SELDEN – The Eldred vs Smithtown Christian School Class D girls regional finals game was nothing short of a battle. The Yellowjackets entered the game holding a record of 8-9. Their opponent, 10-5. Although there were differences in their overall records, the competition was fierce! The ‘jackets held a seven-point lead after the first eight minutes but would have their work cut out for them in the latter part of the game.

Olivia Gonzalez again proved her leadership skills on the court, going 9 of 20 from the field to end her performance that day with 22 points, and eight boards. Gonzalez went toe-to-toe down in the paint against a tough Nadi Madou of SCS but stayed strong and contributed heavily to her team on offense. Teammates Sydney Furler and Avery Moscatiello kept the ball moving in the backcourt, feeding the wings and making assists. Moscatiello also contributed 8 points on offense.

With the score holding at 30 all, as both teams entered their locker rooms, both the Yellowjackets and SCS needed to come out and prove who was the best team that day in the second half of the contest. The Yellowjackets’ Victoria Ryman was first to break the ice after halftime, taking the ball baseline to draw a foul and complete the three-point play. Ryman finished the night with seven points and 10 rebounds. The Yellowjackets held a 44-40 lead at the start of the final quarter, but after coming up short on a few possessions, they were unable to recover. SCS outscored the ‘jackets 15-5 to seal the championship win 55-49 over Eldred. Head Coach Anthony Margarum took over the position midway through the season and praised his team for their hard work. 

“Taking over the team was an honor. It came with some challenges, but I wouldn’t hesitate to make the same choice again. This was a great group of student-athletes to work with. A group that has no quit and constantly wants to improve,” said Margarum. The Yellowjackets’ seniors have played together since they were young, he went on to say.

“They have a special bond, and they will be missed dearly. We have a bunch of young talent and upcoming potential. The regional game was a crushing loss. The girls fought very hard against a very talented team in Smithtown Christian. They never quit. Unfortunately, the game didn’t go our way in the end. I was proud of the team and the way the girls came to play. We will miss the seniors dearly.”