Casey’s girls soak up sun, basketball wins in Florida

By: Neil Hay
   With the long winter months of January, February and March ahead, there is nothing like an end-of-year trip to Florida to get in some sun, surf, and sand to refresh the body and reinvigorate the spirit.
   Yeah, right, if you are the players and coaches of the Peddie girls’ basketball team.
   Coach Sean Casey and company spent the last several days of 2004 in the Sunshine State. But the Falcons were hardly lounging around by the pool or frolicking on the beach. Instead, Peddie was one of several elite teams from all over the country invited to play in the Naples Holiday Shootout. And Casey’s cagers did quite well, thank you, winning three of four games to place fifth in the tournament and improve their won-loss record to 6-3.
   The Falcons will be back in action tomorrow night when they kick off the 2005 Mid-Atlantic Prep League season at Lawrenceville. Road games follow against Hun, the Hill School and Maryland’s St. Mary’s as part of the Prime Time Event in Cherry Hill. Finally, on January 19, the Falcons get to wear their home uniforms for the first time this season when they host Blair Academy.
   Back in Florida, the Peddie girls represented their school in impressive fashion with wins over the Community School, North Clayton and Jamestown. But undefeated Lexington Catholic proved too formidable last Friday night, defeating Peddie 59-48. Lexington went on to defeat Archbishop Carroll in the finals and is now 11-0 on the year.
   The Kentucky school held Peddie to single digits in the first two periods and led 25-12 at the half. Peddie rallied in the second half and closed to 34-33 at one point. But Lexington hit some big three’s down the stretch to re-open the lead and win by 11.
   Bridgette Mitchell and Crystal Goring paced Peddie with 16 and 14 points, respectively. Devon Carey added 13 points.
   Going into the tournament, Lexington Catholic was the 23rd-rated high school team, while Archbishop Carroll the 10th team nationwide. After Lexington’s win, those rankings are expected to change quite a bit. Of his team’s play against Lexington Catholic, Casey said, "Our kids did a nice job to come back from a deep hole early."
   Goring and Karly Grace had 10 points each last Thursday as Peddie opened the tournament with a convincing 53-20 win over Community. Mitchell chipped in with 10. The locals held their opponent to six points or less in every quarter to win easily.
   On Saturday Peddie shook off the Lexington loss with a 45-29 win over North Clayton. Peddie jumped out to a 14-2 lead after one quarter, led 21-8 at the half and were never in serious trouble. Mitchell had 13 points, Ashley Hart 10, Goring nine and Carey eight.
   In Monday’s fifth-place consolation game Peddie raced out to a 30-18 lead at halftime and defeated Jamestown, 55-45. Goring scored 18 points. Mitchell 16, and Carey ten. For Jamestown, it was only their second loss against nine wins.
   "To come away from a tournament like this with a 3-1 record, I’m pretty pleased," said Casey. "Our kids responded well. Beating Jamestown gave us a nice win to head out of town."
   For some of the Peddie players, this tournament was their first exposure to such big-time competition like this.
   "It was a good experience for us to play at this level. We are now a better team going out" of the tournament than going in. "I hope it will make us better for the rest of the season. We hope to build on it."