Patrons of Arts See Three Phantoms at WPPAC Gala

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WPCNR STAGE DOOR. By John F. Bailey. March 20, 2006: A WPCNR observer of “Masquerade,” the kickoff Gala for the White Plains Performing Arts Center, Tuesday evening, reports a crowd of 175 persons attended the $150/a ticket minimum fundraiser for the Arts Center as it raises capital for its coming 2006-2007 season.



As of 7 PM about 70 persons had crowded the fourth floor balcony outside the theatre entrance for the hors d’oeuvres and wine portion of the evening, and attendees were continuing to come in, as glasses clinked, scrumptious canapes were served from silver trays, and White Plains patrons of the arts mingled, schmoozed, munched and sipped awaiting The Three Phantoms. Photo, WPCNR StageCam


A member of  the audience reports Tony Stimac, Artistic Director of the WPPAC acted as Master of Ceremonies, introducing the four honorees, Councilman Robert Greer ( the Arterial Lateral Sclerosis victim attended seated in his wheelchair in the audience); Robert Feder of Cuddy & Feder, Mr. Harumitsu Inouye of The Shinnyo-En Foundation, Dan Tearno of Heineken USA, and Bishop Iaso Ito, of the White Plains Bridge of Friendship Foundation, Inc. (who was unable to attend, being in Japan).


The Foundation, our observer said, was honored for its generous contributions to the White Plains schools.  Dan Tearno of Heineken gave a history of what has happened at the WPPAC for its two years and four months of existence and said how it important it was for all to continue to support the theatre. 


Mayor Delfino gave a short talk about Mr. Greer’s contributions to the city. Mrs. Helen Greer, speaking for her husband, spoke extensively about her husband’s disease and the need to support stem cell research. A short video of highlights from the WPPAC’s 28 months was shown.


No Announcements of Theatre Future


Our correspondent reports there were no announcements made by any speakers about WPPAC programming plans for the 2006-2007, and no statements made about the future management plans of the theatre. When spotted arriving for the evening by WPCNR, Jeffrey Rosenstock, former Executive Director of the WPPAC who told WPCNR he is now back working for the theatre. Rosenstock shared with WPCNR that Mr. Stimac, his colleague, was programming next year’s WPPAC schedule at the present time. Asked if this meant Mr. Stimac had signed a new contract to guide the theatre into the future, Rosenstock said he did not know.  


The Three Phantoms, (Cris Groenendaal, Ted Keegan, and Craig Schulman, all have performed the famous role in Phantom of the Opera)  then took the stage, accompanied on piano by the spouse of one of the “Phantoms.” Our correspondent reports “the show was great.”


Among many luminaries observed arriving were Mayor Joseph Delfino, Councilman Glen Hockley, John Corretti of Pretty Petals Plus whose firm donated the flowers, Bill Null, WPPAC Board of Directors Head Chauncey Walker, the noted local actor Jeffrey Schlotman, Nick Wolfe, Jon Shandler of White Plains Hospital Center, Janet Langsum of the Westchester Arts Council,  later, Bruce Berg of Cappelli Enterprises arrived (though Louis Cappelli was not observed in attendance).


Helen Hayes Directors Attend Second WPPAC Event in Week.


An entourage of Directors from the presently defunct Helen Hayes Theatre Company of Nyack, former “partner” of the White Plains Performing Arts Center,  attended their second WPPAC event in a week. They were lead in by the Chairman of the Helen Hayes Theatre Company Board, Joseph Lagana. Mr. Lagana also attended the production of Julius Caesar with two other HHTCO Board members at the WPPAC March 11.


Food for the evening was donated by Coughlin’s American Bistro, Mulino’s of Westchester and Zanaro’s Resutaurant. Tony Russo and wife Andrea Kish, of Aries Wine & Spirts West Post Road provided the wine. Vino 100 was also credited with wine contribution.


Our observer surveying the house said it was “a small crowd, nowhere near a full house. Half empty.” However, that is not a measure of how much tonight’s event might have raised.


Fundraising galas are having a hard time lately. The White Plains Juneteenth Gala concert at Purchase scheduled for last Friday evening was cancelled due to low ticket sales.



