Clarke winning with defense

Despite a 37-27 loss to West Hempstead last Friday, Clarke’s Lady Rams are exactly where they want to be on the basketball floor: in the thick of the Conference A-V playoff race.

Clarke (5-6 overall, 3-3 in Conference A-V) has already surpassed last season’s overall win total (three) and its Conference A-V win total (two) and there’s still half a season left to play. “We are at the point now where we are learning how to win,” head coach Shaun Fean said. “We haven’t been in close games in the past. All in all, we’ve made a lot of progress this season.”

Even in the loss to West Hempstead’s Lady Rams, Clarke had its bright spots, particularly on defense where senior Dianna Schmidt held Kayla Cleare to just five points, easily her lowest point total of the season and 12 below her season average of 17.1 points per game. A tenacious defender as a lacrosse player, that same trait carries over to the hardwood, and Schmidt has become the Lady Rams’ stopper. She draws the assignment of every opponent’s top player, regardless of position. “She makes everything tough,” Fean said. “She’s not intimidated by anyone, has a great motor and a huge heart.”

While defense is Clarke’s calling card in most games—the team has held eight of 11 opponents to 40 points or fewer—it was the two-headed offensive tandem of junior Hanna Zirkel and senior Gabriella Martins that sparked a 50-27 victory over Mineola on Jan. 13. Zirkel scored a game-high 15 points with four steals, while Martins chipped in with 14 points and seven rebounds. “Against Mineola we executed offensively,” Fean said. “We are trying to preach that we don’t want to settle for a good shot but [work] to get a great shot.”

But in true Lady Rams’ fashion, they didn’t completely ignore the defensive side of the game on the way to a season-high point total. They didn’t allow a single point in the first quarter, jumping out to a 12-0 lead and also held Mineola to single point scoring totals in the third (four points) and fourth quarters (six). “We hang our hat on defense,” Fean said. “That effort didn’t surprise me. If you hold [a team] to a goose egg, you have to be doing something right.”

The defense helped keep Clarke within reach of high-powered Island Trees on Jan .8, a game the Lady Bulldogs ultimately pulled away in for a 46-38 decision. Island Trees entered having topped the 70-point barrier in three straight before the Lady Rams put the clamps down. Following Schmidt’s lead digging in her heels has been senior point guard Jessica Gibaldi and junior Brianna Ventola. Both are also key components on offense.

“It’s been interesting to see all the things we talk about [starting to happen],” Fean said of the team staying in the playoff chase. “They’re seeing things come to fruition and you can sense the excitement.

“We’re still in the mix and that’s all you can ask for. We really want to get a few more wins and send the seniors off [with a playoff berth].”