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The Clarence Sun / Saturday, February 14, 2015
O’Hara gets by Sacred Heart in key MMAA tilt
By Melissa Brawdy SUN SPORTS REPORTER
Sacred Heart basketball went into Monday's (Feb 9) game against Cardinal O'Hara aware of the challenge it faced. Both teams were undefeated up until Monday, with Cardinal O'Hara ranked No. 1 in the league and Sacred Heart ranked No. 2. The Sharks played hard and led by a point at halftime but ultimately fell by a score of 68-55. At halftime, Sacred Heart led 27-26 and increased its lead to 33-30 in the third quarter. But it was then that the pressure that Cardinal O'Hara had been applying all game seemed to finally wear the Sharks down. "I think we were hurt by their press, and we panicked," Sacred Heart coach Sister Maria Pares said. "And I think when you get to that, you can't do that." It was in the fourth quarter that the pressure really seemed to get to the Sharks. They fortunate enough to get 12 free throw chances, but they only made half of them. However, Sacred Heart scored a total of 17 points in the fourth quarter, which outscored Cardinal O'Hara by one. It was the Hawks'
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As of press time, Sacred Heart was 9-1 in league play and 17-3 overall. 26-point third quarter that the Sharks couldn't make up for at the end. Still, a few Sacred Heart players had major contributions both offensively and defensively. Sarah Young continued her successful season with 23 points and 10 rebounds. It was Young's 16th doubledouble game of the season. Kathleen Ryan had 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Maria Gabriele had five assists and five rebounds. Julia Blujus had four assists and three rebounds. Micaela Ryan came off the bench to score four points in the Sharks' fourth-quarter effort, including making both free throws she took. Blujus and Micaela Ryan each had two steals as well. Sister Pares wants to see her team stick to its game
plan better, regardless of pressure from an opponent. When the Sharks panicked, as Sister Pares said, they fell away from their game plan. "They didn't run what they should have, and that's what happens," she said. Sacred Heart's next game is Wednesday (Feb 18) against Mt. St. Mary. In their previous match up on Feb 5, the Sharks de-
feated the Lancers 62-47. It was one of the Sharks' higher scoring games of the season, and they'll look to do the same on Wednesday. As for Monday's game, Sister Pares hopes that her team learned from the loss and will carry what they learned into future contests. "It'll bode well for the future," she said.
Sacred Heart fell to 9-1 in league play with its first league loss and 17-3 overall. A loss to the No. 1 team in the league shouldn't be something to be too concerned about. It is just what Sister Pares said, a learning experience. The girls can take what they learned in their first league loss, grow stronger, and move forward.
Clarence hockey honors its seniors By Melissa Brawdy SUN SPORTS REPORTER
As hockey season comes to a close, reality is just starting to set in for the seniors on Clarence's varsity team. For CJ Carle, Andrew Kempton, Andrew Danzer, Sam Gugino, Eric Grupp, and Josh Slowinski, they have a lot of memories to look back on but different futures to look forward too. Kempton, Carle, and Grupp have played together since elementary school when they were teammates on the Clarence Mustangs. Kempton spoke of how much fun he's had over the years playing as much hockey as he could with
some of his closest friends. "Eric Grupp I've played with a lot, CJ Carle, we played for the Clarence Mustangs for I think our entire youth career," Kempton said. "I've grown up playing with those guys, playing pond hockey, street hockey, so I've had a lot of fun playing with those guys." The rest of the seniors have been together at least since JV, and they all have good memories mixed with the sadness of the end of their playing days together. "Looking back on it, it was fun," Carle said. "It's kind of a surreal feeling, and it's kind of sad to see it all coming to the end of the season," Danzer said. "But I'm having a lot of fun and I'm making ev-
ery moment last." Kempton is glad to be ending his hockey career with a team like Clarence. "The guys are great, coaches are awesome," he said. "There's not much else that that I would like to be doing my senior year but playing hockey. And I'm glad that I'm going to be leaving hockey playing for this team. We're a big group that likes to play hockey and have fun." Although goalie Sam Gugino is hoping to play some hockey at either University at Buffalo or Buffalo State College, it will still feel different to not be playing with his Clarence teammates anymore. "It's weird to think about it," Gugino said. "I haven't thought about it too much