Invitation to Mingle. Photo, WPCNR StageCam

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Who Were Those Policemen, Anyway? New York State Court Officers.

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. March 20, 2006 UPDATED 2:57 P.M. E.S.T.:  A spokesperson for the New York State Office of Courts Adminstration, David Bookstaver contacted WPCNR moments ago, and reported that the police officers who questioned Ben Hider, the White Plains citizen who attempted to take a picture at the White Plains County Courthouse Friday were New York State Court Officers.


Bookstaver said “What happened to Mr. Hider was most unfortunate and inconsistent with our policies, and we are going to reach out to Mr. Hider and apologize to him. We are also going to make crystal clear what our policies are towards the taking of pictures of public buildings. What happened was inappropriate.”


According to a letter just received by WPCNR from Mr. Hider (before Mr. Bookstaver’s call), who wrote WPCNR of being harrassed by police at the County Courthouse Friday morning for attempting to take photographs of the courthouse, the officers questioning him in an intimidating manner, he alleges, mislead him into thinking they were White Plains Police. He writes:


Apparently they must have been Court Police or County Police. When they had  taken my photo they said that White Plains Police had finished with me.


But  according to Inspector Jackson (of the White Plains Department of Public Safety), they were not on his police force?? He seemed annoyed with me, that I had told you it was White Plains Police, but  how was I to know? I just went with what they said (the police at the court house) and then when I called  Inspector Jackson on Friday to give him a badge number, he never called me  back. This whole thing is really starting to annoy me more now.

I am meeting with the Journal News this afternoon to be photographed outside
of the building!!



 

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White Plains Police Were Not Involved in Photographer Harrassment at Court House

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. March 20, 2006, UPDATED 2:11 P.M. E.S.T.: Inspector Daniel Jackson of the White Plains Department of Public Safety reported to WPCNR today that the White Plains Police were not involved in any way in the questioning of a local photographer, Ben Hider, at the Westchester County Courthouse Friday, as the photographer mistakenly reported. Inspector Jackson released this statement to WPCNR:


Mr. Bailey,
As I explained to the complainant when I spoke to him the day of the incident, the courthouse incident that your anonymous writer complains about in no way involved the City of White Plains Department of Public Safety. I instructed him as to where he could address his concerns. We were not involved in the incident at any time.
Thank You,
Inspector Daniel Jackson 
The City of White Plains
Department of Public Safety


 

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Save Senior Girls Fastpitch Softball in White Plains Little League — Play.

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WPCNR PRESS BOX. By John F. Bailey. March 20, 2006: Now that softball selections have been made at local schools, 13,14, 15 year old girls hoping to make the teams who are dissappointed at not being selected for your school teams, should can sign up to play with the White Plains Little League Senior Girls team.


But you need to sign up and make your commitment right away. Presently only nine players have signed up and we need 14 committed girls to field a team. Contact the CitizeNetReporter at wpcnr@aol.com, or WPLL President Mike Leone at mike@mjlandco.com, with your intentions by midnight Wednesday, March 22.  The cost is $125. You may register online or get an application online at http://www.whiteplainslittleleague.com/


The team will play other clubs in the Westchester area in the Westchester Girls Softball League, playing doublheaders on Saturdays and Sundays and Friday evenings, on one of those days each week beginning late April.


 

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Photos of the Day: St. Patrick’s Day Parade in White Plains.

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WPCNR Roving Photographer. March 20, 2006: Today’s Photographs of the Day are from the March 11 St. Patrick’s Day Parade in White Plains, furnished by John Martin. (WPCNR was on assignment and could not arrange Parade coverage.) Mr. Martin reports “it was a wopnderful day with thousands of spectators pushing out into the streets. We had the most bands ever (19) along with 40 community groups. We awarded 3 groups: Grand Marshal’s Award Best Band: Westchester Police Emerald Society Pipes and Drums; Best Marching Group: US Naval Submarine School Silver Dolphin Drill Team; Archbishop Stepinac HS–Msgr James McDermott Award: Centro Hispano Girl Scout Troop 8003 and Boy Scout Troop 2005.



