 High School Basketball:
Lady Red Raiders Knocks Off Deptford
Tuesday, February 26, 2002
By Jerome Michaels
SJSports Special Correspondent
The chess match began early in this quarterfinal game as the quest for the girl's group 3 playoff continued in Deptford. The ninth seeded Ocean City Red Raiders had an uphill battle against the favored Lady Spartans from Deptford High School. After trailing midway through this game, Ocean City's defense halted the Deptford attack to hang on for the 47-44 victory on the road. Next up for the Lady Red Raiders are the top seeded Lady Chimeras from Willingboro.
Both coaches had their team executing their game plan in the first quarter. The Lady Spartans used their guards, Lauren Fisher and Kristen Spencer, to set up the plays penetrating in the paint looking for the open shot. Ocean City went right to work getting the ball to their senior center Catie Larue who worked the offensive and defensive boards.
 After Deptford led for the entire initial quarter, the Red Raiders took their first lead of the game with 2:47 remaining in the half. Mary Rybick's three pointer on their next possession force Deptford to call a time out and Ocean City had a 21-17 lead. That must have been some speech by the coach during Deptford's time out. After Fisher tied the game at 21 with 1:36 remaining to the half, her basket sparked a 10-0 run which put Deptford up at the break leading 27-21.
It didn't take long to figure out what Ocean City needed to do to get back in this game. The defense took over this game in the third quarter as the Red Raiders' full court press got them back in this game. Larue's basket with 2:37 showing on the third quarter clock tied the game at 30 all. Ocean City would hold the Lady Spartans to only three points in the quarter as they jumped out to a 33-30 lead going into the final quarter.
Ocean City expanded their lead with a 7-0 run to what seemed to be enough to win this game, but the Lady Spartans did not give up. Deptford's defense allowed them to pull within two points before Ocean City finally put this game away at the free throw line. Catie Larue would finish with a game high 17 points and Mary Rybick added 15 points for the Lady Red Raiders from Ocean City. Deptford was led by Lauren Fisher who also had a game high 17 points while Kristen Spence chipped in 10 points.
Photos by Jason Brown
     
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High School Basketball:
