The North Star Wolves senior girls basketball team are now 3-3 on the season after a pair of losses last week.
The Wolves were competitive in both games but fell 36-33 to the Assumption Purple Raiders last Tuesday in Windsor and 35-27 to the Kennedy Clippers last Thursday in Amherstburg. The most recent game saw the Wolves come from behind, take the lead, only to see Kennedy pull ahead once more and seize the victory.
Kennedy had a 13-4 lead after the first quarter but momentum shifted to North Star in the second. The Wolves blanked the visitors 11-0 in the second quarter to gain a 15-13 halftime advantage.
The teams went back-and-forth on the scoreboard in the third quarter and the game was tied 22-22 after that. In the fourth, Kennedy took over and pulled away for the victory.
North Star coach Dom Silvaggio said it was a good game for the Wolves at both ends of the floor. He was happy with how they played and they are improving defensively.
“What you are looking for is improvement,” he said.
Frank Palumbo, who also coaches the senior girls this year, added they came out with intensity. The Wolves had to contend with Kennedy’s Malak Tiea, who is 6’5” tall, but both Palumbo and Silvaggio praised the work of Emily McGuire for boxing her out and going up against her.
“Emily did a good job,” said Palumbo.
Tiea scored a game high 18 points but North Star’s June Buchner had a good game as well, scoring 16 points.
The Wolves battled hard against Assumption, with Silvaggio noting the Purple Raiders were undefeated. North Star lost by three but it was a winnable game for the Wolves, the coaches believed.
“It seemed everything went against us,” said Silvaggio.
“Nothing was going in for us,” added Palumbo after last Thursday’s game.
Buchner said they worked hard against Kennedy, but needed a quarter to get themselves into the game. Once the Wolves started playing better, they were more aggressive.
“The score ended up showing it,” she said.
Buchner said they have talent and need to put it together for the whole 32-minute game.
“We have the pieces,” she said. “Once we put that together, we’ll be good.”
The players are confident with the basketball and put in a solid effort every game.
“Everyone puts in 100 per cent effort no matter who is on the court,” she said.
The Wolves don’t play again until Leamington comes to town Oct. 22 for a 5 p.m. game. They wrap up the regular season with two road games as they play at Catholic Central Oct. 24 at 5:30 p.m. and at Massey Oct. 29 at 4 p.m.
Wolves drop a pair of games in WECSSAA senior girls basketball action
By Ron Giofu