White Plains Tigers Section One Basketball Champs Saluted on St. Patrick’s Day Committee Float. Coach Sue Adams is waving the Irish flag.  Courtesy John Martin. Photo by Steve Morton.



Ireland’s and America’s Favorite Mayor Joseph “O” Delfino leads the parade. Photo by Steve Morton.



Past Grand Marshal Michael O’Donnell was honored. That’s Nick Wolfe at the wheel. Photo by Steve Morton.



Grand Marshal Michael Foley and His Court. Photo by Steve Morton



John Martin and Grand Marshal Foley. Photo by Steve Morton.



Best Band: Westchester Police Emerald Society Pipes and Drums. Photo by Steve Morton.



Slater Center Drum and Bugle Corps. Photo by Steve Morton



OLS Men’s Club. Photo by Steve Morton.

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Three China Junkets and Nothing to Show for It.

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WPCNR NEWS AND COMMENT. By John F. Bailey. March 19, 2006: Did you hear the one about the County Executive that left with an entourage for China to bring more business from the one Chinese company he had enticed to Westchester County, and the day after he leaves the company announces they are moving out of Westchester and headed for North Carolina?


 


It’s true. Did the Spanoliner divert to Korea or Japan or the United Arab Emirates? What liaison work by our County Department of Economic Development! Do we need a Department of Economic Development anyway? What account follow-up!


Especially when the March 14 news release announcing the County Executive’s China trip had a statement from County Executive Andy Spano saying “Each time I’ve gone to China we’ve been able to build relationships and establish additional networks. We are continuing to pave the way for companies who want to do business here.”


Well, WPCNR asked the Department of Communications (before the Lenovo bombshell)  how many companies have come here, doing business here and how many relationships?


Her answer: one. Lenovo.


Lenovo announced Thursday, (as reported by The Associated Press, perhaps as AndyAir’s wheels were leaving Runway 31L at JFK),  the company was moving to North Carolina from their Purchase headquarters which has 70 employees.


You cannot make this stuff up. 


Now — The County Executive is going to talk to Lenovo about staying in Westchester, a change from the press release agenda which said Mr. Spano hoped “to strengthen the relationship between the company and Westchester and to discuss future business possibilities.”


 


You know this would be funny, if it was not so sad. County Executive Spano leaves for China and he has no idea Lenovo is bailing out? Great advance work by the Department of Economic Development prior to the trip, isn’t it?  Where’s Paul Wood and Melissa Lopez when you need them? Dennis Power has joined the Department of Economic Development just in time. Whew!


When Mayor Joseph Delfino goes to Japan, the city receives grants and money from Temple Shinn-Yo En that locates here in White Plains. A positive relationship that produces results in White Plains. When Andy Spano makes three trips to China, nothing happens.  


That’s a lot to show for three Andy Spano trips to China, isn’t it Mr. and Mrs. and Ms. Westchester?


Assuredly Mr. Spano’s trips were paid for by the Chinese government, but he was on our payroll during those trips. Perhaps next trip he should take a leave of absence without pay as should the rest of the entourage. That might make them more productive.


County Executive Spano has made three previous trips to China and so far it has brought just one company to Westchester, Lenovo, the world’s third largest personal computer company, and they’re leaving. But wait, perhaps we are being too harsh? Surely there were other economic benefits achieved by those trips?


WPCNR was curious as to how much actual hard dollars in Chinese investment Spano’s China jaunts have brought to Westchester. According to the County Department of Communications that figure is not available. The CitizeNetReporter was told  that the county has no record of actual China investment in Westchester resulting from the three trips. How about a little followup by our Department of Economic Development? You can’t just go on trips without followup and sell.


How about a little stat-keeping by the Department of Economc Development on foreign investment in the county, and work with them — the companies already here from other countries. You know Dubai might be running Indian Point for all we know.


The Department of Communications spokesperson told WPCNR we were  “missing the point of the trips,” it being the creating an atmosphere where Chinese companies would export goods and products to Westchester and buy products and services from Westchester companies.


