Albertus Magnus 63, Ursuline 52: Upset?
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- November
- 29
It took less than a week, but we’ve already had our first minor upset (I think). Albertus Magnus beat Ursuline 63-52 in the final of the McNichol Turkey Tip-Off today at Magnus.
Alaina Walker (right) had perhaps her best game ever, scoring 37 points, including No. 1,000 of her career.
“Alaina was unbelievable,” coach Joe McGuinness told me over the phone. “Just Superwoman.”
It was an interesting game on many levels. The coaches believed Walker was 39 points shy of 1,000 before yesterday’s win over Maria Regina until McGuinness remembered the result of last season’s regular-season finale against Ardsley was never recorded online. Walker had 22 in that game, and started the season off with 16 against Burke Catholic on Friday, giving her 999 points. He told her parents, Ron and Barbara, but they kept the news from Walker, who was surprised when the game was stopped after she sank a free throw in the first quarter. The team presented Walker and her parents with roses and a commemorative ball.
“It was a big surprise,” she said. “I wasn’t expecting to get it today. It was a little overwhelming.”
Walker’s effort spurred a big game from Magnus, which trailed after the first quarter but took a five-point lead into halftime. The Falcons outrebounded Ursuline and its five 6-footers, and they never allowed the Koalas to launch a comeback.
Walker, who also posted a new career high, told me it was nice to join the 1,000-point club, but said she’d take a big win any day over reaching some milestone. She would know the feeling. This was an impressive win for Magnus. My question: Was it an upset??? I’m not sure at this point.
Anyway, the Falcons received several strong efforts this weekend behind Walker. Meghan Richards, a sophomore, had eight points and seven rebounds today. Caitlin Spicer played tough defense, earning her a spot on the all-tournament team. Kerry Higgins was named all-tournament as well after scoring 13 against Maria Regina yesterday. (Walker was the MVP, of course.)
Shelby Sferra had her second straight 18-point game for Ursuline. She was joined on the all-tourney team by Shannon Ray, who had seven points today, and Maria Regina’s Bianca Kowgios.
Kowgios had a huge game today. She scored 30 points and had four rebounds, five assists and five steals, leading the inexperienced Tigers to a 54-53 win over Burke Catholic. “She was all over the court,” coach Tim Pitrulle told me. (Maria is still looking to find help for Kowgios and Samantha Marinucci, particularly from its young post players, but Pitrulle sounds confident they will come around soon.)
I had other obligations today, so if anyone caught this tournament let me know how the teams and the players looked. It was quite the way to start the season.
This entry was posted
on Saturday, November 29th, 2008 at 8:59 pm by Josh Thomson. 
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Josh Thomson has done some of everything since joining The Journal News in March 2003. He began working for the Gannett weeklies during the winter of 2002 as a freelance writer. He joined the daily staff soon after and has since covered various high school and pro sports. Away from sportswriting, Josh lives in Westchester and spends his free time either with his fiancee, Sarah, or expertly managing his various championship-winning fantasy sports teams. He's visited 21 major-league baseball stadiums and insists that Fenway Park and Wrigley Field are the best by far. Josh graduated from Carmel High School in 1998, then went to Boston University, where, in 2002, he received a degree in communications with a minor in history.
Albertus. It’s going to be very difficult to find a team that will impress as much as they did in a two game span. First scoring 50 points in the first half of their first game then beating a very good Ursuline team in the finals of their tournament. With Walker and a very talented group of underclassmen they will be very tough for anyone to match up with this year. After watching these two teams play I dont believe this was an upset at all. Two very good teams playing and the best player on the court carried her team to victory. Albertus will have a very very good year.
Ursuline. They are obviously one of the best teams in the section and did nothing to change that this weekend. They played great defense and their combination of guard play and size will make them one of the favorites to win the AA section title.
Maria Regina. Maria Regina has some very good talent even though their roster has changed dramatically from last year. Their pg is obviously their best player but their offense becomes very stagnant when she spends time dribbling the ball at the top of the key then taking a questionable shot. They can beat questionable teams doing that but will struggle against the better competition in the section.
Burke. Although Burke is not in section 1 i’ll give my thoughts since they are usually their to play the section 1 winner in the regional quarter finals. The team is lacking a true ball handler which albertus and maria regina took advantage of pressuring them in the full court. If they can find a guard to handle pressure they will compete with other teams. Probably not as good as teams of their past but they play solid defense and are big give them a pg and they can contend.
This was definitely not an upset. Albertus is real good. Everyone thinks they will be not as good this year as in years past because of who they lost from last year’s team, but this team might be better. This weekend proved they can defend, they can score, they can press, and they can rebound. They are very very good.
AM lost role models and leaders with last year’s seniors. These seniors were good defensive players. Of the twelve Varsity 07-08 players three played on serious AAU programs. These kids dedicate themselves from November to July playing basketball.
The other non AAU players played multiple sports, many were standouts in soccer, volleyball, and softball.
This years Albertus team has ten players. Seven play on serious AAU programs, and the ones that don’t are very capable. Four of these kids have played together for over five years. My opinion is Albertus will be a better team this year for that fact alone. Scoring should be a little more balanced.
Ursuline and AM are evenly matched. Both teams have a lot of talented kids that spend countless hours in the gym.
BTW the refs had nothing to do with the outcome of this game.
Burke is suffering because they did not look to the future and develope younger players. They will do fine in class b in section ix but will have a hard time going against better teams as proven this weekend. Maria Regina should not take this win against Burke as a great acomplishment they only one by one point to a team who is young and inexperienced-and their pooint guard scored 30 of the 54 points!
ALBERTUS WAS VERY IMPRESSIVE..WALKER,IF ITS POSSIBLE,GOT ALOT BETTER,AS DID,RICHARDS AND CARPOUL…....THEY WILL BE TOUGH TO BEAT,ESP WITH THE GREAT COACHING THEY GET…..