would cruise to victory, but Ardsley clawed back with a pair of 3-point bombs to trail by only four with five minutes remaining in the game. The Garnets appeared flustered, but head coach Mary Henwood called a pair of timeouts to settle down her team. After receiving sage and calming input from Henwood, the girls were able to regroup and hold on for the victory.

Although the victory propelled them to a .500 record, the Garnets dropped their next two contests to fall to 5-7.
– Melanie Cane