Garnets Runners-Up to Defending Champion

The Garnets will have to settle for second place in this year's Rye Rotary Holiday Classic, after losing to the defending champion in the tournament's final game on Saturday.

The Rye Girl's varsity basketball team were runners-up to the Irvington High School Bulldogs in the championship game, defeated 67-49.

The Garnets advanced to the championship game after beating Preston High School 57-31 on Friday. Preston lost to White Plains in Saturday's consolation game.

In the final game, both teams established their rhythm in the first quarter, but Irvington was first to put points on the board.

Rye's Lillian McCabe then made two at the line to tie the score at 2-2. Jillian Chittenden followed with a two pointer at the 5:39 mark as Rye led 5-4 and then 10-6 with 3:27 left to play.

Rye's head coach Mary Henwood called a timeout at 2:49 after Irvington cut the lead to one point.

"Irvington is a fastbreak team," Henwood said. She said her team needed to get back on defense and take away Irvington's transition game.

The Garnets began the second quarter trailing 22-12. They cut the lead down to eight from as much as 11 when Irvington was ahead with less than two minutes left in the quarter. Irvington then drew a foul bringing Chittenden to the line, cutting the lead to 34-24. Catharine Greer was then fouled with a half second left on the clock, bringing the score to 34-26 at halftime. 

Rye was behind by ten with 4:37 left in the third, despite a strong effort from Greer. The fourth was much of the same as the buzzer sounded with the final score, 67-49, but Henwood's team gained valuable experience from playing in the tournament. 

"We can learn and grow," she said. "We were challenged and its going to help us in sectionals [playoffs]."

She was pleased with her players performance against a top Class B team. "I'm just proud," she said. 

Rye last won the Rye Rotary Classic in 2004.

Final 2009 Tournament Rankings are as follows:

Irvington - Champion

Rye - Runner Up

White Plains- 3rd

Preston-4th

All-Tournament Team selection from Rye: Catharine Greer

MVP selection from Irvington: Tara Gabelman