Basketball
Lady Wildcats clinch fifth seed with two wins last week
By Stan Ross
VICTORIOUS. The Lady Wildcats defeated the Wells Lady Warriors last Thursday, cinching up the fifth seed in the Western Maine Quarterfinals, set to begin this Monday. Pictured from York are Laney Yeomelakis and Brittany Bracy, with Morgan Taylor with the ball, playing hard in their final regular season game.
Photo by Brenda Bracy
York defeated Wells to earn the fifth seed in the quarterfinals. Pictured here are Kim Rigano and Brittany Bracy during the game.
Photo by Brenda Bracy
MOVING AHEAD. The York High School Lady Wildcats moved one step closer to their spot in the playoffs last Tuesday when they defeated Cape Elizabeth by a score of 45 to 36. Pictured here from York are Stephanie Plaisted and Kim Rigano, with Jenna Yeomelakis moving the ball down the court in the final home game of the season.
Photo by Brenda Bracy
York High School senior Sharon Ehret (left), is seen here with senior Jenna Yeomelakis in the Feb. 6 game against Cape Elizabeth. At the same game, from left, are Meredith Reid, Laney Yeomelakis and Jenna Yeomelakis, with the ball.
Photos by Brenda Bracy
"Kortnee Cribby came off the bench and hit two free-throws to give us the winning margin. We had two starters out on fouls, and one with an injury. Stephanie Hartman made two free-throws and Brittany Bracy gave us five big points," York Coach Rick Clark commented. "This win will give us fifth place in the HEAL standings and we should play number four seed, Greely, in the Western Maine Quarterfinals."
On the way to that standing, last Tuesday, Feb. 6, on Senior Parents Night, the Lady Wildcats had continued their drive for the playoffs with a convincing win over the Cape Elizabeth Lady Capers by a score of 45 to 36.
After the opening ceremonies, when roses were presented to the visiting seniors from Cape and to the parents of the York senior girls, plus a surprise presentation by Athletic Director Ted Welch to York's "most enthusiastic fan, announcer Jeff Bailey," the game started.
Coach Clark had prepared a special senior program with color photos and brief biographies of the six senior players and one manager who were participating in their last home game, and he started an all-senior lineup.
Despite the rebounding and scoring of Morgan Taylor with the game high 17 rebounds and 14 points, the Capers grabbed an early 10 to 3 lead. Then, after a block by Sharon Ehret plus a steal and a put-back by Jenna Yeomelakis and a pop from the wing by Meredith Reid, York closed the gap to just two points,10 to 8, at the quarter.
Then the Wildcats would double up on the Lady Capers as they outscored them 24 to 12 in the next two periods. J. Yeomelakis had a block plus a steal that led to a fast-break bucket and Stephanie Plaisted had a steal that led to a three-point play by Taylor. Then Reid fed Bracy under the hoop and Laney Yeomelakis added a trey from the wing. Reid closed out the half with another steal that set up Bracy for the bucket that gave York a 22 to 16 lead at the half.
York opened the second half with a strong defense featuring blocked shots and rebounding by Taylor and Reid that held Cape to just two points in five minutes.
Meanwhile, the Lady 'Cats scored on a spin move by Taylor, a pop from the top by L. Yeomelakis, and a steal for a fast-break by Kim Rigano. Then Plaisted fed Bracy for one hoop and Taylor for another that gave York a 32 to 22 lead going into the final quarter.
York continued to press, and pick up more fouls, but Plaisted added a runner, Reid had a block plus a put-back and Rigano scored on a drive to give York a 40 to 29 lead with just 2:39 to play. Rigano and J. Yeomelakis finished off the scoring for the Wildcats to make the final score York 45, Cape 36.
The JV Lady Wildcats, led by Coach Steve Freeman, also won again, and now have a record of 12-5.
The Lady Wildcats will play in a quarterfinal game this Monday, Feb.19, at 8:30 p.m. in the Portland Expo. The winner will advance to a semifinal game on Wednesday, Feb. 21, also at 8:30 p.m. The Western Maine Regional Championship will be played on Saturday, Feb. 24, at 7 p.m.
| York vs. Wells Score by Quarters |
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| Lady Wildcats | 10 | 7 | 11 | 14 | 42 |
| Lady Warriors | 6 | 12 | 8 | 14 | 40 |
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York scorers: Bracy 5, Cribby 4, Hartman 2, Plaisted 2, Reid 5, Taylor 11, J. Yeomelakis 6, L. Yeomelakis, 7 Three pointers: Taylor, L. Yeomelakis |
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| York vs. Cape Score by Quarters |
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| Lady Wildcats | 8 | 14 | 10 | 13 | 45 |
| Lady Capers | 10 | 6 | 6 | 14 | 36 |
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York scorers: Rigano 5, Westman 2, J. Yeomelakis 6, Taylor 14, Reid 4, L. Yeomelakis 5, Plaisted 2, Bracy, 7 Three pointer: L. Yeomelakis |
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