Can't Stop Classical !

The Girl’s Basketball team battled it out for the last time this year in their home gym Saturday night.  The girls were undefeated on their home court and planned to keep it this way for this quarterfinal playoff game.  They faced off with Lexington at 4pm.   Right from the opening tip everyone knew it would be a game. The Rams relied on the speed of Taneka Brown and Ashley Donovan to wear down Lexington’s three 6’ footers.  The ladies scored most of their points off of fast brakes and free throws the whole night. 

What made all the difference was the Rams tenacious defense.  Coach Constantino can be quoted after the game saying, “This was your best defensive game all season.”  Manise Louinourd, although taken out of her usual down low position,  pitched in a great deal with rebounds and her share of points from the wing.  Tonisha Tate, Meaghan Reddy and Irene Saranteas had their work cut out down low all night, but did a good job taking the three 6’ footers out of their game.  The starters did great but even more can be said about the bench.  Jen Saravia, Christina McKenzie, and Lauren Kolodziej all came in the first half and extended the lead.  The Lady Rams move on to the next semi-final round.                                                             Reported by MR and IS

 This Photo-Story is dedicated to our 4 graduating Senior players - - - Captains Ashley Donovan, Meaghan Reddy, Irene Santareas, and    Manise Louinard

 

Master of Ceremonies and Athletic Director Mr. Ruth

ASHLEY                     MANISE                                    IRENE                            MEAGHAN

 

The Playoff starters

 Jump Ball Starts the Game.

 

 

 

 

 

The Classical Roadies are always present to cheer the team on.

          

 

 

          

               

Lynn Classical Girls Basketball Team Puts on Defensive Clinic
By Matthew Roy / For The Daily Item of Lynn,  Monday, March 6, 2006

LYNN -- Classical has been a run-and-gun team for most of the season, but it was the Rams defense that did the job on Saturday in the Division 1 North quarterfinals as the scoreboard told the story of the Rams effort against Lexington.
A stifling defense held the visitors to 27 points while Manise Louinord's 16 points and 11 rebounds; and Taneka Brown's 13 points led Classical to a 43-67 win and a berth in the North semifinals against surprising Somerville on Wednesday night.
"I thought that was the best defensive game we've had all year," Classical coach Gene Constantino said.
Classical (17-4) used their stellar defense to hang in early, when both offenses were ice cold. In the first six minutes of the game, the teams combined to score a whopping nine points with Classical holding a 5-4 lead.
After an exchange of baskets, Taneka Brown took over for the Rams. The junior guard continuously drove to the basket and was able to slice through the Mustang defense, helping open up a 13-7 lead with 4:50 left in the first half.
The lead was also a product of Classical's full court, man-to-man defense which held Lexington to just six baskets in the first half.
"We asked Ashley (Donovan) and Tanisha (Tate) to play full court man and they did a great job," Constantino said. "We also got a couple of good minutes from the others off the bench."
Lexington worked the lead back to four with 90 seconds left in the half before Donovan hit a clutch three that helped the Rams take an 18-13 lead into the locker room.
Louinord opened the second half by banking home a runner that sparked a much-needed run for Classical. After a free throw, Donovan made a slick no-look pass to Louinord on a fast break for a layup and a 10-point Classical lead.
Lexington, meanwhile, simply couldn't put the ball in the ocean. The Mustangs went nearly seven minutes without a basket in the second half before Jess Igoe finally scored with 10:56 left. By then, Classical had a 26-15 lead and were never in serious danger from then on.
 The Rams lead grew to 15 points on a pair of Brown free throws before Cecily Chisholm and Igoe tried to bring Lexington back. The duo helped cut the lead to 33-23 before Louinord put any hopes of a comeback away when she banged the glass and scored inside with 4:45 remaining.
"We got a great effort underneath from Meaghan Reddy and Manise has been our leading rebounder all year," Constantino said. "We simply did what we had to do."

Go to Page 2                Back to Home Page