Senior contributing on court
By Justin Feil, The Packet Group
Friday’s win over West Windsor-Plainsboro North confirmed what Linda Weise already knew.
Her Allentown High girls basketball team is much better with Karlee Corvasce on the floor than when she’s sitting next to her on the bench.
”She knows she needs to bring it,” said Weise, the Redbirds head coach. “Getting into foul trouble is going to hurt us when she’s sitting on the bench.”
The Redbirds came out flying to take a 21-12 lead after the first quarter, but with Corvasce sitting out with two fouls, it was WW-P North that came back in the second quarter to take a 33-29 lead at the half.
”That was really hard for me to do,” Corvasce said. “After my second foul in the second quarter, I knew what was going to happen. I sat there cheering my team on and watching what was going on. I haven’t sat that much since sophomore year.”
In the third quarter, Corvasce went back to work and scored eight of her 10 points as Allentown took a lead it would not relinquish even when she got in foul trouble and eventually fouled out of the 67-58 win that evened their record at 4-4.
”It actually feels really good,” said Corvasce, whose 10 points gave Allentown three players in double figures. “I was kind of disappointed with the way we came out this year. We didn’t come out as strong as I wanted. Now that we’re .500, we can step it up and prove to everyone how good we are and show the potential we have.”
Corvasce is in her second year as a full-time starter, and the Redbirds are banking on her leadership along with fellow seniors Leah Ogrodnik and Dana Sensi. Without Corvasce in the lineup, they picked up their scoring at the offensive end with Ogrodnik having a career night with 28 points and Sensi finishing with 16 points. Each of them had three three-pointers.
The offensive explosion was welcome for the Redbirds, who scored 67 in each of their wins last week after never scoring more than 51 in a game prior to that. The senior trio led the way with help from Kirsten Romano, who had five points, and Mandy Hornyak and Annie Lee, who split eight points together.
”I’ve told the seniors all along that the season is really going as far as they’re going to take us,” Weise said. “It’s as far as their leadership on the court and offensive prowess takes us. All three know they need to be in double figures every day.
”Our defense has to step up. We gave up 58 points, and fortunately we won. Friday we were hot and we went with it. You’re feeling it and you’re shooting it well. We definitely need to continue to improve on defense.”
Corvasce barely played two quarters and still finished with 10 points. She remains a consistent scoring threat inside.
”The girls look into me more, especially when I’m open,” Corvasce said. “Inside shots are easy to make when I’m open. It puts the pressure on me. It’s not a bad thing. I have to work on it throughout the season. Right now, I’m pleased with myself, but I know I can do better. I’m just working really hard.
”We really fought,” she added. “Each year, we’ve felt we’ve had the talent to do better and better. As a senior, I feel like we really do have the talent to end on a good note.”
Corvasce is exploring her options to continue playing next year. She’s trying to make the most of her final year of high school. Motivation isn’t hard to find for the Redbird seniors.
”For us, it’s easy to say, let’s go girls and pump everyone up,” Corvasce said. “Everyone has to want it as much as we do.”
Corvasce got a taste of how good the Redbirds could be when she was a freshman. Allentown had a Patriot Division championship team.
”I played JV and freshman,” Corvasce said. “In the middle of the season, Leah and I came up to varsity. It was such a good experience. I looked up to all five seniors. It was exciting going to the MCT tournament. I went nuts on the bench.”
Corvasce has moved from the bench to the court and her role has increased each season. Now she’s determined to leave the program on a high note. It’s been a steady climb for Allentown since her freshman year.
”I really didn’t know how it would be,” she said. “Coming in as a freshman, we had a great varsity team. I didn’t know how it was going to go from there after losing them. I’m really proud of being a part of this program. It’s something I’ll always remember. Coming from Millstone and coming together with all these girls. I love basketball.”
Weise was happy to see how her team put together the plays and stayed poised despite foul trouble for Corvasce and Hornyak to win the game over a WW-P North team that has been solid for years.
”They lost Jackie Klotz to Lawrenceville, but they’re always strong and they play a lot of tough defenses and change defenses often,” Weise said. “My girls, we worked on that the two days prior to playing them and knowing we have to react to them switching up the defenses. The kids really reacted well to it and adjusted to it. Leah had a huge game. She had 28 and was 9-for-10 from the foul line.
”Mandy and Karlee fouled out. It was a nice surprise to win like that. We were up by 15 at one point in the fourth quarter, and with the all the fouls we were giving, it brought them closer. It got to eight or nine and we knocked out some foul shots. We were 12-for—19 in that quarter from the foul line. To come out of the week 2-0 and feel you have something to build on, it helps their confidence and hopefully it carries into this week.”
The Redbirds were scheduled to play a Lawrence contingent that beat them four times last year Tuesday, and will take on Nottingham on Friday.
”We’re coming up against some good teams now,” Corvasce said. “Those teams will bring a lot of pressure. We’re working hard to go against it well. Hopefully it’ll pay off.”
Corvasce is hoping to do her part to help Allentown keep the winning going. She knows that means staying on the court, something that Weise reminded her of multiple times while she sat on the bench with the lead shrinking in the second quarter and eventually disappearing.
”She puts so much pressure on me, Dana and Leah,” Corvasce said. “She works us hard and expects a lot. When I wasn’t in the game, it stinks. I kept thinking about it.”
The Redbirds showed some growth in overcoming the foul trouble to pull out a nice win, but they know they’re a better team with Corvasce on the court.
”She’s an inside presence,” Weise said. “She’s a vocal presence. She’s an offensive threat. The third quarter, we went to her. That’s kind of what we expect. We want double-doubles from her as much as we can.”
If Allentown can keep their full complement on the floor and play with the same poise they had against North, they feel they can put together a nice streak of wins.
”We’ve been inconsistent in our beginning games,” Weise said. “This week, we played a little more consistently. The kids, they’re pretty focused in practice. They turned the corner a bit in knowing we want to make something of this season. We need to continue to improve every game.
”We were 2-4. You can’t go back and wish coulda, shoulda, woulda. You have to do it now. These three seniors know that. It’s their year, it’s their team. The past three years, they’ve all been starters and they’re leading us. It’s what’s expected.”
Karlee Corvasce is prepared to do whatever she can to make sure that the Redbirds end their season and her career on a high note.
”We set our goals early,” she said. “We were determined to get what we want. It comes with working hard.”