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1-24-2008 By ERIC AHLQVIST Editor During the 2002-03 season, head coach Dave Bertram's first, the Cooperstown boys basketball team advanced all the way to the state title game before losing their first game. This season, the Cooperstown girls basketball team improved to 15-0 under first year head coach Mike Niles, after dismantling Rome Catholic, 52-34, on Saturday at Bursey gymnasium. ``Some people have mentioned the similarities, but we're trying not to get ahead of ourselves," Niles said after Saturday's victory. ``I don't think being undefeated has added any pressure to the team. They are a very focused and very mature group." The Lady Redskins wasted no time setting the tone for Saturday's game, as senior center Samantha Fox scored nine of her game-high 23 points in the opening quarter when CCS opened up a 16-5 lead. The lead was still 11 at halftime, and senior forward Jen Wehner dominated the third quarter on both ends of the floor in the third quarter as Cooperstown opened up an 18-point lead. ``Our guards didn't really have to do much today because Jen and Samantha just dominated underneath," Niles said. Wehner finished with 17 points, 15 rebounds and five steals, while Fox had 16 rebounds to go along with her 23 points. Cooperstown also won impressively at Canastota last Thursday, 47-30. CCS beat Canastota by just four points in an earlier meeting in Cooperstown. Senior guard Katie Cring had 14 points and fellow senior guard Jenny Potrikus had 10 assists against Canastota. ``That was a game where we needed to get some outside shooting from our guards, and Katie gave us that," Niles said. Although they are undefeated, Cooperstown still has work to do as they attempt to lock up a division title in the Center State Conference. They have not played second place Sherburne yet, and will play them twice within a week beginning with Monday's game at Sherburne. ``A win at Sherburne would be huge for us," Niles said. ``They aren't a big team, but they have talented guards and they'll press us throughout." Cooperstown hosts Sherburne on Monday, Feb. 4. The Lady Redskins play at Herkimer tonight (Thursday). The Cooperstown boys basketball team failed to build on the momentum of their big road win at Mt. Markham, losing at Waterville Friday night, 62-58. The Redskins play at Canastota Friday night, and assuming they win there will have a huge league game at Sauquoit on Friday, Feb. 1. A loss to Sauquoit would push Cooperstown back into a first place tie with Markham. |
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