Immaculata girls hoops wins state opener, hoping to better '09 results
By Michael J. Petro
Immaculata will arrive in New York City this week for the NYSAISAA Class C Tournament with just one goal in mind — not feeling the same disappointment that a three-point semifinal round game loss left them last season.
The third-seeded Bears will have an opportunity to avenge last year's semifinal loss thanks to an opening round 51-41 victory over No. 6 The Fieldstoe School on March 4 in the state tournament played in New York City. Immaculata moves on to the semifinal round today (Friday, March 5) to play No. 2 Hackley.
All but one senior is back from that team with a chance to better last year’s result and possibly get back to being Class C champions as was the case in 2006-07. Another win would propel the Bears, who finished 17-7 overall during the regular season season, would propel them into the championship game on Sunday, March 7.
In order to make a run, Drabik believes her team will need to continue to do what it does best — run the court and take advantage of its ability to rebound on both ends of the floor with senior forward Jill Fitzner and junior Lindsey Nowak. In the playoff opening win, Fitzner led Immaculata with 19 points and Nowak added 10 points and 14 rebounds.
And they would need to do it by executing for three games in four days. “I know this year’s team is well conditioned and after the disappointment of last year, I also know these girls want it bad,” Immaculata head coach Andrea Drabik said.
Immaculata closed out the regular season on a seven-game winning streak, including beating Niagara Catholic, 50-32, on Feb. 24 and Fredonia, 59-50, two days earlier. Against Fredonia, Fitzner led the Bears with 22 points, 12 rebounds and two steals and Nowak added 15 points, five rebounds and five steals. Other Immaculata seniors honored that night included Meghan Hennessy, Megan Smith, Julie Salisbury, Cassandra Pawlowski and Tara Quinn. In the finale, freshman Taylor Heinold led the Bears with 14 points and six steals.
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