The press release did point out an academic relationship with Briarcliff High School being worked on. Some meeting in Shanghai to discuss more deals. The County Executive is also bringing a list of 25 companies who want to do business with China. Good luck.


Frankly, I’d try another country on the next junket.


Next time, Andy, stay home, do some work.


 Like fixing the homeless “concentration camps” in Westchester County, instead of kicking them when they are down  and making them sleep on paper sheets. 


Find out why Con Ed and all the power companies in the northeast quadrant of the country cannot put Westchester back online inless than 5 days. Now there’s an investigation!


Help day laborers work, instead of letting villages push them around and violate their civil rights. They are trying to work. You think they like standing out in 20 degree weather waiting for somebody to offer them a job for the day? If those persons were white, and not Haitian, Dominican, Cuban,  African-American or what have you, we’d be treating them better.


Stop giving away our money. Like the $4.9 Million tax breaks to that poor, starving indigent developer Reckson Associates to build an office building they’ll never fill up, through the County IDA (Incredible Deals Agency) this week, as reported by The New York Times. That $4.9 Million would certainly help create a series of day labor distribution points about the county wouldn’t it?


 Stop building affordable housing that’s on a per unit basis is as expensive to build as the toniest condos in Westchester.


Pay attention. Turn the plane around and come home. Or better yet, stay there.


Mr. and Mrs. and Ms. Westchester would not miss you.


Oh, just to let you know, Mr. and Mrs. and Ms. Westchester, Susan Tolchin  and Larry Schwartz are in charge while County Executive Spano is in China.


What a relief.

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Super Shenise and R-H Matchups End the Tiger Quest

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WPCNR CourtSide. By Tim “Red” Sheehan. Exclusive to The CitizeNetReporter. March 18, 2006: Going into last night’s finals against the Section V champion Rush-Henrietta (RH) Royal Comets, at Troy’s Hudson Valley Center, White Plains High School Girls Basketball team needed to contain RH stars Shenise Johnson and Bria Jackson.  For the most part, Jackson was contained.  But Johnson was a one woman wrecking crew, and led the Royal Comets to a 56-48 victory over the WP Tigers, avenging a three point loss to WP in last year’s semi-finals.



Two Great Seasons to Remember: White Plains High Tigers await the start of a classic final last night. Thanks for the Memories, girls, for the thrills, the heart, the joy. We will never forget the seaons you gave White Plains.  You gave it all you had.Photo by Tim Sheehan.


Elise Bronzo scored the games first points, connecting on her patented turn around jumper, and White Plains vaulted to a 14-6 first quarter lead.  With Shenise Johnson picking up two quick fouls and grabbing some bench, RH defenders instinctively collapsed on WP post players Bronzo and Danica Covington, leaving WP forward Liz Flooks open all over the court.  The result:  Flooks for the three, Flooks for the foul line jumper, Flooks for the put back on the offensive rebound.  The only bad news of the quarter was Bronzo picking up two fouls as well, and being forced to sit on the bench as well.


 


Shenise to the Rescue.


 


In the second quarter, Johnson returned to bolster a shaky RH defense, but White Plains continued to pour it on early with a two Covington lay-ups and a Flooks 3 pointer to take a 21-10 lead.  But RH’s Johnson began to show why she was tournament MVP, as she started to unleash her scoring repertoire from the perimeter, sometimes slashing to the hole and other times pulling up for 15 footers that banged home. 


 



Big Huddle, Second Quarter. Photo by Tim Sheehan.


 


 


 


After Johnson’s shake and bake moves started to close the gap, RH’s Melanie Mc Fadden nailed an open 3 pointer to bring RH to within 2 points of WP at halftime, 21-19.  It was disconcerting to see a large lead like that squandered, but WP fans were optimistic that this bad stretch would serve as a substitute for their string of third quarter slow starts.


 


Adjustments Don’t Stop Her. Outside or Inside.


