Roscoe Seeks Perfection

	Democrat Photo by Ted Waddell A WAVE OF DEVILS: Julie Donovan of Tri-Valley (32) puts up a shot against Roscoe’s Danielle Austin in Thursday’s 58-21 win. Also looking on are Roscoe’s Kelly Ahart (13) and Jill Spaulding.

By Ted Waddell
GRAHAMSVILLE — February 22, 2000 -- With Thursday night’s convincing 58-21 win over the home team Lady Bears of Tri-Valley, the Roscoe Lady Blue Devils remained unbeaten in Western Sullivan League (WSL) competition.
The Lady Blue Devils have racked up 16 straight victories under coach Becky Ahart, thus marking the longest winning streak of her 13-year tenure at Roscoe.
Their only loss of the current girls varsity basketball season was at the hands of Section IV’s Roxbury (44-43) in an early-season tourney.
Roscoe hosted the Lady Trojans of Jeff-Youngsville last night, and results were unavailable at press time.
Roscoe captured the final WSL girls’ basketball title last Tuesday with an 81-29 win over Narrowsburg. The WSL will dissolve after this school year and its teams are joining the Orange County League (OCL).
With the squad copping its first crown since 1976, a couple of fans in the stands must be thinking of past glories at the small rural central school. Twenty-four years ago, Shelley (Portz) Eggleton and Kathy Evans played on the last Lady Blue Devil championship team.
On Thursday night they were in the bleachers at Tri-Valley watching history unfold as Eggleton cheered on her daughter Lexie Eggleton, and Evans watched her two nieces Becky and Crystal Evans cruise to an easy win over the hard-pressed opposition.
During Thursday’s loss, the Lady Bears were hampered by the absence of April Nash. Their leading scorer was injured in a recent game against Livingston Manor and is out for the remainder of the season.
“She’s our leading everything, and this was the first game we’ve played without her,” said Karen Furman, coach of the Tri-Valley hoopsters.
Roscoe jumped out to a 26-2 lead in the first frame, and then never looked back. The Lady Blue Devils took a 34-8 halftime lead into the locker room. In the second half, Roscoe eased up a bit: in the third period it was 13-7 and in the closing chapter, 11-6.
Three Roscoe players reached double digits: Danielle Austin (15), Becky Evans (11) and Jill Spaulding (10).
Heather Krom was high scorer for the home team Lady Bears with seven points.
At the free throw line: RCS 9/15 (60 percent), TVCS 2/8 (25 percent).
“Roscoe played a great game,” said Furman. “They jumped out to an early lead, and seemed to make every shot. They just couldn’t miss!
“We didn’t give up at all,” she added. “I think we worked hard and did the best we could.”
According to Ahart, the Lady Blue Devils played “somewhat aggressively” as a team. “It was a good game, and Tri-Valley played hard, they played tough.”
Looking toward the upcoming sectionals, Ahart said, “We’ll play each game as it comes, and each team as they come along.”
Ahart is aware of the passage of time, and the ebb and flow of teams across the local stage. In 1976, she sat on the sidelines and watched as Shelley (Portz) Eggleton and Kathy Evans helped their team win the WSL title under the leadership of coach Shirley Weigand.
Almost a quarter of a century later, Ahart coached the next generation to the WSL championship and hopes to add a Section IX—Class D championship banner as well.
Ahart’s squad last won the sectional title in 1990.
“It’s a nice feeling,” she said.