Joseph Staszewski

Joseph Staszewski

All stars not aligned at State indoor track meet

March 08, 2010 , ι By JOSEPH STASZEWSKI

The New York state indoor track meet was missing some extra sizzle Saturday. What’s supposed to be a collection of the state’s best athletes was missing some its elite runners.Columbus’ Whitney... Read on

The New York state indoor track meet was missing some extra sizzle Saturday. What’s supposed to be a collection of the state’s best athletes was missing some its elite runners.
	 
Columbus’ Whitney Fountain skipped the PSAL city championships for the second straight year to run in the Gibson relays in Jamaica, and therefore was unable to qualify for the meet. The Clemson-bound senior is the state leader in the 300 meters (38.10) and set the PSAL record and state leading mark in the 55 meter dash with a time of 6.89. Fountain helped lead Team Bickle to a win the 4x400 relay in a time of 3:37.23 on Feb. 28 against elite level competition.
	 
Her top competitor, Cardozo’s Chamique Francis, a junior, was at the state the meet, but only competed in the high jump, finishing 15th. Francis has run the state’s second fastest time in the 300 this season at 38.21 as she helped the Judges win their fourth straight city championship. These two have not been on the track together this season. Image the times they could run if they were pushing each other. Wouldn’t the state championships be a proper venue?
	 
The Francis sisters, Phyllis and Claudia were also missing. Both ran with Team Bickle at the Gibson relays. Phyllis, a senior, for the second straight year and Claudia, a junior, for the just the first time, went to Jamaica. They helped Team Bickle break the meet record while winning the 4 x 800 in a time of 8:41.92 and was also members of the winning 4 x 400 team. Phyllis has never missed a state meet before and is the state leader in the 600 with time of 1:31.10. Claudia, who ran the best time the 1000 last year, could not compete after leaving the Cardozo program because of differences with coach Gail Emmanuel.
	 
While I am not a proponent of missing the state championships, it is still the athlete’s choice. They have the option to to chose what is best for their careers and bodies. Later in their careers the focus can turn to a national championship. The National Scholastic Indoor Championships at the Armory and Nike Nationals in Boston are both from March 12 to March 14. Expect big things from these runners there.
	 
I’ve always felt like missing championship meets isn’t fair to the other athletes who compete in them. It’s kind of like a golfer winning the Master if Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson choose to not compete in order to prepare for the US Open. So is Kyle Plante of Colonie, who Chamique Francis finished second to last season, really the best in the state winning in a time of 38.94. In the 300 is Lakeland’s Brie Roller the best in the 600 with a time of 1:35.75?
	 
We may never know, but they can call themselves state champions.
	 
jstaszewski@nypost.com

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Blanchard hopes to guide athletes down The Road to college

February 11, 2010 , ι JOSEPH STASZEWSKI

Since Liz Blanchard became a guidance counselor at St. John Villa five years ago she has fielded many questions from athletes about looking for scholarships or how to make sure all the details are taken care of when they get them. There were questions about what kind of grades or SAT scores they would need to get into certain schools, ones about the NCAA Clearinghouse and what level of athletics is right for them.
	 
“It kind of got me thinking,” the St. John Villa girls basketball coach. “If people really don’t know, somebody needs to tell them. I feel like there is a place for every kid to play if they really want to.”
	 
Blanchard wants to be that person.
	 
That is why she started her own business last November,
	 The Road to Becoming a College Athlete. Athletes and their families hire Blanchard to consult and help them out with the recruiting process. But the company is still in its infant stages. She started her own website, but the start of her basketball season has hindered her ability to really get things rolling. News of her business has spread through word of mouth and she hopes to have a seminar in March.
	 
“In the last couple of years anytime there has been an athlete, whatever the sport, they send them to me,” Blanchard said of her counseling assignments. “They knew I would know the athletic roads.”
	 
She said athletes have two major misconceptions about the process. The first is the thought that they need to sit and wait to be recruited, that schools will find them instead of the athlete being the one to reach out. The second is the importance of their academic credentials.
	 
“If no one comes knocking on my door, I guess I am not good enough,” Blanchard said of some athletes’ mindset. “You can knock on their door.”
	 
She feels athletes need to be honest with themselves about what level they can play at, Division I, Division II or Division III. You could be a star high school player, but because you aren’t a particular body type or have a particular athletic skill set, they will not be considered by a D-I school.
	 
Grades are just as important as athleticism, especially when applying to Division II and III schools, where Blanchard, who played basketball and soccer at St. Francis College and Concordia, said a student’s academic accomplishments need to be solid to earn academic and athletic money.
	 
