By Justin Gottschalk
March 25, 2005 – Editor’s Note: Today we continue our look back at the recent scholastic basketball season. Please see more team wrap-up stories in future issues of the Democrat.
FALLSBURG

Overall Record: 3-16

Division Record: 0-6 OCIAA Division V

Top Players: Erin Gilmore, a freshman, was named the team MVP at last week’s Fallsburg Central School Fall/Winter Athletic Awards Assembly.
“She’ll be something to be reckoned with in a few years,” Coach Les Hyde.
The team’s Most Improved Player was presented to senior Jenna Hiatt. The Sportsmanship Award was presented to senior Toni Wilkerson. She was playing organized basketball for the first time, coming over from the cheerleading team.

Season Highlight: Beating Liberty in the season finale, and two out of three times this season.
“Ending the season on a winning note in a closely-contested game gives us a lot to build on for next season,” Hyde said.

Season Lowlight: Senior Abby Smassanow went down with an injury in one of the Lady Comets’ first games. She ended up missing half the season.

Other: “I was happy with the girls overall,” Hyde commented. “Happy with their attitudes, sportsmanship throughout the season, never giving up, always trying hard and working hard.”
That ethic should serve the Lady Comets well during the 2005-2006 season and beyond.
The Lady Comets will be losing six seniors to graduation. They are Jamie Cruz, Yulieka DeJesus, Hiatt, Jenn Olan, Smassanow and Wilkerson.
Hyde noted that they will be missed, but that the team’s future still looks bright.