 


Last year, Johnson tried to muscle in on WP defenders in the paint, only to be pushed out by a tight zone and the arms and legs of Danica Covington.  This year, Johnson moved out from underneath the basket, started on the perimeter and proved to be an impossible assignment, torching WP for 30 points.  Johnson was just too quick on the open floor to be guarded by Covington, so WP switched to the speedier Kim Adams, but RH countered by posting up Johnson, who muscled in on the lighter defender for two lay-ups.  Later in the game, WP tried to have Liz Flooks to defend Johnson, but the damage was already done.


 


The Tigers Can’t Claw Ahead.


 


Flooks opened the third quarter with a three pointer and after Johnson hit two free throws, Kim Adams nailed an open 3 pointer from well beyond the top of the key.  It seemed that WP had finally said good bye to shaky third quarter starts, opening up a 27 – 21 lead.  But two Shenise Johnson jumpers and another McFadden three pointer propelled the Royal Comets to a 28 – 27 lead with 5 minutes left in the third quarter.  Though WP valiantly tried through the balance of the third quarter and the first half of the fourth quarter to close the gap, RH did not relinquish the lead from there.


 


Sandwiched between two Johnson scores, WP managed to get a Bronzo put back and an Aguirre lay-up to close the gap to 32 – 31, but Bria Jackson – denied by WP defenders Aguirre, Nina Johnson or Adams on her cross over moves to the hoop for most of the game – hit her first of two crucial second half three pointers and the RH lead ballooned again.  A Bronzo free throw and yet another Flooks jumper closed the gap to 35 – 34, but two quick RH scores pushed the score to 39 – 34.  A desperation 3 point shot by Liz Flooks at the buzzer connected to bring WP back to trailing by 2, 39 – 37.  WP fans hoped that this shot would propel the team to launch a run in the fourth quarter. 


 


Back to Back Fatigues Tigers.


 


As it turned out, the Flooks buzzer beater turned out to be a last gasp.  Although owning the 4th quarter for much of their playoff run, the back to back nights of 32-minute man to man pressure defense began to take its toll on both the offensive and defensive ends. 


 


On offense, WP shots and free throws began to clank. 


 


 Last year, when RH abandoned their man to man defense and went into a zone in the third quarter, the WP offense ate it up, moving the ball quickly around, hit open threes and found our post players down low for easy scores.  This year, the fatigued Tigers could not solve the 3-2 Royal Comet zone, which was comprised of pesky and quick defenders on the perimeter and the twin towers (Johnson and 6’3” Evan Riddick) down low.  WP drives to the hoop either missed the mark or were blocked by Riddick, while free throws from RH fouls were bricked.


 


 No Defensive Solution for the Scoring Machine.


 


On defense, the Johnson scoring machine altered the WP defense, as defenders who left their assignment to lend a hand to whomever had to guard Johnson got burned, as other RH players began to hit their shots. 


 


While one could argue that WP could have tried a zone to rest their players and better bottle up Johnson, as WP had pretty much gone with man to man the whole playoff run (and a brief return to the zone against Minisink Valley was disastrous), it was clear that WP players would have to “dance with the defense that brought them” and stay in the man to man set up. 


 


4th Quarter Doom.


 


With the Comets ahead 39-37 as the 4th quarter opened, Shenise Johnson opened up the 4th quarter with a put back but Elise Bronzo answered with a long jumper.  Nina Johnson drove to the hole and was fouled but could not convert the charity line shots.  The next sequence of possessions proved to be the turning point of the game. 


 


Finally getting a mismatch to our advantage – Kim Adams in the paint on the far smaller Bria Jackson – Adams shot rimmed out.  RH scooped up the rebound and at the other end, Jackson – cold for much of the game – nailed an open three pointer with 3:26 left in the game to open up a 6 point RH lead 45 -39.


 


The rest of the game was almost pointless, as WP continued its cold shooting and half step slow defending. 


 


Desperation Fouling.


 


With two minutes left to go, WP was relegated to fouling RH players (usually Johnson) or hurriedly but unsuccessfully trying to set up 3 point shots – just like RH could not do against WP in the waning minutes of last year’s semifinal game.  A Flooks jumper, a Covington free throw and two Aguirre lay-ups were all that WP could muster against 9 RH free throws (6 from Johnson), as the Tigers ultimately bowed to the Royal Comets 56 – 48. 