“A lot of these kids I see them come in and it’s like, ‘It doesn’t matter I’m an athlete,’” she said. “If you are not that top tier Division I recruit, they are not going to bend over backwards for you.”
	 
Blanchard, though, will help any way she can.
	 
jstaszewski@nypost.com

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Eagles quietly flying under CHSAA radar

January 28, 2010 , ι JOSEPH STASZEWSKI

St. Peter’s. Hey, remember that team?The Eagles are the defending Class AA Archdiocesan champions and a CHSAA state Class AA finalist from a year ago. They are 15-1, their only loss coming to... Read on

St. Peter’s. Hey, remember that team?
	 
The Eagles are the defending Class AA Archdiocesan champions and a CHSAA state Class AA finalist from a year ago. They are 15-1, their only loss coming to Archbishop Wood (Pa.), and easily handled Archbishop Molloy and Francis Lewis recently. Unlike defending state Federation Class AA champion St. Michael Academy, Christ the King and Bishop Ford, there has not been much buzz around St. Peter’s. It has just quietly gone about its business.
	 
“Maybe it is because people think Staten Island is a million miles away," longtime Eagles coach Bob Daggett said. "We are still part of New York City and I think we are one of the best teams in the city. [Ford coach Mike] Toro thinks [his] is one of the best teams in the country from what I read. I’ll be happy to be one of the best teams in the city.”
	 
There isn’t any doubt about that. But a favorite to make their first ever trip to Glens Falls? You bet.
	 
There are two things that make the Eagles special and a star player isn’t one of them. They are the most balanced team in the city and its best day in and day out in their execution.
	 
Sure, they have Colgate-bound forward Catherine Lewis, who can light up any gym when she is on, and Pace-bound forward Victoria Jones. She can be a handful for any front line. Ashley Motrechuk is a versatile and underrated center. Even so, junior guard Christine Kline and sophomore Jamie O’Hare have been the squad’s most consistent players. The two play with sprite-like speed and agility and the toughness of a centaur. They are pesky on defense and have arguably been the best backcourt in the city.
	 
“Chris knows how to set everybody up and where to give them the ball,” Lewis said. “Jamie, she can get to the hoop, shoot from the outside. She gets after it.”
	 
Daggett is one of the best coaches in the five boroughs. He is in the top three in my opinion. His Eagles ran circles around the usually stingy Francis Lewis defense at the John F. Kennedy Challenge last Sunday. They make the extra pass, hit the cutter and keep teams honest from the perimeter.
	 
Daggett stands on the sideline, towel over his shoulder calling out plays like he is Charlie Weis, during the Patriots years: “Hook, 50, Over, High Low, 55 Fake.” Assistant coach and wife Pat Daggett, might as well get him a color-coated laminated card and the players wrist bands for every game. All joking aside, the guy is good and gets the most of out of his team. St. Peter’s has all the pieces to give teams like CK, Ford and St. Mike’s fits.
	 
So why have the Eagles gone a bit unnoticed?
	 
Staten Island is down both in the CHSAA and PSAL. The Eagles have won their league games by an average of 23 points, including a double-digit victory over their closest rival Moore Catholic. Notre Dame Academy, St. John Villa and St. Joseph by the Sea all have losing overall records. St. Joseph Hill is a respectable 9-6.
	 
Their non-league slate, at least against city teams, has not been great. St. Peter’s played Thomas Jefferson, Molloy, and Bishop Loughlin. Molloy is under .500, Loughlin is still searching for its first win and Jefferson is not what it has been. The Eagles do have two solid wins from the Marist HS Christmas tournament and victories over Manhattan Center and Lewis, both good PSAL clubs. South Shore and Kellenberg are on the docket for February. All this while Bishop Ford, CK and St. Mike’s play nationally ranked clubs and CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens is by far the best league in the city right now.
	 
“I guess they get more attention because they get more key games that people want to go see and know who wins,” Kline said.
	 
Added Lewis: “I think it has to do with the league that Christ the King and Bishop Ford play in, but I think we can play with all three of those teams.”
	 
No argument here.
	 
jstaszewski@nypost.com

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Mary Louis vs. Molloy a ticket-only event

January 28, 2010 , ι JOSEPH STASZEWSKI

The Mary Louis Academy’s clash with girls basketball rival Archbishop Molloy on Saturday Jan. 30 in Jamaica Estates will again be a ticket-only event, according to TMLA head coach and athletic director Joe Lewinger.
	 
