By Ted Waddell
ROSCOE — January 8, 2002 - It was a game on a postage stamp-sized court.
At the final buzzer of last Friday night’s OCIAA Division V basketball game, the home team Lady Blue Devils of Roscoe emerged victorious over the Livingston Manor Lady Wildcats with a first class 56-45 victory, while the losers headed home with some postage due.
In the first period, Roscoe (7-2, 3-0 OCIAA) outscored the opposition 15-13. In the second quarter, the Lady Blue Devils opened up a lead, outgunning Manor (5-2, 1-1 OCIAA) 16-8 to take a 31-21 lead on the way to the locker room.
In the third period, the Lady Wildcats scratched their way back by out shooting the hometeam 14-10. In the final frame, the Lady Blue Devils fought back 15-10 to put the game out of reach.
Stats from the free throw line: RCS 3/10 (30 percent); LMCS 7/11 (64 percent).
Double digit hoopsters for Roscoe included Kelly Ahart (24), Rose Miesner (13) and Cheyenne Smith (10).
A trio of Manor players also reached the double digit plateau: Nicole Argent (12), Jennifer Taggart (12) and Bridget Ellison (10).
“I thought Roscoe played rather well . . . they were very aggressive, outhustled us and shot the ball real well from the outside,” Manor Coach Andy Taggart said.
“I thought my girls played well in spurts, but we had a few letdowns,” he added.
Taggart credited the play of seniors Argent and Ellison, both of whom “did real well in their overall games” and Stephanie Babich “played very good defense in the second half.”
Taggart also said he’s looking forward to meeting the Lady Blue Devils later on in the season at home – on a larger court.
“It was an excellent ballgame for both teams,” said Roscoe Coach Becky Ahart. “For both teams, it was pretty much all defense . . . they know they have to guard, and we know we have to guard.”
“The switches that were made and the people that played, did an excellent job,” added Ahart.
While declining to predict how her team will fare during the remainder of the regular season, Ahart praised their performance on this particular winter evening.
“All our girls stepped up and did an excellent job . . . with thirteen players, they’re all going to see playing time.”
And what was Kelly Ahart’s take on the win?
“It was a tough game against a good team,” said the 18-year-old senior point guard. “In the beginning, we had trouble defending against their offense, but then we picked it up.”
According to the third-year varsity hoopster, her teammates were instrumental in helping her rack up her game-high 24 points.
“They helped me a lot,” she said.
What’s it like to have your mother as a coach?
“Sometimes it’s kind of hard, but I’m used to it and the other girls are really good with it,” replied Kelly Ahart.