On Feb. 26, the Bronxville girls basketball team’s playoff push came to an end, as the Broncos fell 45-39 to Putnam Valley in the Class B quarterfinals. Despite the loss, however, Bronxville head coach Donald Lucas was pleased with his team’s effort and felt that his players acquitted themselves admirably against the sharp-shooting Tigers.
The No. 4 Broncos trailed 18-16 heading into halftime, but the No. 5 Tigers were able to turn up the pressure in the third quarter and find their range from beyond the arc. After failing to sink a three-point shot in the first half, the Tigers knocked down four to start the second half, helping the visitors to add to their lead.
Coming into Saturday’s showdown, Lucas said that Bronxville had identified Putnam Valley’s ability to convert on long range shots as a possible factor in the outcome of game.
“We knew that Putnam Valley was a good team, and they’re well coach,” said Lucas. “We knew we were going to live and die by them hitting threes or not hitting them.”
Eva DeChent led the Tigers with 19 points on the day, while Bronxville enjoyed a more balanced offensive show. Kiki Tormey led the Broncos with 10 points, while three other players—Ashley Wetty, Eliza Ramundo and Catherine Berkery—finished with eight apiece.
Although the Broncos were able to battle back, cutting Putnam Valley’s lead to one point in the fourth quarter, the Tigers’ ability at the line—they hit nine foul shots in the final eight minutes—was enough to send the visitors on to the quarterfinals.
“I was incredibly proud of the way the girls play incredibly hard today at home, the ball just didn’t go in for us on a couple of occasions,” Lucas said. “We’ve been a different team at home and the girls showed a lot of fight today, they refused to give in and that speaks to the leadership of our seniors and the job they’ve done.”
Tormey, Ramundo and Wetty represent that senior class which Lucas said has been instrumental in the Broncos’ success this year, and he was effusive in his praise for a group that had played its last game for the Broncos.
“Ashley, Eliza and Kiki really battled and the rest of the team followed,” said Lucas. “We were 14-8 and I think that’s something to be very proud of. We played a very difficult schedule and the one thing I’m especially proud of is that these girls showed fight every single game.”
With the win, Putnam Valley moves on to the Class B semifinals, where they will take top-seeded Hastings on March 3. Hastings advanced to the final four with a 82-52 romp over Hastings on Saturday.
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