Ostroot eclipses 1,000 points
Senior becomes only second South girls hoops player to reach milestone
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Katie Ostroot, center, became the second

As soon as Williamsville South's Katie Ostroot cut to the basket and hit a jump shot in the middle of the lane late in the third quarter of her team's home game with West Seneca East last Friday, she knew she had become part of history.

Ostroot scored 23 points in the Lady Billies' 56-23 win to go over 1,000 points for her high school career. The game was halted after the basket and the senior was awarded a basketball inscribed with her name and the milestone. Her parents, Carol and John, came down from the stands and gave her flowers and balloons.

"Everyone went crazy," said Ostroot, who now has 1,003 career points. "It sunk in pretty quickly but I couldn't breathe for a second."

"I was hoping to do it on Friday," she added. "The Lake Shore game got cancelled because of the weather (a few days earlier but was rescheduled) so I was nervous because I didn't want to get it at an away game."

Ostroot is the first girl basketball from South to go over 1,000 points since Lynn Meusgeier scored 1,521 20 years ago.

"It's an incredible feeling," said Ostroot. "It's strange to think no one's been able to do it since 1987."

"When we get her the ball on time, she's hard to stop," said South coach Duke McGuire. "We have some young guards this year so it's a little tougher for her to score."

Ostroot, who also grabbed 14 rebounds against West Seneca East, fought through a knee injury in the middle of the season but says she's at 100 percent now.

The 5-foot-11 center was introduced to basketball in the fifth grade by Jeff Marcus, father of South freshman guard Sarah, who was recruiting for an Amherst Youth Basketball team. She played modified basketball for South in seventh grade and JV in eighth grade.

She has also played AAU travel basketball for Queen City Classics and Niagara Rapids.

Ostroot is undecided on a college but would like to continue playing basketball at some level. She wants to study math.

Ostroot was the leading scorer against West Seneca East. Cassiana Hyppolite added 12 points, five steals and five assists for the Lady Billies, who led 27-9 at halftime and 46-15, after three. Heather Caputi, subbing in for an injured Marcus, scored seven.

Marcus suffered an ankle injury in the team's 45-19 win over Lake Shore last Thursday, although its severity is unknown.

South opened a 16-14 halftime lead in the second half, outscoring the Lady Eagles, 16-0, in the third quarter. McGuire said Lake Shore didn't score a second half basket until midway through the fourth quarter.

Ostroot scored 11 of her 13 in the second half, including seven points in the third. Hyppolite took over at the point and led with 16 points. Caputi chipped in five second half points.

South opened the week with a 60-43 non-league home loss over Lancaster. The Lady Billies played poor defensively early, trailing, 36-18, at halftime, but played the Lady Redskins even in the second half. Lancaster shot four threes in the first quarter.

Marcus and Ostroot were each in double figures with 15 and 14 points, respectively.

South hosts Iroquois at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com Williamsville South girls basketball player to go over 1,000 career points on Friday. Also pictured are her parents, Carol and John, and Williamsville South coach Duke McGuire.