The enormity of the expected crowd made the school handle the game the same way last season and it ran smoothly. Mary Louis wants to ensure that families of players from both teams can attend the game at Pitaro Gymnasium. The school also used the same policy this year for its home game against Christ the King and it will do the same for a game against Bishop Ford on Feb. 3.
	 
Mary Louis will print and split 150 tickets between itself and Archbishop Molloy. No tickets can be purchased prior to the game or at the door. Any leftover ticket can be acquired through the school’s athletic department.
	 
The Hilltoppers won the first meeting, 52-49, on Jan. 14 in Briarwood behind 12 points and two clutch free throws from Jackie Kresse. TMLA is coming off an upset loss to John F. Kennedy last Sunday. Molloy beat Mary Louis on the road last season and snapped its five-game losing streak by pulling out a win over St. Francis Prep on Tuesday.
	 
jstaszewski@nypost.com

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Robinson clears the air with Hilltoppers

January 23, 2010 , ι JOSEPH STASZEWSKI

There was a hint of a smile on Karin Robinson’s face.The Mary Louis star guard, who rarely cracks a full grin on the court, showed a look of happiness and focus throughout the Hilltoppers' 67-59 win... Read on

There was a hint of a smile on Karin Robinson’s face.
	 
The Mary Louis star guard, who rarely cracks a full grin on the court, showed a look of happiness and focus throughout the Hilltoppers' 67-59 win over Bishop Kearney Friday night. It was a stark contrast to what she looked like sitting on the TMLA bench for most of an overtime loss to Bishop Ford Wednesday.
	 
Robinson said what led to her benching was a misunderstanding. Falcons guard Diani Mason drove in along the right side with Robinson in good position to take a charge. Teammate Christy Calderon, known for her defensive prowess, questioned Robinson not going for the offensive foul.
	 
“Christy told me to take a charge and being that the girl didn’t touch me I was like, ‘I am not falling,’” Robinson said.
	 
She was taken out of the game by Hilltoppers coach Joe Lewinger and was asked what she said to Calderon. Robinson, who missed the season’s first two games because of an academic suspension, said the coach felt like she was disrespecting her teammates with her comment.
	 
“I understand what he is saying because in the moment it’s out of frustration and it just came out,” she said.
	 
Both she and the team have moved past the incident. Robinson, Lewinger and the Hilltoppers had a long talk about everything that went on. He said that what happened is now in the past and over with.
	 
“We had a talk and it's dead now,” Robinson. “It’s two days. It’s done.”
	 
She was back in the starting lineup against the Tigers and scored 16 points despite some foul trouble. Robinson looked like her usual self, attacking the glass and the basket, leading the break and getting in the passing lanes when TMLA needed it the most in the fourth quarter.
	 
“We talked it out and it is time to move on,” Calderon said. “She played her game today.”
	 
jstaszewski@nypost.com

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Christ the King vs. Bishop Ford blog recap

January 15, 2010 , ι By JOSEPH STASZEWSKI

Can't get to the big Christ the King versus Bishop Ford rematch? NYPost.com has you covered.Our first live blog of the season will be from Middle Village, Queens with girls basketball beat writer... Read on

Can't get to the big Christ the King versus Bishop Ford rematch? NYPost.com has you covered.
	 
Our first live blog of the season will be from Middle Village, Queens with girls basketball beat writer Joseph Staszewski starting at 7:15 p.m. He will take you through all the action as Bishop Ford tries to beat the Royals for the second time this season. The Falcons knocked off CK, 73-64, in overtime on Dec. 7 in Brooklyn. It was just Christ the King's second regular-season CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens loss in a decade.
	 
Here is a full preview of the highly anticipated contest:
	 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/high_school/basketball/christ_the_king_vs_bishop_ford_girls_YFe4fAYdkgtLS8dLOcX9bL
	 
9:12 p.m -- Bria Smith scored a game-high 26 points, 14 came from the free throw line. Ariel Edwards had 17 and Nia Oden 13. Vanessa D'Ambrosi led Ford with 13 points, Diani Mason had 10 and Shayra Brown just eight for Ford. Thank you for following.
	 
9:08 p.m. -- Christ the King beats Bishop Ford 65-42 in impressive fashion. The Royals get a big hand from the crowd in Middle Village.
	 
9:07 p.m. --Mike Toro had just picked a technical foul for yelling at the refs. Both coaches have been in their ears all game. It's been phyical. Smith missed both free throws.
	 
