South girls like third quarter against Iroquois
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

After trailing Iroquois, 24-20, at halftime, Williamsville South's girls basketball team decided it was time to start playing.

The Lady Billies played a flawless third quarter en route to a 55-44 road win last Tuesday. South outscored Iroquois, 22-4, in the third quarter.

"The third quarter was the key," said South coach Erik Solomon. "We were nearly perfect. Everything we shot fell and we clamped down on defense."

Solomon got balanced scoring from his team in the third quarter. Sarah Marcus led South with seven points. Joanna Ostroot, Allison Couche and Claire Licata each added five points.

The Lady Billies made one field goal in the fourth but made 11 of 16 free throws. Heather Caputi went 7 of 10. Marcus and Ostroot were each 2 for 2.

South shot 15 for 32 from two-point range and 4 for 5 from three-point range.

Marcus led the Lady Billies with 19 points. She hit 3 of 4 threes.

Ostroot added nine points and five rebounds.

Couche, Licata and Caputi each scored seven points. Couche also hit a three, grabbed five rebounds and made six steals.

Alyssa Ashcroft came off the bench in the second quarter and hit all three of her shots for six points as well as hustling after every loose ball.

Iroquois was led by Grace Cunningham (14 points) and Becky Coleman (12 points). The Lady Chiefs did not have an offensive rebound in the first half.

South improved to 5-5 in ECIC Division II and 7-10 overall with a 41-28 win last Friday at West Seneca East.

The Lady Billies led, 11-4, after the first quarter, 17-8, at halftime and, 28-16, after three quarters. Cassiana Hyppolite, who was out of town for the Iroquois game, scored the first seven points of the game (three, two twos) versus West Seneca East. She finished with 17.

Marcus (eight points), Ostroot (five points, eight rebounds), Couche and Molly Hofher (four points each), Licata (three points) and Ashcroft (seven rebounds) also contributed for the Lady Billies.

South didn't shoot well, going 31 percent from twos, 2 of 9 from threes and 50 percent from the foul line but grabbed 38 rebounds as a team. They held West Seneca East to eight offensive rebounds.

Solomon said the Iroquois and West Seneca East victories show how well his team as been playing as a unit.

"Over the last few weeks, our play has become more team oriented," said Solomon. "They're scoring more and gaining confidence. They are starting to believe that they can play with anybody in the league and its' starting to show."

South hosted Starpoint on Tuesday but the result was unavailable before The Bee went to press. They host Williamsville East at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 11.