By Rob Potter
SPACKENKILL — The Sullivan West Lady Bulldogs’ season came to disappointing end on Saturday afternoon with a loss to the host Spackenkill Lady Spartans in a Section IX Class B quarterfinal basketball game.
Fourth-seeded Spackenkill grabbed the lead early in the game on its way to a 37-20 victory over the No. 5 seed Lady Bulldogs. Spackenkill, which improved its season record to 13-6, is scheduled to play at No. 1 seed Highland tonight in a semifinal game.
Spackenkill led 10-3 at the end of the first quarter, 19-7 at halftime and 28-14 at the end of the third period.
Cat Thompson led the Lady Spartans to victory with a game-high 20 points. Teammate Dominique Douglas added five points.
Seniors Jillian Fife, Shelby Grishaber and Gabrielle Humleker scored five points apiece for SW, which ended its season with a 10-9 record.
Seniors Regina Nicoletti and Lynnette Lacek had three points and two points, respectively, for the Lady Bulldogs.
“Our defense was good, but just couldn’t shoot the ball,” SW Coach Pat Donovan said. “We played well, but our shots didn’t go in the basket.”
Although the loss was disappointing for the SW parents, coaches, players and fans who traveled all the way to Dutchess County for the game, Donovan praised the players for a great season.
“These are great kids,” he said. “They gave it their all for four months, six days a week in practices and games.”
Along with the previously mentioned five senior starters, the game also marked the scholastic hoops finale for SW senior Heather Puerschner.