By Rob Potter
ROSCOE — January 18, 2002 – The Roscoe Lady Blue Devils used two tried and true sports axioms to record a victory Monday night in a non-league game versus Tuxedo.
The axioms utilized were playing as a team and making the most of a home-court advantage.
In the first quarter, Roscoe (10-2) played an aggressive man-to-man defense, which seemed to further frustrate a Tuxedo (6-4) team that was attempting to get comfortable on the tiny Roscoe court.
The result was a 14-8 Lady Devil lead at the end of those opening eight minutes of play. Although the Lady Tornadoes adjusted to the unique Roscoe court – where backcourt, out-of-bounds and three-point lines are modified in comparison to larger courts – as the game continued, the Lady Devils contined to play an aggressive man-to-man defense and diplayed a balanced offensive attack.
All of which added up to a 59-40 victory for Roscoe.
“Defensively we stepped it up and played well,” Roscoe Coach Becky Ahart said. “We knew we had to do that because they’re a good team.”
Ahart noted that after learning about Tuxedo’s narrow loss to Sullivan West the week before, she knew that her team had to stop Tuxedo center Ashley Rossi. Consequently, several Lady Blue Devils took turns guarding the six-foot-plus Rossi. Among those staying with Rossi were starting center Jessica Lake and Rose Miesner, who herself stands a couple of inches past the six-foot mark.
Rossi still managed a team-high 13 points in the contest, but was shut out in the fourth quarter. Christina Baxter and Nancy O’Doyle each scored 10 points for the Lady Tornadoes.
“We knew it was going to be a guards game as well after reading about the Tuxedo-Sullivan West game,” Becky Ahart said.
And the Roscoe guards played well. Point guard Kelly Ahart and Cheyenne Smith led the way, as each netted 12 points in the game. (Miesner also scored a dozen points.)
Chrissy Rosencranse added nine points for the Lady Blue Devils and Stefani Oblak chipped in five points and eight rebounds.
“We had a pretty balanced attack,” Becky Ahart commented. “I’m proud of my team. All of the girls played hard and it was a total team effort tonight.”
Roscoe also outshot Tuxedo at the foul line. The Lady Blue Devils were 18 for 26 at the line, while the Lady Tornadoes were converted only 10 of 27 attempts.
“We just didn’t come to play,” said Tuxedo Coach Dave Powers. “Sometimes when you have a long bus ride like that, you come out a little flat at the beginning of the game. But give Roscoe the credit, they were fired up and ready to play. We just didn’t play well at all.”