Lady Chiefs Clinch Playoff Spot With 63-59 Madison Win
By Eric Goodman

With four chances for the Canarsie High School Lady Chiefs varsity basketball team to clinch a berth in the upcoming Brooklyn Division 1-A PSAL playoffs, the Lady Chiefs seized their first opportunity last week as they defeated the first place James Madison Lady Knights, 63-59, with a terrific 29-6 third quarter at Canarsie on Wednesday, January 19. This is the second straight year Canarsie is playoff bound.

As usual, the Lady Chiefs (9-4) found themselves down by a hefty margin at halftime on January 19 as their man-to-man defensive strategy failed against the faster Lady Knights (10-5) and resulted in a 38-22 score.

A few choice words at halftime from head coach Robert Greenblatt must have worked because in the second half Canarsie played a more effective zone defense and looked like a totally revamped team, holding Madison scoreless for a long stretch.

Greenblatt said that he told his team that it was important to come out and play until the final buzzer.

“I basically told them that they played like garbage in the first half and that they could still get back into the game if they just calmed down and stuck to the game plan of controlling the ball,” said Greenblatt.

A free throw by sophomore Wykeemi Gray with 5:30 left in the third quarter capped a 10-0 run by the Lady Chiefs and cut Madison’s lead to 38-32. Gray led Canarsie with 20 points and 16 rebounds.

Canarsie continued to chip away at Madison’s lead and finally tied it at 44 on a lay up by Caedia Fraser with 3:14 remaining in the third. A minute later Gray hit a lay-up to give Canarsie its first lead, 46-44.

Madison battled back to tie the game at 58 with 3:16 remaining in the fourth quarter on a lay up by Corin Adams. They reclaimed the lead two minutes later on one free throw by Frances Lyons, but it would be the last points the Lady Knights would score.

Shantel Dunston hit two free throws with 1:33 remaining to give Canarsie a 60-59 lead. Sharee Vielot and Fraser added two free throws apiece in the closing seconds to give the Lady Chiefs the victory.

Greenblatt was happy with beating a quality divisional opponent and is ready for the playoff push.

“I knew we had a good enough team to make the playoffs but now it’s time to really buckle down and see what we’re made of,” said the Lady Chiefs’ first year coach. “It’s obvious that Gray has been our best player this year so if she continues to play well and we also get another girl or two to step it up then I believe we will go very deep into the playoffs.”

Last Thursday, Canarsie easily defeated their neighborhood rival South Shore Lady Vikings, 72-33, at home. Gray led the Lady Chiefs with 19 points and 20 rebounds while Vielot added 17 points.

Canarsie finishes the regular season on February 2 at home against 11-3 Midwood.

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