9:01 p.m. -- If you are a Ford fan here is a fun stat. CK has only outscored Ford 30-26 since it lead 30-6.
	 
8:58 p.m. --A 3-pointer by D'Ambrosi and a layup from Mason cuts the lead to 55-39 with 3:57 left in the game. The Falcons have never given up in this game.
	 
8:55 p.m. -- Smith knocks down two more free throws and Connell adds one of her own to make it 55-31 CK with 5:17 left in the game.
	 
8:50 p.m. -- Five straight points from Smith off two steals extends CK's leads to 51-31 with 6:56 left in the game. She is showing why is one of the top junior recruits in country tonight.
	 
8:45 p.m. --Ariel Edwards has come alive in the third quarter scoring nine points. A 3-point play from Brown cuts the CK lead to 46-31 after three. The Boston-College bound senior is still trying a bit too hard.
	 
8:40 p.m. --CK leads 44-28 with 57.5 left in the third quarter. Mike Toro's tie is undone
	 
8:35 p.m. -- Things are looking a bit more like the the first meeting. Ford is forcing CK mistakes, but Edwards is starting to score inside. Smith has been all over the floor and Brown is starting to show some confidence. CK leads 41-26 with 3:54 left in the third quarter.
	 
8:30 p.m. -- Mackey calls a time out as Ford cuts the lead to 34-21 early in the third quarter. The Falcons have had the better of play and are playing much harder right now.
	 
8:25 p.m. -- Nia Oden has 13 points and Bria Smith has 12 for CK. That is 25 of the Royals 31 folks. Diani Mason leads Ford with eight points. Shayra Brown was held scoreless.
	 
8:19 p.m. -- Ford ends the first half on an 10-1 run to cut the Christ the King lead to 31-17 at the half. The Falcons are playing a thousand times better than they did in the first quarter. They trialed 30-6 at one point.
	 
8:12 p.m. -- Ford has finally found its barings in this game, but CK still enjoys a comfortable 31-11 lead as Nia Oden makes 1 of 2 free throws with 1:43 left in the first half.
	 
8:05 p.m. -- Ford is starting to get aggressive and CK coach Bob Mackey calls a time with his team up 30-9 with 4:16 left in the first half. South Shore coach Anwar Gladden is now in the stands.
	 
8:01 p.m. -- Mike Toro burned another time out and is complaining about CK's 10-2 foul advantage. CK has stolen the ball five straight times on the press and turned into nine points. Royals lead 30-6 with 5:20 left in the first half.
	 
7:55 p.m. --The Royals are on an 18-0 run and lead 19-4 after the first quarter. The have clogged the lane up on the Falcons, who are struggling from the outside also.
	 
7:52 p.m. -- Brown and Lewis are both on the bench with two fouls for Ford. Bria Smith hit two free throws to give CK a 15-4 lead with 1:11 left in the first quarter.
	 
7:47 p.m. --Brown picks up her second foul. CK leads 10-4 with 3:20 left in the first quarter.
	 
7:46 p.m. --CK has been able to get out in transition and are doing a fine job on the boards during an 8-0 run. Oden has six of those points. Royals leads 9-4 as Ford takes a time out with 3:46 left in the first quarter.
	 
7: 43 p.m. --Ariel Edwards has taken charge No.1 on Shayra Brown. She had seven in a win over TMLA. CK leads 7-4 with 4:35 left first quarter.
	 
7:40 p.m. --Ford leads 4-1 with 6:44 left in the first quarter. Very fast pace again to start.
	 
7:35 p.m. --We are underway in Middle Village.
	 
7:30 p.m. -- Molloy coach Tom Catalanotto is in the house and so is St. John’s Prep star Lashonda Hathorne. National Anthem coming as the crowd files in.
	 
7:29 p.m. -- Starting Lineups
	 
Christ the King 
	 
Ariel Edwards
	 
Bria Smith
	 
Nia Oden
	 
Rayne Connell
	 
Lauren Ness
	 
Bishop Ford
	 
Shayra Brown
	 
Vanessa D’Ambrosi
	 
Brittany Lewis
	 
Anjali Moncrieffe
	 
Diani Mason
	 
7:23 p.m. --St. Mike's and coach Apache Paschall just walked into the gym. They will be back at CK Sunday for the NY Post CHSAA vs. PSAL Invitational.
	 
7:16 p.m. --Bishop Ford holds on for a 74-60 win with the varsity acting as cheerleaders behind its bench.
	 
