Marauders take consolation crown
What Vanessa D’Abramo lacks in size, she more than makes us for in hustle and heart.
The 15-year-old, Grade 10 student is listed at 5-foot-2 — even that seems a stretch — but is still able to contribute as a point guard for the A.N. Myer Marauders.
D’Abramo scored four points while running the offence as the Marauders topped the Centennial Cougars 37-30 to capture the consolation title Friday at The First BPSN Girls Basketball Tournament.
“I’m shorter and everybody is taller than me so I just try and get through and defend hard,” she said. “It (lack of height) doesn’t stop me even though they’re taller than me.
“I just keep on going as though I’m the same height.”
Myer coach Paul Grummett loves what D’Abramo brings to the court.
“Grit and determination, heart and hustle,” Grummett said when describing D’Abramo. “She’s a little firecracker.
“She’s our future and we rely heavily on her.”
The Marauders managed to find a way to win despite having on off night in many facets of their game.
“Winning ugly,” Grummett smiled.
Nevertheless, a win is a win.
“It’s always good,” he said. “It’s a positive and helps us as a team we can achieve this as a team as a goal.
“It’s steps moving forward as the season progresses. We’re a work in progress and we keep telling that to the girls. We’re trying to build. It’s not about now, it’s about two or three years from now, That’s where I want to peak at this level.”
D’Abramo agreed.
“It’s nice to win. Even though we didn’t get first I think us playing together is a good win and playing our hardest is a good thing for Myer,” she said.
D’Abramo said the game plan versus Centennial was simple.
“We played them last week and we knew how to play as a team. We wanted to get our shots in and think positive. We tend to get mad at each other at times so we just wanted to think positive,” she said.
The Marauders led 9-7 after one quarter, 15-13 at halftime and 26-21 after three quarters.
“We started off slow and we wanted to pick it up and work as a team. We just wanted to keep on defending and keeping pushing it forward and slowing it down,” D’Abramo said.
STATS PACK
Marauders 37 Cougars 30
Mick and Angelo’s/Johnny Rocco’s/Cracker Jacks Players of the Game: Vanessa D’Abramo of Myer with four points while running the offence, and Centennial’s Emily Campbell wth 14 points.
A.N. Myer Marauders: D’Abramo 4; Molly Taylor 12; Vienna Verseci 10; Tori Wiggins 5; Sam Bergman 4; Mariel Zapata 2.
For the Centennial Cougars: Emily Campbell 13; Jessica Acaster 5; Abby Bullet 4; Jayda Rodrigue 5; Eden Vince 3.
The First BPSN Girls Basketball Tournament has been made possible thanks to the generous support of: Tora Inc: Niagara Rangers; No Limit Performance: St. Catharines Rebels in recognition of all their volunteers who make the organization a success; Niagara Falls Red Raiders; Alltech Automotive; Niagara District Referees Association; Brock University women’s basketball program; Pelham Panthers; Alison’s Sports Awards and Promotions; and, the Niagara College women’s basketball program.
