Kyra Aloizos wasn’t shy when asked her mindset toward a rematch with Bishop Kearney, which had already beaten Archbishop Molloy this season.
“I wanted it,” she said. “I really wanted to win. For us to lose by two was just terrible.”
Her play spoke even louder than her words.
Aloizos scored 21 points and grabbed seven rebounds. She and fellow senior forward Nicole Marciniak (11 points and nine rebounds) had their way in the paint and led the Stanners to a 73-42 victory over host Bishop Kearney in CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens Division I girls’ basketball Monday.The Tigers came back to win the first meeting, 46-44, on Dec. 18.
“There were no big girls who could guard me in the post,” Aloizos said. “Everyone says we are two of the top forwards in the league. For us to not take over this kind of game is just ridiculous.”
Aloizos, who had 15 points in the first half, scored in almost every way imaginable – 3-point plays, put backs, up-and-unders and mid-range jump shots as the Stanners blitzed Kearney early. Back-to-back put backs from Marciniak and Aloizos put Molloy up, 22-6, with 2:10 left in the first quarter. An Aloizos jumper from the right elbow made it 27-12 heading into the second quarter.
“If she goes and plays as hard as she can every game, she can do that,” Molloy coach Tom Catalanotto said. “She can do it with anybody. She has to come out that way every game. She can’t take a break.”
Kearney (4-7, 1-2 CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens) tried to get back into the game in the second quarter, cutting the lead to 32-19 with 3:50 remaining on a Cecilia Etheridge layup, with Molloy’s starters getting a breather. Missed layups and 3-of-8 foul shooting kept the Tigers from ever getting close.
Marielle Duryea, who scored eight points and dished out seven assists, found Aloizos for a layup to cap a 7-2 run that put Molloy (9-5, 2-2) up, 41-21, at the half. Kelly Guerriero (12 points) went on a personal 8-0 run, including two 3-pointers, to put the game well out of reach. Shannon LaVelle had 11 points and five assists for Molloy. Sam Retas scored nine points and grabbed six rebounds for Kearney, which has lost six straight. Caitlyn Furlong added eight points.
“It’s like you almost have to be perfect,” Kearney coach Cathy Crockett said. “We can’t afford to turn the ball over. They can turn the ball over. They can afford to miss.”
But not to lose.
The Stanners, the defending Brooklyn/Queens Division I champions, entered arguably their most important week of the season in fifth place in the division after a loss to Bishop Ford last Thursday. Another loss to the Tigers would have made finishing in the top three and qualifying for the CHSAA Class AA state playoffs that much harder.
Following the win, Molloy welcomes Mary Louis on Wednesday and heads to Middle Village for a rematch of last season’s Brooklyn/Queens final with Christ the King on Saturday.
“We need to win,” LaVelle said. “This game I thought we played really well, so it got us ready for Mary Louis. I think we can beat Mary Louis. It should be a good game. Then we have King, which we have been waiting for all season.”
