Lady Meteors win Division III title

BY MARTY MYERS

Times-Shamrock Writer

In a span of 19 seconds, Sara Krupinski settled the battle for the Lackawanna League DivisionIIIsecond-half title.

Her layups in the final 22 seconds of the third quarter, both off feeds from Dallas Ely, sparked Montrose to a 43-32 triumph overLakelandMonday night that secured the overall DivisionIIIcrown and an automatic berth in the District 2 Class AA tournament that starts in 11 days.

“It was great to get those because they were both off defensive plays,” said Krupinski, who led the third-ranked Lady Meteors with 14 points, 12 rebounds and three blocked shots. “Coach (Al Smith) told us to run the floor as much as we could. We didn’t really do that until the end of the third quarter.

“They were really big because we got the momentum and we started pulling away in the fourth quarter after that.”

Eighth-rankedLakelandhung tough and only trailed, 25-21, as both teams struggled to find any offensive rhythm. One of Ely’s eight steals, one of her eight rebounds and two of her five assists changed the tenor of the game.

Krupinski scored all eight of Montrose’s points in the third quarter and Lakeland never got closer than seven points the rest of the way, despite a 20-point, 11-rebound effort from Allison Kraky.

“She was huge tonight,” Smith said of Krupinski. “She’s been tough all year in the middle for us. She’s done a great job.

“We weren’t shooting the ball well and we needed to attack the glass and get more opportunities. Sometimes you have those nights and tonight was one of those. We just did not shoot the ball well.”

Montrose made just 17 of 67 shots, but grabbed 27 offensive rebounds. In part, that was because ofLakeland’s gimmick defense, which was designed to shut down Ely and Krupinski.

It worked to some degree, with Alissa Steier shadowing Ely and getting double-team help on almost every possession as Ely was held to a 2 for 17 shooting effort.

“When you play a gimmick defense you’re going to give stuff,”Lakelandcoach Pat Walton said. “I don’t know whatDallashad tonight but it’s probably her season low.

“Part of our gimmick defense was to make sure we knew where Krupinski was. The first game she hurt us. A couple times we just lost her.”

ButLakelandalso sacrificed some rebounding, with Montrose holding a 52-39 edge.

“I really worked on my rebounding because we knew we needed a rebounding presence this year, boxing out because I’m not the tallest girl of the (post players),” Krupinski said. “I always like playing defense. I like blocking shots, getting rebounds and outleting the ball because that translates to offense.”

Krupinski’s steal and pass to Ely for a layup, followed by Myra Lattimore’s steal and layup gave Montrose a 37-25 lead with less than four minutes to go in the fourth, all but ending Lakeland’s title bid, however not their aspirations.

“I just told the girls – they’re all in there sulking – did you see all the people who came to see you?” Walton said. “There’s a reason for it. It’s because you’re doing goods things. Keep your heads up high and get ready for Friday night.”

Lakeland will host the winner of theElkLakeat Holy Cross game Friday in the Lackawanna League play-in tournament.