Girls Varsity Basketball Team Loses 44-45 in Section Quarterfinal

(Updated Sunday February 21) Before Wednesday February 10, the Raiders Girls Varsity Basketball team hadn't won a league title since 1995. All of that changed when they defeated Mamaroneck 55-28, becoming co-league champions with Ursuline. The pivotal moment to this title was February 2nd, when the Raiders defeated Ursuline at Ursuline 69-49. Scarsdale had fallen to Ursuline earlier in the season at home, and winning this second game helped catapult Scarsdale to a share of the league title. In the regular season, the Raiders went 15-5, making them the No. 3 seed going into the playoffs. The team is coached by Mike Blanco, along with assistant Coaches John Schwartz and Genette Zonghetti.

Graduating seniors, Rachel Cohen, Lindsay Kramer, Alexis Kline, Kayle Waterhouse, and Ally Dweck, have helped to carry the team towards their goal of making it back to the County Center. Last year, the Raiders made it to the semifinals of the section at the County Center, but ended up losing to Lourdes. This year, the team is working hard to get another opportunity to play for a section title.

Each member is critical to the success of the team. Rachel Cohen is a leading scorer and rebounder. When the Raiders lost to Ursuline earlier in the season, Cohen was injured and could not play. After their latest victory, where Rachel scored 22 points, it is evident that she makes a major difference on the floor. Lindsay Kramer, a guard, is a powerhouse for the team. Her speed, agility and ball handling skills help her dominate on the floor, making her a leading scorer as well. Alexis Kline, also a guard, is a major playmaker for the team. Her extraordinary game sense makes her a key to the Raiders' success. Kayle Waterhouse, a center, is also a leading scorer for the team. During the season, she scored 30 of the raiders 60 points in their victory against White Plains. She is aggressive and rebounds against many formidable opponents. Junior Emma Coleman is the only non-senior starter for the Raiders. She is valuable because of her defensive skills, and she is often the player to guard the leading scorer on the opposite team. Senior Ally Dweck also rotates in regularly, coming in clutch during intense game situations.

Other players on the team include juniors Jordie Cohen, and Ashley Barletta, who is currently injured. Sophomores Samantha Mancini, Lily Steckel, and Audrey Shaev, and Freshman Emmeline Berridge complete the team's roster.

The Raiders won their playoff game on Wednesday February 17 against Ketcham, putting them into the Section 1 Quarterfinals on Saturday February 20. There they met John-Jay East Fishkill who had defeated Suffern to get to the Section 1 Quarterfinals.

In an an aggressive game, the Raiders lost by just one point to John Jay East Fishkill 44-45. Although this was not the best way to end an exciting season with a talented group of seniors, the team had their best season in twenty years and the legacy these players left has set the foundation for a strong girls basketball program in the future.