 


Aftermath.


 


Danica Covington and Liz Flooks made the all tournament team, along with RH stars Bria Jackson and, of course, Shenise Johnson, who is only a sophomore! I did not take any pictures after the game.  I figured if one wants to see after game shots of devastated WP players, I knew that the Journal News (JN) would capture some.  Sure enough, in this morning’s JN Sports section, 2 of the 3 photos of WP players involve post game tear shedding hugs. 


 


All in all, it was another glorious playoff run for the Tigers, who willed and clawed their way back to the championship game with grit, hustle and unselfish play at both ends of the floor.  They were a pleasure to watch this season and they have much to be proud about.  Next year, it will be even tougher for the Tigers to get this far, as their tall post players (Covington and Bronzo) will graduate.  But they will still be fun to follow and might surprise a lot of people! 

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Rush-Henrietta Takes State AA Championship from White Plains, 56-48

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WPCNR TIGER TICKER. March 18, 2006: The Royal Comets of Rush-Henrietta High School of Rochester defeated the White Plains Tigers, 56-48 moments ago  at the Hudson Valley College Center in Troy denying the Tigers the Class AA New York State Girls Basketball Championship.  More details as they become available. They were lead by BRIA JACKSON, and their sophomore star,  SHENISE JOHNSON who was named Most Valuable Player of the Tournament. 


Johnson turned in a Michael Jordanesque performance pouring in 30 points in three quarters, and was unstoppable playing the three periods with 2 fouls. Hitting from outside and getting inside, the Lady Comets with Johnson creating havoc and hitting, overcame an early White Plains lead in the third quarter and held on to win.


The Tigers were lead by Liz Flooks with 24 points and Angelei Aguirre and Elise Bronzo with 8 points each.  The Comets blocked 8 Tiger shots and created 13 steals disrupting the Tiger offense. Though the Tigers outrebounded and outshot the Comets 40-34, the rims were not friendly last night and shots would not fall. The Tigers were also called for 20 personal fouls to 12 by the Comets, resulting in 18 free throw points for the Comets to 7 for the Tigers.


The Tigers finish another season to remember, going 24-3, and making it into the State Class AA Finals for the second straight year.

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Commissioner of Planning to Address League of Women Voters on Future of the City

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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. From the League of Women Voters. March 18, 2006: The League of Women Voters program, “Our City: Where we’re at – where we’re going, will be the theme of a LWV meeting on Thursday, March 23rd at  the home of Libby and Tom Holllihan 195 Soundview Avenue.  Coffee 7:30 PM Program 7:45 PM


 


The informative evening will feature as its guest, Sue Habel, White Plains Commissioner of Planning, as she discusses the status and future of development in White Plains.

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Clawing Clinging, Pesky Defensive Stand Powers Tigers To Final Tonight

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WPCNR COURTSIDE. By Tim “Red” Sheehan. Exclusive to The CitizeNetReporter. March 18, 2006: The White Plains High School Girls Basketball team continued in their quest for redemption, knocking off Section II champion Catholic Central (CC), despite yet another subpar third quarter effort, 44-33 last night at the Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, NY.  The White Plains win pits them against last year’s semifinal opponent, Section V’s Rush-Henrietta (RH), who had earlier beaten Section 11’s Massapequa.


 



Tigers Break to Go Back on DEE in 4th Quarter. Photo by Tim Sheehan.


 


For a recap of last year’s semifinal match up between WP and RH, check out http://www.whiteplainscnr.com/article3367.html.  For a more detailed look at Friday night’s win, read on.


 


 


The defensive battle between WP and the CC Crusaders began early, as both teams could not break into double figure scoring, though WP led 9-8 at the end of the first quarter.  White Plains pressed, and quickly overcame a 5-2 deficit with an Elise Bronzo put back, a short jumper by Liz Flooks and a quick steal conversion by Kim Adams.


 


The second quarter featured some sloppy passing by both teams, who play similar ball denial defense.  CC seemed to be in a match up zone that put pressure on anyone that tried to dribble the ball.  At one point, White Plains zipped the ball around the horn to an open Nina Johnson, who nailed the jumper to stake WP to an 11-10 lead, which they would thereafter relinquish until the 4th quarter. 


