New coach teaches Lady Billies to pick up the pace
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Despite losing its best player in years to graduation, Katie Ostroot, there are plenty of reasons to be excited about this year's Williamsville South girls basketball team.

New coach Erik Solomon has been teaching the players an up tempo style which will hopefully garner more wins for the Lady Billies this season. South finished 10-11 last year and lost in the Section VI Class A-1 prequarterfinals.

Instead of slowly bringing up the ball, Solomon wants his players to bring it quickly down the court. He's also switching the team's main defensive set from zone to man-to-man.

"I feel we can get out and run and put pressure on both sides of the court," said Solomon, who had coached the South boys modified team the last three years. "I think we have the speed and the guards that can handle that type of game."

The guards are led by 5-foot-8 sophomore Sarah Marcus, a return ECIC II second team selection. Marcus can play the two (shooting guard) or three (small forward) spot.

"She's probably one of the smartest players that I've ever coached as far as knowing the game," said Solomon. "She has a phenomenal shot and can dribble and handle pressure."

Other guards Solomon will utilize are juniors Allison Couche (5-foot-5), Cassiana Hyppolite (5-foot-6) and sophomore Heather Caputi (5-foot-5). Couche will run the point, Hyppolite can slash to the hoop at the three spot. Caputi will back up Couche at the point and sub in for other guards.

Senior forwards Claire Licata (5-foot-10) and Molly Hofher (5-foot-9) will see time in the starting five. The duo, plus 5-foot-9 sophomore Stephanie Bauer and 5-foot-10 freshman Joanna Ostroot, will try to make up for the loss in the middle of Joanna's older sister, Katie, a four-year center who finished second all-time at South in scoring with 1,031 career points.

Others who should contribute are senior forwards Alyssa Ashcroft (5-foot-6) and Lara Pfannschmidt (5-foot-8) and Ariel Francoise (6-foot). Junior 5-foot-5 forward/guard Brittany Marranco rounds out the team.

In scrimmages, Solomon has liked his team's ability to run the floor and play good help side man-to-man defense.

Solomon sees Williamsville East, Iroquois and Hamburg as the favorites in ECIC Division II.

"We're hoping we should be in the upper middle of the pack," said Solomon, a St. Francis grad who played collegiately at Villa Maria College and Daemen College. "I don't see why we couldn't compete at that level."
South 2007 Schedule
11-28 Clarence ............. 7:30 p.m.
12-4 at Hamburg .......... 7:30 p.m.
12-6 at Sweet Home.... 7:30 p.m.
12-11 Iroquois............... 7:30 p.m.
12-14 W.S. East ............ 7:30 p.m.
12-18 Hutch Tech.............. 6 p.m.
12-21 St. Mary's of Lancaster 7:30
p.m.
12-27 at Will. East tourn. (Will.
East) ....................... North 4 p.m.
12-28 at Will. East tourn. (Will.
East) Newfane or East 4 p.m.
(consolation); 5:30 p.m. (final)
1-4 at East .................... 7:30 p.m.
1-8 Amherst ....................... 6 p.m.
1-10 at Lake Shore ...... 6:30 p.m.
1-16 Hamburg............... 7:30 p.m.
1-18 Sweet Home ........ 7:30 p.m.
1-24 at Amherst ........... 7:30 p.m.
1-29 at Iroquois............ 6:30 p.m.
2-1 at W.S. East............ 7:30 p.m.
2-5 Starpoint................. 7:30 p.m.
2-11 East ....................... 7:30 p.m.
2-13 Lake Shore........... 7:30 p.m.
e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com