LADY REDSKINS ROMP-IMPROVE TO 2-0
Oriskany’s Christina Graziadei (11) gets pressured down low by Westmo’s MacKenzie Lane (25)
Jeff Pexton/MHTS/PGI Photo
12/12
The defending Section III Champion Oriskany Lady Redskins basketball team seems to have picked up this season, right where they left off last season, playing disciplined, unselfish basketball, and winning.
Oriskany improved to (2-0) on the young season tonight, cruising to a 58-13 home win over rival Westmoreland, which dropped to (0-4).
The kids clad in white got off to a quick start in the first quarter as sophomore guard Madison Zizzi and seasoned senior center Christina Graziadei scored 6 points a piece in the first eight minutes to lead the home club to a commanding 19-0 advantage after the first period.
Oriskany’s Madison Zizzi (3) looks up the court after hauling in a first quarter rebound.
The Lady Redskins built a 23-0 lead part way through the second quarter before Westmoreland freshman guard Morgan Barber’s put back broke the ice for the kids from the other end of Cider Street.
Westmoreland, playing with just one senior, Kendra McGregor, on its roster this season, managed just one more basket in the second quarter and the Oriskany passing and shooting machine built a 35-4 lead after two quarters of play.
Madison Zizzi’s back to back steals at midcourt followed by consecutive layups sparked the 16 point barrage by the Lady Redskins before the intermission. Zizzi ended up with five swipes on the night and three break away buckets after the steals.
Prior to tonight’s matchup, Oriskany eighth year Head Coach Angela Meiss told MHTS – ESPN Radio 99.1 FM that her team’s objective tonight and pretty much every night is to play a brand of basketball based upon sharing the ball.
Share the ball they did this evening, as nine different players chipped in points for the Lady Redskins in tonight’s early season Center State Conference IV matchup.
Coach Meiss told MHTS – ESPN at the half that while she was pleased with her team’s effort and intensity in the first half, her message at the half would be to remind her team that there was an entire half of basketball remaining,and the level of intensity and discipline could not be dropped at all.
She also said with five seniors departing after this season, it would be great to get some of her reserves into the game early in the second half.
Westmoreland’s Morgan Barber (5) heads for the hoop and a second quarter basket, with Oriskany’s Shannon VanShufflin (24) being careful not to foul.
Oriskany opened up a 44-6 lead with 6:14 to go in the third quarter, giving Coach Meiss an opportunity to get her entire group of reserves into the ball game for some key early season minutes.
After 24 minutes of action, Oriskany maintained a 50-9 advantage.
Kudos to Westmo head coach Darlene Kemp for her use of timeouts throughout tonight’s game for the purposes of teaching her very young squad, which includes four freshman and two sophomores.
Credit the kids in green, as well, for playing all the way to every whistle and never giving up on themselves or each other, despite the score.
Oriskany tacked on 8 more points in the 4th quarter, while Westmo added 4 and Oriskany took this one by a score of 58-13.
Madison Zizzi earned Monster Energy Drink Player of the Game honors with 12 points and 5 steals.
After the game a smiling and very courteous Zizzi told MHTS-ESPN Radio 99.1 FM that she was very proud of her team’s effort tonight and so far this season.
She added that putting on the varsity uniform in Oriskany means that each player has a lot to live up to because of the school’s rich tradition.
Westmoreland’s Kendra McGregor scored 10 points in the loss to lead the Dogs offense..
Christina Graziadei knocked down 15 points for Oriskany as well and was a force off the boards grabbing eight rebounds.
Shannon “ The Shot” VanShufflin, a key returning vet, chipped in 6 points and dished out 5 assists for the winners.
Hannah Hoehn had a solid night for the Lady Redskins scoring 7 points.
Oriskany returns to action Friday evening for another CSC matchup at Madison Central.
Westmoreland will look to notch their first win of the 2012-13 campaign when they travel to Waterville on 12/17.
Monster Energy Drink Player Of The Game- Madison Zizzi (3) Oriskany Redskins.
Oriskany 58 Westmoreland 13
1 2 3 4 Total
Westmoreland 0 4 5 4 13
Oriskany 19 16 15 8 58
MHTS Scoring Summary:
Oriskany:
Christina Graziadei 15
Hannah Hoehn 7
Madison Zizzi 12
Shannon VanShufflin 6
Lexi Drake 6
Brandi Zizzi 4
Caitlyn Carlo 4
Jordan Sahl 2
Meriah Kotary 2
Redskins senior Brandi Zizzi (20) eyes the prize late in the first half.
Westmoreland:
Kendra McGregor 10
Marina DeAngelo 2
Jessica Vellone 1
