Byline: M.F. Piraino Staff writer
At 6-foot-2, senior Lisa Olszewski presents a big problem in the paint for Westhill opponents.
Although the Warriors have the Onondaga League scoring leader in Carly Cooper, Westhill coach Sue Ludwig believes Olszewski is at the center of Westhill's success.
'When Lisa struggles, it's more of a struggle for us,' Ludwig said. 'We go basically as she goes.'
Olszewski has been up to the challenge this season as the Warriors come into 2007 with a 5-0 Liberty Conference record (7-2 overall) before playing Bishop Ludden on Wednesday. She is averaging 14.2 points per game compared to 12.2 last year.
As Ludwig pointed out, Olszewski's impact is evident this season. The Warriors are 6-0 when Olszewski scores in double figures and 1-2 when she does not. Westhill's losses were to Class AA schools Oswego and Fayetteville-Manlius.
With the graduation of Section III scoring queen Carlee Cassidy, Ludwig put in a few more offensive options this year with Olszewski as a large target down low.
'Last year, we stood around and watched Carlee too much,' Ludwig said. 'We're trying to spread the ball around more. Everyone on this team is capable of scoring.'
New Hartford junior closes in on 1,000
Nicole Karam, New Hartford's leading scorer, needs just seven points Friday at Clinton to reach 1,000 for her career.
The 5-9 junior guard, who is averaging 17 ppg, enters the Tri-Valley League game with 993 points. Karam will become the fifth female in school history to score 1,000 career points.
'She is probably one of our best players ever and we've had some good ones in the last eight years,' New Hartford coach Mike Callan said. 'She has such quickness and strength plus a willingness to work hard. She's a very dedicated athlete.'
Karam is one of four starters averaging double figures this season for the revitalized Spartans (7-3), who endured their first losing season in six years last winter at 7-14.
Two Liberty teams cope with injuries
Solvay's Carrie Smith, the team's leading scorer and rebounder, has missed three and a half games this season with a right-shoulder injury. The 6-1 center is treating the injury with physical therapy, Solvay coach Shawn Mitchell said.
'I don't like to talk about injuries because everyone has them,' Mitchell said. 'But we are a different team without Smith on the floor.'
Mitchell added that Smith's value goes beyond her play in the paint.
'Unlike some 6-foot-1 players, she can shoot a 17-foot jump shot,' he said. 'She has a knack for the game defensively and she doesn't get into foul trouble.'
There's no question having Smith in the lineup makes a huge difference. The Bearcats are 6-1 when she plays and 1-3 without her.
Some good news for the Bearcats (3-3, 7-4): Chelsey Chavez-Egan is healthy after a foot injury last month. The Bearcats travel Friday to league-leading Westhill.
Cazenovia is also playing without its leading scorer, Kiley Evans. The 5-9 Evans has been sidelined with a stress fracture in her right foot since Dec. 9. She provided 14.6 points per game for the Lakers (3-3, 5-5).
'It's always a blow when you lose your leading scorer,' Cazenovia coach Paul Harney said. 'But the good thing is that it forces our other kids to step up.'
Evans, a three-sport athlete at Cazenovia, said the foot started bothering her after cross country season. She has missed the last five games to allow her foot to heal. Evans hopes to be back in the lineup this month. The Lakers host Marcellus on Friday.
Phoenix's Tupper returns to the court
At Phoenix, junior Julia Tupper is back in action after missing the first four games of the season because of a broken left leg. Tupper, a key inside player for the Firebirds (2-4, 4-5), injured her leg in soccer.
Tupper scored 14 points in her season debut Dec. 13 against East Syracuse-Minoa. She is averaging 10.4 ppg.
'She is such an important player for us,' Phoenix coach Steve Storie said. 'She is our best rebounder and one of our best scorers.'
Besides Tupper, senior forward Lindsay Harris also came off the injured list Dec. 13. Harris was out after injuring her knee during cross country.
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PHOTO
File photo/Jim Commentucci, 2006
LISA OLSZEWSKI of Westhill grabs a rebound in front of Cazenovia's Carrie Stevens during their Dec. 22 game at Westhill. The senior inside player is averaging 14.2 points for the Warriors, who are undefeated in Liberty Conference play.
