Women’s basketball team bounces off the walls with success

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By: Omsalama Ayoub

Staff Writer

The buzzer rang through the walls of the gymnasium which solidified the 87-77 win for Hudson Valley Community College’s Women’s Basketball team.

The bleachers bustled with parents, friends and students showing both Orange County Community College and Viking love on Thursday, Nov. 29.  

“[The goal was to] play cleaner basketball [because playing more composed gives you an advantage]. For us it all starts on defense. We have to stack them [stops] up on top of each other. So stop, after stop, after stop. Whether or not we convert on offense does not really bother me I know the points will come back,” said Coach Robert Coleman.

As Coach Robert Coleman said, things did get a little “chippy.” Players scattered like dominoes and many Hudson Valley players fouled out throughout the game. The gameplay was filled with jagged edges, yet skillful, gravity-defying moments.

Taylor Engster of Troy/Catholic Central made multiple layups throughout the game.

“Engster did phenomenal,” Hayley Jones Catskill/Catskill said. “She moved around and worked with the ball.”

By halftime, the score was 49 Viking-39 Orange.  

“I think Hudson Valley did very good they ran the ball up and down the court,” Coach John Laurel of Orange County Community College said at half time. “We need to do a better job of getting back on defense,” he said. “Hopefully we will do a better job in the second half.”

“We are always excited to play and to just go out there and get that ‘W’,” Jones said. “We keep that energy for most of the game, [although] we should keep it for all of the game.”

Mindset is very important towards achieving the team’s goals. The energy coming from the bench was like a lifeline, with chants and stomps helping their teammates push through.

“Sometimes we get into our heads and [as a result] we do not play to our best potential and if we do not do that we will never have any downs during the game,” Jones said.

“The girls worked good together, they moved the ball, and took the open shots when they had it,” Kacey Keifer, a psychology student said. “The crowd seemed [especially supportive], they are a good team.”

“[The other team] kept up with our pace we played fast and they played just as fast and they hit some huge shots,” At the end of the game, Coach Coleman stated. “We know that we can not stop everything so we give up certain shots the way we play and those shots that we gave up they hit those shots that’s not something we see a lot that was a very good team.”

“If you’re going to ask me what the bad part of this game it’s that we committed too many fouls,” Coach Coleman said. “We got more [points] and that’s what it really came down to.”

The win ended the semester strong and there is much to expect next season.