7:11 p.m. --Getting started a little early. The Christ the King JV team is hanging in with league-leader Bishop Ford. The Royals trail 69-60 with 1:47 left in the game. The CK varsity is making some noise as it comes up from the locker room.
	 
jstaszewski@nypost.com

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Smith getting used to recruiting spotlight

January 11, 2010 , ι JOSEPH STASZEWSKI

Bria Smith admits she still isn’t used to having big-time college coaches coming to watch her play. But the situation is becoming the norm for the 5-foot-9 Christ the King guard. It’s just a given for someone ranked the fifth-best junior in the entire United States, according to scouting services.
	 
“I would think I would be [used to it], but I’m not,” she said.
	 
Smith, 16, didn’t know that Geno Auriemma, the coach of No. 1-ranked Connecticut, was in the stands to see her game Tuesday. She likes it that way and CK coach Bob Mackey said he doesn’t tell players when college coaches will be attending. South Carolina coach Dawn Staley, a legendary former player, has also come to games to watch Smith.
	 
“I think I would be nervous if [I knew],” Smith said.
	 
Nerves or no nerves, her 2010 goal is to juggle trying to lead Christ the King to a record 25th league championship – not to mention an unprecedented 15th New York State Federation title – and being one of the most highly sought-after basketball players in the nation. Smith, a Massapequa native, has already received interest from UConn, Tennessee, South Carolina, Boston College, Virginia, Seton Hall, South Florida and George Washington – a veritable who’s who of women’s college basketball programs.
	 
“I don’t think it’s overtaken her, where it has become a full-time job yet,” Mackey said of the recruiting process. “Hopefully that never happens.”
	 
jstaszewski@nypost.com

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Kearney's Retas returns after run around

January 08, 2010 , ι JOSEPH STASZEWSKI

A day and a half of doctors and confusion ended with Sam Retas back on the court.The Bishop Kearney junior forward twisted her left knee in the third quarter of a 31-point performance in a loss to... Read on

A day and a half of doctors and confusion ended with Sam Retas back on the court.
	 
The Bishop Kearney junior forward twisted her left knee in the third quarter of a 31-point performance in a loss to Archbishop Molloy on Monday night. Retas went for an MRI the next day and was told there was a possibly of slight ACL tear and that she would need to rest for up to a week, with a game against Mary Louis scheduled for Wednesday.
	 
“I was really mad when they said I couldn’t play,” Retas said. “My team needed me.”
	 
Her parents called Tigers coach Rocco Sellitto, a foot and ankle doctor. When he read the MRI he felt there wasn’t anything wrong and told them to get a second opinion.
	 
“To me it looked fine, but we weren’t going to go on my decision,” Sellitto said.
	 
Retas’ uncle is New Jersey Nets radio play-by-play man Chris Carrino. He helped his niece out and got Retas’ father in contact with team trainer Tim Walsh Tuesday night in an attempt to have the organization’s doctor see her Wednesday.
	 
The Nets, though, were boarding a plane to Atlanta. Retas was referred to another doctor, whom she saw at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. The Tigers were scheduled to play the Hilltoppers at 6:15 p.m. in Brooklyn. She was cleared. Retas was told she likely pulled a muscle.
	 
“She texted me, ‘I can play,’” senior Meaghan McGoorty said.
	 
Retas, who is in the midst of a breakout season, was back in the starting lineup, but picked up two quick fouls, something she called horrible, and missed the majority of the first half. She shed her knee brace, which was uncomfortable, and scored 12 of her 14 points after the break in a 67-59 loss. She plans on getting a new one for future games.
	 
Early in the third quarter she was fouled hard by TMLA’s Reana Mohamed and went crumpling to the floor near the entrance to the gym, which was filled with concern. She got back up and scored her team’s next five points.
	 
“I just felt like I had to get back up and keep playing,” Retas said.
	 
She said there was still some pain during and after the game against Mary Louis, but nothing she can’t handle.
	 
“It hurts,” Retas said. “But I can play through it.”
	 
jstaszewski@nypost.com

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Mary Louis vs. Christ the King a ticket-only event

January 07, 2010 , ι JOSEPH STASZEWSKI

The Mary Louis Academy’s clash with girls basketball rival Christ the King Saturday on Jan. 9 in Jamaica Estates will again be a ticket-only event, according to TMLA head coach and athletic director Joe Lewinger.
	 
The enormity of the expected crowd made the school handle the game the same way last season and it ran smoothly. Mary Louis wants to ensure that families of players from both teams can attend the game at Pitaro Gymnasium. The school also used the same policy last year for its home game against Archbishop Molloy.
	 
