By Rob Potter
ROSCOE — December 21, 2001 – By the end of the second quarter of Tuesday night’s OCIAA Division V girls’ basketball game between the Family School and Roscoe, the visiting Lady Falcons had narrowed their deficit to single digits.
Roscoe (4-2, 1-0 Division V) had led by as much as 13 points in the first 16 minutes of play, but its advantage was only 28-21 heading into the locker room.
Naturally, Lady Blue Devil Coach Becky Ahart had some motivational words for her team during the break.
“I was not happy at halftime,” Ahart said. “We let them cut the lead to seven.”
Ahart was much happier after the third quarter, as Roscoe outscored the Family School (0-5, 0-1 Division V) by a 23-6 margin in those eight minutes of play. Roscoe went on to post a 62-35 win in the game, which was the Division V opener for both squads.
Leading that third period offensive surge for the Lady Blue Devils were guard Kelly Ahart and forward Cheyenne Smith. After Lady Falcon forward Lori McLeod scored 10 seconds into the second half to cut the Roscoe lead down to five points at 28-23, Ahart and Smith combined for 12 points in the next three-plus minutes. Ahart converted a long jumper, a three-point shot and a layup, while Smith hit two long-range jumpers – one inside the three-point line and one beyond that mark. Her three-pointer gave Roscoe a 40-25 lead with 4:45 left in the period.
Ahart added another three-pointer with 2:46 left in the quarter to boost the Lady Blue Devil lead to 49-27.
“In the third quarter, we took the shots we needed to and made them,” Becky Ahart said. “We rebounded well and did what we needed to do overall [to win].”
Family School Coach Carlton Williams naturally had a slightly different point of view.
“We gave the game away with poor defense in the second half,” Williams said. “We allowed them to hit those three point shots.”
The Lady Falcons also turned the ball over a few times because they had to refamiliarize themselves with the Roscoe court. (Because the court is smaller than a typical high school court, there are special rules on the tiny Roscoe court – such as atypical lines for inbounding the ball and signaling backcourt violations.)
“Roscoe did a good job tonight,” Williams said. “This is a very tough place – for anybody – to come in and get a win.”
Kelly Ahart and Smith each finished the evening with a game-high 12 points. In addition, Ahart dished out eight assists and Smith made eight steals.
Christine Rosencranse and Amy Argent added seven and six points respectively for the Lady Blue Devils.
The Lady Falcons were paced by center Meredith Angevine, who netted 11 points, and McLeod, finished with nine points.
“We’re a young team that will get better as the season goes along,” said Williams, who added that his team will not be back in action until next week’s annual high school tournament at Sullivan County Community College. “That time [off] will give us the opportunity to rest and regroup.”
Roscoe, meanwhile, is scheduled to be back in action tonight. The Lady Blue Devils are slated to face Chapel Field in a game at Pine Bush High School.
While happy to pick up the win, Becky Ahart noted that there is definitely room for improvement by the Lady Blue Devils.
“We still have a lot of kinks to work out,” she said.
She noted that one of those kinks is foul shooting. Roscoe converted only three of 12 free throws (25 percent) in Tuesday’s contest.
The Family School shot slightly better from the charity stripe, converting nine of 26 attempts (35 percent.)