It’s been said the true measure of a team is how it responds to adversity.
To put that adage to the test, one need look no further than Rye girls basketball. The girls now have won five games in a row following their first loss of the season.
Since a 61-35 defeat on the road against Ketcham, the Garnets have beaten Pelham, Harrison, Bryam Hills, the Barack Obama School for Social Justice, and most recently, a 64-21 win Monday at Eastchester, bringing their record to 16-1. Every loss hurts, but coach Margo Hackett believes some defeats can carry benefits as well.
“I think the loss to Ketcham … brought us back down to earth a little bit. It took some pressure off of us,” she said. “Playing undefeated is hard. I think the loss came at the right time and we’ve responded well.”
That was evident Jan. 31 against Obama, as every player on the team scored in a 69-13 rout. After entering halftime up 37-10, the Garnets outscored the Phoenixes by an astounding 32-3 in the second half.
If ever one game could be a microcosm of a team’s season, a single representation of consistent excellence on both sides of the ball, this one would have been a strong candidate.
With three games to go before Sectionals begin, including Senior Night against Pelham (14-3) at 7 p.m. Friday and a showdown at Class AA co-leader Panas (16-1) on Feb. 10, this Rye team has finally felt the sting of defeat and has clearly come out stronger on the other side.
“The key is playing with that confidence, especially because we have and play so many younger players,” Hackett said. “The girls need to be confident going into Sectionals that we are one of the top teams.”
RYE 61, BYRAM HILLS 36 — The Garnets were in control from start to finish, thumping Byram Hills (5-11) for the second time this season, on Jan. 30.
Rye stormed out to a 24-4 lead at the end of the first quarter. Offensively, the girls put on a passing exhibition any basketball-lover would have been moved by. Time after time, good shot chances became great shot chances, whether they were running their half-court offense or a fast break.
Naturally, the scoring distribution at the end of the game reflected Rye’s unselfish play: junior Phoebe Greto had 16 points, junior Paige Tepedino had 14 points, senior Kathleen Denvir had seven points, freshman Stella Maresca had six points and sophomore Ella Poole had four points.
“The girls show up every day and work so hard,” Hackett said. “I like a few games like this to get everybody in and comfortable, because you never know when you’re going to be the one who needs to step up.”
