Defense leads Sacred Heart to tournament crown
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

It took a few games but Sacred Heart's girls basketball team is putting it all together. And it all starts with defense.

The Sharks used a suffocating match-up defense to defeat Immaculata, 56-26, in the Al & Rose Pastor Memorial Tournament final last Friday at Daemen College.

"The defense was absolutely stellar, and the offense wasn't bad either," said Sacred Heart coach Sr. Maria Pares.

Sacred Heart's match-up defense is predicated on a lot of switching and communicating on the floor.

"If they're not talking, then the defense does not work," said Pares. "It didn't in the first couple of games because there are a lot of young kids. We just needed time to play together."

Sacred Heart led Immaculata, 14-7, after the first quarter and used a 10-0 run in the second quarter to go up, 30-16, at halftime.

Tournament MVP Krystal Watson had a breakout game, scoring 22 points and grabbing three rebounds.

"She was awesome at both ends of the floor," said Pares.

Pares felt the Immaculata win was a statement game for her team.

"Immaculata is a good team so I'm really pleased to see that if they believe in what we're teaching them, they're going to succeed," said Pares.

Eleven other Sacred Heart players scored besides Watson. Liz Tramposch and Devon Horning each scored six points. Bridget Andrews had a point and four assists.

Jillian Fitzer led Immaculata with nine points.

Sacred Heart advanced to Friday's final after walloping Bennett, 80-30, in the first round last Monday.

The Sharks were ahead, 37-11, at halftime. Sacred Heart shot 59 percent from the floor.

"Bennett didn't have much of a pattern to their offense," said Pares. "We would get the ball in and beat them down the court."

Watson led all scorers with 19 points on 9-of-13 shooting, and grabbed seven rebounds. Hayley Pickett added 14 points, two rebounds and an assist. Sarah Healy chipped in eight points and three rebounds. Twelve Sharks scored. Natalie Coppola had four assists to go along with two points and a rebound.

Kiara Beaver had 10 points to lead Bennett.

Sandwiched between both tournament games was Sacred Heart's Monsignor Martin Association opener, a 44-23 win last Wednesday at Niagara Catholic.

Sacred Heart was up, 24-13, at halftime. Watson again led all scorers with 12 points and seven rebounds. Jen Hare scored 11 points for Niagara Catholic.

The Sharks (5-2, 1-0) don't return to action until Tuesday, Dec. 18 when they host Holy Angels at 6:30 p.m. at Villa Maria Athletic Center. They host Nardin at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, also at Villa.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com