 



Tigers Head Coach Sue Adams, kneeling, center, makes adjustments in the Second Stanza at the Hudson Valley College Center Friday night. Photo by Tim Sheehan.


 


CC stars Stephanie McBride and Lauren McCormack began to make some noise, with McBride hitting an open three pointer and McCormack cutting to the hoop for lay-ups or put backs.  White Plains was staying in the game with its defense, but on offense, the lanes to their post players were largely clogged and the three point shooting was ice cold.  White Plains was down at halftime 17-16.


 


Third Quarter Blues


 


White Plains got the ball at the beginning of the 3rd quarter, and immediately signaled that their string of terrible third quarter starts was to continue, as they promptly threw the ball away.  White Plains had started out with a 90 degree shift in the axis of its post players, with Elise Bronzo now at the high post.  This new look confused the Crusaders and led to an easy lay-up by Danica Covington. 


 


CC tried to break away with sharpshooter Jessica Dooley hitting two consecutive jumpers and lead 23-18, but WP replied with a Covington to Flooks feed for a foul line jumper and a Covington lay-up off a quick out of bounds pass to close to 23-22.  CC again pulled away with an open jumper and two lay-ups off of quick passes that broke the WP press and had its biggest lead of the night, 29-22. 


 


Adams to the Rescue. Adams to the Rescue.


 


But at the end of the third quarter, Kim Adams nailed the open three pointer to close the lead to 4.  Though Steph McBride answered with a juke move off a screen to hit an open jumper, Kim’s three pointer seemed to rejuvenate WP.  It signaled a recognition among WP players that the open look 3’s that they routinely passed up on during the season in order to get a better shot, may in fact be the best look they may get in a particular offensive set, as the defensive pressure in the playoff rounds has significantly increased. 


 


Angelei Aguirre again took her overplaying defender to the hoop for a jumper in the lane and Covington hit a key lay-up to close the gap to 31-29.  The WP defense held against the Crusaders last shot attempt and WP had once again survived a mediocre 3rd quarter, trailing only by 2.


 


2 Killer Threes


 


CC started with the ball at the start of the 4th quarter and converted a Sara Decker jumper to jump ahead by 4 points, but White Plains answered with a Flooks baseline special and yet another 3 point dagger by Adams.  With 5:31 left in the game, White Plains regained the lead that they relinquished in the second quarter and never looked back. 


 


The Stand.


 


Their man to man defense was beginning to choke off CC’s passing lanes and their players began to drive to the hoop, but only managed to put up wild shots.  Both teams then exchanged unsuccessful shot attempts before Aguirre got fouled on a drive attempt with 1:14 left.  After hitting the first free throw, CC called time out, to no avail as Angelei hit the second as well. 


 


At this point, CC was forced to attempt desperation three pointers on offense, and foul WP players on defense.  But they bricked the threes and then fouled WP’s best free throw shooters, Adams and Aguirre, who made 6 out of 8 free throw attempts to seal the victory. 


 


White Plains, too, is Well-Coached.


 


In previewing WP’s last two opponents, much has been said about these teams being “well coached.”  After watching the regional finals and semifinals games, I certainly agree with that assessment. 


 



Back in the Finals Again. Debbie Flooks, left, and Sue Adams have brought the Tigers back to the last big game. Photo by Tim Sheehan.


 


 But seemingly overlooked is the great coaching job that Sue Adams, Debbie Flooks, Mike Easton and John Joseph have been doing for WP.  No one player dominates every game and the scoring is spread around.  Team members play hard on defense and share the ball, sometimes to a fault. 


 


The game time coaching and half time adjustments have been superb.  No matter what happens tomorrow night as the Tigers attempt to tame RH superstars Shenise Johnson and Bria Jackson, it should be said that White Plains, like the other 3 semifinalists, is a well coached team.


 


Hope that folks can break away from the weekend routine to take the ride up and support the Tigers as they try to obtain the champion’s crown that they barely missed getting last year.

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