Spartans almost pull off a miracle

Injury-plagued team falls short in championship

By: APRIL COYLE

Posted: 3/15/04

The gutsy women's basketball team came up just short in the Pennsylvania Collegiate Athletic Association's state championship game at Northampton Community College on Feb. 23.

During the first half of the championship game with Allegheny Community College, the Lady Spartans didn't seem to have their hearts in the contest, but they came roaring back in the second half to make it close.

The Spartans lost 64-58, which is remarkable considering that they trailed 39-15 at halftime. In the first half they had 15 turnovers and went ice-cold on offense, shooting just three for 24 from the field and nine for 18 from the foul line.

"We dug ourselves a big hole in the first half," said Spartans coach Art Wolfe, "and we shot 17-for-31 from the foul line (for the game). If we shoot our normal 70 percent from the foul line, we would have won the game."

No one needs to hang her head over the defeat. Wolfe's injury-plagued team won the EPCC championship against long odds.

The Lady Spartans ended the regular season seeded third, below Manor Junior College and Harrisburg Community College.

NCC entered the first round of the playoffs on Feb. 18 with only seven players left to face Luzerne County Community College, a team they'd lost to during the regular season. This time, NCC won, 62-39.

The Spartans traveled to Harrisburg on Feb. 21 to meet Manor Junior College in the second round. Manor, seeded second, had beaten NCC 71-58 during the regular season, but again the Spartans prevailed, 75-69.

The Spartans continued to lose players on their march to the EPCC championship game against top-seeded Harrisburg Community College Lady Hawks on Feb. 22.

Starting forward Eli Garcia could not play due to religious reasons, leaving the team with only six players. By the end of the first half, NCC was down to five players after freshman point guard Alexis Walker twisted her knee.

The Spartans started slow and were down by seven points at the half, but managed to pull even with 3:33 minutes left in the game. Gutting it out, NCC pulled away to win 77-66, downing a team it had lost to twice during the regular season.

"The girls played phenomenally," Wolfe said. "They hung in there. They played tough. They wanted this thing."

Forward Missy Bachert was high scorer with 46 points, but forwards Pam Dawes and Ryan Lansberg also played a strong game and were named to the all-tournament team.

Center Stephanie French played the entire game wearing a knee brace because of injuries suffered in an earlier game.

Some players were forced to play out of position because of all the injuries.

Point guard Tanya Gauronsky scored 19 points "playing a position she doesn't usually play," Wolfe said. Without her, "we wouldn't have won the game."

Wolfe is proud of how well his team responded to all the

adversity.

"I've been here for 14 years and had many talented players, but this team has more heart and soul than I've ever had," he said.