Casciano helps Myer oust Patriots

A.N. Myer’s Carly Casciano is a coach’s dream.

“You ask her to go do something, she is going to do it. She has a nose for the ball and she gets in there and gets offensive rebounds and defensive rebounds,” senior girls basketball coach Kate Harpur said. “She can shoot the ball, she can attack and she does everything. She is that pitbull out there.”

Those traits were on full display Wednesday night as the Grade 12 student scored 10 points and played tough at both ends of the floor in a 41-20 Myer win over the Saint Paul Patriots in championship quarter-final action at Governor Simcoe in the Third Annual BPSN Girls Basketball Tournament.

The 5-foot-3 guard is proud to be called a pit bull.

“I am always aggressive when it’s a tight game and I help bring the energy. I tell my teammates ‘We have to be fierce and we have to give it our all.’ ”

Her fierceness comes from her siblings.

“Growing up, I had two older brothers who always fought with me so I always had to be tough.”

One brother, Michael, played basketball for Myer and the other brother, Jake, played at Saint Paul.

Casciano is also a leader on the Marauders.

“Being a Grade 12 and there’s not many Grade 12s on the team, the coaches come to us a lot to bring encouragement and provide examples to the Grade 9s. A lot of the Grade 12s are experienced in basketball and we have to lead them.”

She is comfortable in that role.

“I have taken leadership courses in school and I have always been outgoing with people. I’m social so it’s easy for me.”

Casciano sees a lot of potential in her team.

“I am really excited for this year because there is a lot of talent. All of the girls bring a different ability to the team. A lot of them are shooters or strong defensively or they know just how to be on the floor. All that coming together makes a really good team. We all get along and we communicate.”

It took awhile for Myer to get rolling in the game. The Marauders led 6-3 after one quarter and then started to pull away midway through the second quarter

“It was a good game to start and we started out slow. Our shooting percentage wasn’t that great and we had some open looks but they just didn’t fall,” Harpur said. “They did a good job of blocking down some people and we just had to figure it out in the second half.”

Although it is early in the season, she likes how her team is trending.

“We have some things that we have to work on. We have built some bad habits and we have to get out of those. They have to keep digging in and making sure they are doing what we ask.”

Harpur is uncertain what the potential of her team is this season.

“We think the world of them but it depends on what they do on the floor. We are trying to execute things and we will see where it goes.”

Saint Paul dressed only seven players for the game but that was nothing unusual for the Patriots.

“Coming into the season, we are short-staffed. We only have nine eligible players for this team but we have six or seven who are really dedicated and committed,” coach Kathy Carter said. “We just have to work on our fitness, trusting each other and letting the ball do the work. I think we are getting a little anxious and ahead of ourselves and not moving the ball and Myer obviously put a lot of pressure on us.”

Saint Paul is off to a excellent start in Niagara Catholic Athletic Association play with a 2-0 record.

“We can’t complain about that. Sam (Dino) is obviously a big part of that and Michaela Carbonara and Sophia Sacco stepped up outside the perimeter and they are shooting really well,” she said.

Carter also had praise for Meredith Marrie.

“She is obviously a force in the middle defensively and she shuts down the big girl every time.”

STATS PACK

Marauders 41 Patriots 20

Cat’s Caboose Player of the Game: Myer’s Carly Casciano with 10 points and a strong defensive game.

For the A.N. Myer Marauders: Maia Walker 12; Casciano 10; Jenna Saddler 5; Mya Pierini 4; Emma Vendittelli 4; Ava Walker 3; Elizabeth Cook 2; Sophia Kotsanis 1.

For the Saint Paul Patriots: Michaela Carbonara 10; Sam Dino 6; Meredith Marrie 2; Sophia Sacco 2.

REDS 43 COUGARS 38

The Denis Morris Reds rallied from a 24-16 halftime deficit to record a 43-38 victory over the Centennial Cougars in BPSN Girls Basketball Tournament consolation quarter-final action Wednesday at Governor Simcoe.

The Reds outscored Centennial 27-14 in the second half.

Scoring for the Reds were Sophia Sestilli 21; Aeryonah St. Amanda Thomas 11; Jenna Berry 5; Tessa Pingue 4; and, Nevaeh Jones 3.

Replying for Centennial were: Lyla Rodrigue 15; Easton Fournier 13; Caitlyn Wade 8; and, Danica Colquhoun 2.