The first snowstorm of the season postponed the opening of the 2009 – 2010 girls basketball season but it did little to curb the excitement for two teams heading in new directions.
On Thursday in Derby the Red Raiders began its initial journey through the NVL while the Wildcats of Seymour embarked on a turn around under new coach Brian Cleveland.
Derby outlasted Seymour in a real seat grabber as the Red Raiders pulled off a 36 – 35 win in overtime. Senior co-captain Mary Hyde paced Derby throwing in 30 points with 10 rebounds and 10 steals to complete the triple-double.
Seymour countered with sophomore Christian Cretella with 21 points, 10 rebounds and got a lot of help from Mary-Kate Durette with 7 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks.
“We only have two players with varsity experience,” said Derby head coach Dave Chevarella.
“It’s a new league and we still have some things to work out but we are going to take it one game at a time.”
“We certainly need to develop some help for Mary as it can’t all fall on her shoulders.”
Seymour came in looking to turn around a 2 – 18 season the year before and the new coach was pleased with the effort yet disappointed in the outcome.
“I wish we could have pulled this one out because the girls worked so hard in the preseason looking to make a name for themselves,” said Cleveland.
“We have a lot of senior experience but we are also using some younger players who are really stepping up.”
“But we made a few mistakes down the stretch and it was the difference in the game.”
Seymour scored the first basket of the game and the last basket of the half for the only leads they held in the first half with Cretella providing the difference both times as the Cats took a 16 – 15 advantage into the locker room at the break.
Derby had forged a five point lead twice in the first half only to have the pressure defense of Seymour take its toll in the way of turnovers.
The Red Raiders had nine turnovers at the break and needed to do a better job holding on to the ball in traffic. Bodies were falling to the floor diving for every loose ball and rebound.
Heather Smith and Molly Kane turned in tremendous efforts for the Red Raiders at both ends of the court. That all out hustle fueled a run in the third period that put Derby back in control.
Hyde scored on three straight possessions and Smith scored off an inbound pass from Taylor McMahon to open up the largest lead of the game at 25 – 18 with 3:06 left in the third period.
Cretella responded hitting both ends of a one and one at the line and Amber Martinez 7 points took it down the lane and the Cats were right back in it trailing 25 – 22 heading to the final period.
Durette scored five of her seven points in the fourth period all at the foul line and her pair at the charity stripe tied the game at 31 – 31 with :37 seconds left.
Derby tried to run down the clock but couldn’t get a shot off before the buzzer as the teams headed to an overtime session.
Durette put Seymour out in front with an underhanded scoop shot in the lane before Hyde took over the game. The Derby senior captain scored the next five points of the game as the Red Raiders were on top 36 – 33 with :15 seconds to go.
Cretella threw down a desperation shot to close the gap at 36 – 35 but there were just two seconds left and the Red Raiders hung on for the victory.
