By Lori Brown
FALLSBURG — February 17, 2006 – Chester’s varsity girls’ basketball team is going to sectionals for the first time in nine years.
After securing a 56-23 victory Wednesday night over the host Fallsburg Lady Comets, the Lady Hambletonians celebrated the win and the realization that their season would continue after next week.
During the first quarter, Chester scored 18 points, while Fallsburg’s Crystal Pettway scored two points to put the home team on the scoreboard. Fallsburg Coach Les Hyde called a time out within the first two minutes of play in an attempt to get the girls back on track.
Chester (5-13, 4-4 Div. V) started off with a burst of energy and maintained that energy through the first quarter.
Fallsburg (1-11, 0-8 Div. V) came on strong in the second quarter with Erin Gilmore swishing a 3-pointer, Jerrica Marra scoring two points and Iesha Barkley making a foul shot.
With Chester holding a 25-10 lead at halftime, the Lady Comets knew they had to come into the second half looking to play better offense and defense.
During the third period, Chester senior Meghan Monroe scored two points within the first 10 seconds of play. Later in the stanza, she swished four points within 25 seconds.
Fallsburg’s Gilmore and Pettway scored a few points throughout this quarter, but not enough to gain the lead.
Monroe opened the fourth quarter by scoring two points within the first nine seconds of play.
Hyde called a timeout with five minutes remaining in the game to talk over some strategy.
But the Lady Hambletonians had the sectionals on their minds and they kept playing hard.
“We did not play our best tonight, but we did what we had to, we made it to sectionals,” Chester Coach Alexis Fibble said. “This is the first time in nine years that we made it to sectionals and the girls are very happy.”
Monroe scored a game-high 16 points in leading Chester to victory. Teammates Jess Laino and Brittany Clifford added 10 and nine points, respectively.
Hyde said that “tonight was a tough game and Chester came to seal the victory.”
“My team played hard, but they had poor shooting tonight,” Hyde continued. “My team never gave up and I am proud of the way they played this evening.”
Gilmore led the Lady Comets with 12 points and Pettway finished with five points.