Mary Louis will print and split 150 tickets between itself and Christ the King. No tickets can be purchased prior to the game or at the door. Any leftover ticket can be acquired through the school’s athletic department.
	 
The Royals (6-3, 3-1 CHSAA B/Q) enter the game fresh off a lopsided victory over St. Francis Prep on Tuesday night in Middle Village. Coach Bob Mackey’s club and stars Bria Smith, who got a visit from UConn coach Geno Auriemma on Tuesday, and Penn State-bound forward Ariel Edwards are playing at a different level, especially on defense, since they returned from the Nike Tournament of Champions in Arizona in late December.
	 
The Hilltoppers (6-2, 3-0) are the only unbeaten team in the league with two wins over Bishop Loughlin and a victory at Bishop Kearney Wednesday. TMLA features star point guard Karin Robinson who was three steals away from a triple double against the Tigers. Mary Louis also recently saw forwards Julia O’Connor and Liz Gully return from injury just in time for Christ the King.
	 
jstaszewski@nypost.com

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2010 Eagles better than '09 Federation champs

January 01, 2010 , ι JOSEPH STASZEWSKI

This year’s version of St. Michael Academy is better than the team that won its first-ever New York State Federation title last season. Scary thought, huh?The Eagles have a lot to live up to, but... Read on

This year’s version of St. Michael Academy is better than the team that won its first-ever New York State Federation title last season.
	 
Scary thought, huh?
	 
The Eagles have a lot to live up to, but there are a few simple reasons why this team is more talented. The majority of last season’s squad returns. Kentucky-bound senior Jen O’Neill is arguably the best guard in the city. Forward Brittany Webb, who is headed to South Carolina, is a year better and junior sharpshooter Allysia Rohlehr returns after a breakout sophomore season. Forwards Tiffany Jones and Taylor Ford are juniors and sophomore point guard Darius Faulk can come in for O’Neill and the Eagles don’t miss a beat. Even 6-foot-6 junior Lisa Blair looks to be in better shape, more polished and much more comfortable on the court.
	 
Now for the biggest reasons St. Mike’s is better.
	 
The Eagles (9-1) lost both guard Janine Davis, now at George Washington, and forward Jelleah Sidney, who is going to Syracuse next year, but gained players back that were supposed to be stars a year ago. Bra’Shey Ali and Brianna Sidney both missed the entire campaign with torn ACLs. The juniors are back this season and Ali is in the starting lineup.
	 
“They are not the same players [as Davis and Jelleah Sidney], they play the game differently, but they bring something to the table,” Eagles coach Apache Paschall said.
	 
Ali is a 5-foot-11 athletic slasher. She can get into the passing lanes, rebound and knock down the midrange jumper. Brianna Sidney can be a game-changer with her jump shot, something that was on display this week in St. Mike’s 58-43 win over Western (R.I.) at the Big Apple Recruiting Christmas Classic at Bishop Ford. She is a streaky but deadly shooter who got the Eagles going with three 3-poiners in the second quarter to start a run that gave them some breathing room before halftime. She finished with 17 points.
	 
“When she was hitting shots, everyone else was hitting shots,” Rohlehr said.
	 
Brianna Sidney admitted to getting tired in the fourth quarter when some of her shots started to go short and she wasn’t getting the same elevation of the ground. She rebounded, though, to knock down two more from behind the arc.
	 
A year ago and again now, the Eagles have depth in the front court, a revolving door of 6-footers. What’s added now with Ali and Brianna Sidney is similar depth in the backcourt and shooters. St. Mike’s is no longer reliant on Rohlehr getting hot and look out if both she and Sidney are going on the same day.
	 
“It gave everyone insight into the rest of the season,” Webb said of the game against Western. “With [Sidney] and Ali back, it’s dangerous. It really is.”
	 
jstaszewski@nypost.com

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About the Author

JOSEPH STASZEWSKI Joseph Staszewski is a graduate of St. Francis Prep, who earned his BS in journalism at St. John’s University. Before recently being hired by the New York Post, he freelanced for the TimesLedger Newspapers and worked at Newsday for more than two years. He was Newsday’s high-school boys’ soccer, indoor track and boys’ lacrosse beat writer. Staszewski has covered high-school and college sports for seven years and was one of the co-founders of FiveBoroSports.com, which covered local sports in New York City extensively on a daily basis. The former varsity basketball player at St. Francis Prep has coached hoops at the CYO, AAU and high-school level.

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