The third-seeded Rye girls basketball team opened the postseason with a 68-16 win at home Saturday over Roosevelt.
The 14th-seeded Class AA Development team gave it their all, but this game was a mismatch from the day the playoff brackets were set. Most of Rye’s starters were on the bench by the middle of the second quarter.
Rye coach Margo Hackett knows today’s blowout victory won’t be the norm going forward in the Section 1 Class AA tournament. The pressure will build with each subsequent game, beginning with the quarterfinals Wednesday against No. 6 seed Suffern.
How does Hackett coach her players to handle the high expectations as defending section champs?
“With so many returning players from last year, we’ll definitely use our playoff run from a year ago as fuel as we move forward from here,” she said. “Our plan for this postseason is to take these games one quarter at a time. In order to achieve our ultimate goal, we’ve got to play 16 quarters to get to that golden ball. As of right now: four quarters down, 12 to go.”
This Garnet group – led by returning starters senior Phoebe Greto (17 points), freshman Charlotte Storz (13), sophomore Stella Maresca (6), and junior Frankie Chiaravalle – is well-poised to contend. Hackett may know why.
“One thing we have going for us is these girls really care for each other,” she said. “Veterans and rookies, starters and reserves … these kids are great friends and exceptional teammates. The bond on this team is as strong as any group I’ve ever coached.”
The team is now just a win away from a return to Westchester County Center for next weekend’s section semifinals.
