MCSM’s Lady Rams basketball team accomplished the near-impossible on February 18 when they visited the Murry Bergtraum gym. The MCSM Girls Basketball had already lost to Bergtraum at home, back on January 7, by a score of 66 - 59. By the time their February 18 rematch had rolled around, Bertraum was on a 73-game win streak, not having lost since the 2006 NY State Class AA finals game against Christ the King. Even more intimidating for the Lady Rams, the Bergtraum basketball machine had not lost a game at home, in their own gym, since 1999. Ten consecutive years without a single home loss!
As they say, all things must come to an end. On February 18, one of those things was both Bergtraum win streaks. Led by Aziza Patterson’s 22 points, China Crosby’s 15 (on a tender ankle, badly sprained two weeks earlier against Midwood), and Nijah Lacourt’s 10, MCSM’s female David’s knocked down Bergtraum basketball Goliaths by a final score of 61 – 54.
Congratulations to the Lady Rams for making some NYC basketball history and making MCSM proud of your dedication and effort! Below is the game story as reported on ESPN.com. Click on the article title below to be directed to the online story.
Big win boosts Manhattan Center's stock
By Mindi Rice and Glenn Nelson
ESPN HoopGurlz
Coaches and players have said it before this season -- Murry Bergtraum (Manhattan) is beatable. Virginia-bound China Crosby and her Manhattan Center teammates knew it earlier this year, but weren't able to do it at home in January.
The odds certainly weren't in Manhattan Center's favor Wednesday, as the Blazers, sporting a 73-game win streak and a spotless home record since 1999, played host to their New York City public school league rivals. Add in the uncertainty of star point guard Crosby, who had injured her ankle four days prior, and it would have been hard to blame the Rams if they were overcome by nerves.
After gearing her teammates up to play with or without her come Bergtraum, Crosby readied herself on game day and came prepared to play. Once on the court, with a confident, calm Crosby running the point, the Rams upended Bergtraum, 61-54.
Manhattan Center became the first team to beat then-No. 5 Murry Bergtraum at home since 1999, when A.P. Randolph beat the Blazers. Bergtraum's last loss before the 73-game streak was to Christ the King in the 2006 state Federation Class 'AA' title game.
"We really made history," Crosby said by phone Monday. "It felt good, but it really didn't sink in as much as it did for some of the other girls. If we win it all, maybe then."
The win, Crosby's first against Bergtraum in her career, was a huge boost into the postseason for Manhattan Center, which, four days earlier, didn't know when, or if, Crosby would be able to return to the court. In Feb. 7's loss to Midwood, Crosby turned her right ankle and went down in agony in the final minutes.
"I knew it was bad," Crosby said. "I heard something crack. … But I did some physical therapy and constantly iced it, then the day of the Bergtraum game, I strapped up and started to play."
Not certain if her ankle would hold her for an entire game, and knowing Bergtraum would key in on herself and junior Aziza Patterson, Crosby and her teammates talked about sharing the ball. She made sure the other guards knew there were going to get looks -- and to take them.
Patterson led the way with 22 points, but fouled out in the final three minutes and was left to watch from the bench. Crosby added 15, while junior forward Nijah Lacourt added 10 for the Rams.
In early January, Center seemed poised to snap the Blazers' streak at 64, with a home-court advantage and no fear or intimidation from Bergtraum's history of 10 consecutive public school titles or nearly three-year winning streak. A late 15-4 run by the Blazers kept the streak alive, but the Rams were paying attention for February's rematch.
"We know Bergtraum is a fast-break, running team," Crosby said. "So we didn't pressure. If we missed a shot, we got back on defense immediately."
That took away some of Bergtraum's break-neck pace and let the Rams control, at least partially, the game's tempo. A four-point halftime lead swelled to 13 for a stretch during the second half before the final seven-point margin.
Bergtraum has plenty of time to bounce back from its first loss since 2006. The Blazers' next game is March 3 in the second round of the public school Class AA playoffs. Crosby also has plenty of time to rest her ankle, as Manhattan Center next plays the same day.
No comments:
Post a Comment