Inspired East squad avenges loss in A-1 semifinals
Lady Flames to defend A-1 title on Wednesday against Ken East
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Williamsville East's Taylor Klun, left, fights with West Seneca East's Lyzz Delbert during the Lady Flames' 52-29 Section VI Class A-1 prequarterfinal home win on Feb. 20. Later in the week, East beat McKinley and Hamburg to advance to Wednesday's A-1 finals with Kenmore East at Erie Community College's Burt Flickinger Center. Photo by Joe Eberle Purchase photos at www.BeeNews.com

After losing twice to Hamburg in the regular season, Williamsville East picked the right time to defeat the Lady Bulldogs, winning, 36-27, in the Section VI Class A-1 semifinals on Saturday at Lockport High School.

East had lost to Hamburg by scores of 38-36 and 49-30 in the regular season, the latter game costing the Lady Flames the ECIC Division II title.

The win moves East (19-4) into the A-1 finals with Kenmore East (18-4), who the Lady Flames beat in last year's final, 48-41.

"We're playing inspired and with confidence," said East coach Chris Durr. "The kids are having fun playing together and are really being unselfish. They're finding the open person and committing to rebounding, something we've struggled with all season."

The Lady Flames grabbed 32 defensive rebounds against Hamburg, about 10 above their average. Molly Bojanek led East with 10 rebounds. Kaitlin Roseti and Meghan Scheidemann each grabbed nine. Christa Morgante hauled in seven boards.

Durr said the last time his team faced Hamburg they allowed eight offensive rebounds for baskets. This time around, he thinks Hamburg had none.

"I've got to give credit to Molly (Bojanek), Bridget (Steele), Christa (Morgante), Jessica (Kowalski), and Neha (Bakhai)," said Durr. "They just did an amazing job handling Hamburg's best players Liz Schappert (seven points) and Katie Medina (nine points).

East led Hamburg, 6-3, after the first quarter, 17-9 at halftime, and, 27-15, after the third quarter. The Lady Flames were up 31-16 at one point in the fourth.

"To hold them to 15 points through three quarters with such great players like (Alyssa) Zemla, Medina and Schappert was a huge lift for us," said Durr. "The key was we forced them into situations they were not prepared for and they didn't have their way with us like the last time they played us."

East also committed only 12 turnovers, 21 fewer than what they had in the team's last regular season meeting.

Roseti led the Lady Flames with 11 points and three blocks. Bojanek scored seven points and blocked two shots. Aleece Burgio (six points), Steele (five points), Morgante (four points), Neha Bakhai (two points) and Scheidemann (one point) also contributed.

East went into the A-1 semifinals with a ton of momentum. The Lady Flames dominated 12th-seed West Seneca East, 52-29, in the prequarterfinals at home on Feb. 20 and decimated fourth-seed McKinley (15-4), 62-25, on Thursday in the quarterfinals.

Durr called the McKinley game his team's best performance of the year.

"Our philosophy going in was to slow down their lightning fast guards Shakeena Cunningham and Shaquita Smith, who each averaged over 20 per game, not let them fastbreak and force them to score in the half court," said Durr. We played a 1-3-1 full court and dropped back to a 3-2 zone. The girls could not have executed the game plan more perfectly. Molly, Bridget, Christa, Jessica and Neha were on the perimeter and made sure we had hands in their faces."

Cunningham and Smith finished with eight and four points, respectively.

Durr said McKinley tried to trap his team in the half court but his players knocked down some easy jump shots from good passing to outscore them 16-5 in the first quarter and 15-12 in the second quarter. East led, 42-22, after the third quarter and outscored them 18-3 in the fourth quarter, including 7 of 7 free throws.

Morgante scored 10 of her 12 points in the first quarter, including two threes. She finished 5 of 6 from the floor (2 of 2 threes, 3 of 4 twos) as well as three steals, two rebounds and two assists.

Roseti led with 14 points, 12 rebounds and seven blocks. Burgio scored double-figures with 10 points. Scheidemann almost had a double-double (nine points, 10 rebounds). Bojanek (six points), Anna Stolzenburg (two points, five rebounds), Kowalski (three points, five assists), Steele (two points, four assists), Neha Bakhai and Taylor Klun (two points each) also chipped in for the hot-shooting Lady Flames who were 23 of 40 from the floor. They also sank 12 of 14 free throws.

West Seneca East was no match for East in the prequarterfinals, who the Lady Flames had beaten handily twice during the regular season. East opened the game ahead 20-9 and cruised to a 35-15 halftime advantage.

Roseti led all scorers with 11 points, seven rebounds and five blocks. Bojanek (six points, nine rebounds, four assists), Klun (six points, six rebounds), Scheidemann (six points, nine rebounds), Kowalski, Steele, and Pooja Bakhai (four points each), Neha Bakhai (three points), Ally Kotz, Stolzenburg, Burgio (two points each) and Morgante (two points, four assists) also helped out.

The winner of the East-Ken East game plays Pioneer or Springville in the Class A-1/A-2 crossover game at 2 p.m. Saturday, also at ECC.

"I think this three game stretch showed we're a pretty good team and when we play together, especially on offense and do the things defensively, we're right there with everybody," said Durr.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com