because it's sad, but you know, you move on, meet new people." Josh Slowinski is the team's captain, and he thinks back to when he made the team as a sophomore and wasn't sure what would happen from there. Now he's finding it hard to believe that his hockey career is coming to an end. "It really hasn't hit me completely yet," Slowinski said. "I still remember sophomore year just being nervous to show up to practice with the guys that seemed like a level I'd never reach. But it's been fun, and I've enjoyed every second of it, and this year beyond a senior, being a leader, being accountable for most things, it's been a transition, but I've enjoyed
the challenge. I've just enjoyed the time with this group of guys, so I'm looking forward to making the most of the last of it, and I'm thankful for it." Grupp has also been on the team since his sophomore year, and he spoke of the changes he's seen through his career at Clarence. "It's been quite the journey," Grupp said. "Lot of ups and downs, coming from like a superstar team when I was a sophomore and winning almost every game to last year losing almost every game and this year, it's been a different year compared to the last two years. I've seen a lot of improvement compared to last year; it's a little bit steadier."
And in his last season, Grupp is giving hockey his all, knowing that it will be over soon as he focuses on engineering in college. "I think really I just need to give it more than I ever have in the past two years, knowing that this could be it," he said. For Grupp, working with coach Richard Brooks has been his favorite part of playing for Clarence. "I would have to say Brooksy," Grupp said with a smile. "He's a character. He's taught me a lot too." All six seniors will remember their time at Clarence fondly. Andrew Danzer put it best. "It's pretty cool, just getting to see us all grow up together and learn to love the game," he said.
Clarence High School bowling relaxed heading into ECIC bowling roll offs By Melissa Brawdy SUN SPORTS REPORTER
As the ECIC bowling roll offs were set to begin on Tuesday (Feb 10), there was a relaxed atmosphere in the building. For the boys of the Clarence team, it was a chance to show off individual skills while knowing that they had won their section and had a season to be proud of. There was also, of course, the knowledge that Friday would be a big day as the team looked forward to sectionals and the possibility that a few of them
might be able to go to states. For senior captain Tanner Geiger, he has a good year to look back on. "Our season went well," Geiger said. "We had our ups and downs, but together the team worked out well." On Tuesday, Geiger's focus was to have fun while looking ahead to Friday. "Today we're just here to have fun, last week of the season," Geiger said. "I'm not expecting a lot, but if I do good, great. And then the big thing is on
Friday. Some of us have the chance to go to states, so we'll just have to work well Friday." Clarence lost its first match of the season to Sweet Home but went undefeated the rest of the way to win the sectional title. For junior co-captain Nick Sehl, that first loss is his only regret of the year and still something he wishes he could change. But he is proud of the sectional title. "I think the season went well. I'm just upset we lost our first match," Sehl said. "I'm pretty proud that
we're sectional champs, so that's good." Looking ahead to sectionals, Sehl said that if they can all bowl as well as they're capable of, they should be in good shape. And he knows that they can do even better than they've done so far. "I'm just hoping that we at least pull our averages for sectionals, and then hopefully do better," he said. Another key member of this year's Clarence team is sophomore Tyler White, and he agreed with Sehl.
"Pretty much what Nick to say, looking forward I think we have a lot of promise," White said. "So if we all bowl our best, I think we have a chance in sectionals." Next year will be Sehl's senior year, and he's hoping for the best year yet, though he knows it will take some work. "Next year, I'm just hoping to get an undefeated season, but that's a big task, but that's alright," he said. White commented on the youth of the team.
Three of this year's key bowlers, including White, were sophomores, one was a freshman, and one was an eighth grader. White knows they have potential to be even better, and he too is going for an undefeated season next year. "We've got a very young team, so I'm hoping that we improve and go undefeated," White said. For now, the team hopes for success for the rest of this season, and each bowler will continue to do his best.