The two high schools are 30 miles apart. But Cornwall and FDR have a connection. Lou Cioffi is filling in as FDR’s athletic director, after serving in that capacity in Cornwall for nine years.
Monday was Mr. Cioffi’s birthday. But the Cornwall girls didn’t have a present for him. They hung on to defeat the FDR basketball team 69-65, as Renee Briggs led the Dragons with 20 points.
“I can’t wait to tell you about the game,” Coach Chris Miller said the following morning. “But I’m on the way to the hospital. My wife’s water broke.”
The Jan. 27 victory at FDR in Hyde Park followed a pair of easier wins. On Jan.22, the girls beat Minisink Valley 45-22 at Slate Hill. On Jan. 24, they hosted the Monticello Panthers and outscored them 54-31. The score was one-sided, but the visitors played tough. They pressed on defense for the entire game, and led for most of the opening quarter.
Alex Jurgens scored the first six points for the Dragons, who trailed until the end of the first period when Renee Briggs and Jackie Hogan hit back-to-back three-pointers.
Once they were ahead, the Dragons went on an 18-4 tear to take a commanding lead at halftime. The trend continued after the intermission, with Jillian Artrip accounting for half of the Dragons’ points. One of her baskets followed a pretty feed from freshman Madison Vinett.
The girls now have a 9-3 record, and their coach has a new son, Kyle Miller.
2 GAMES — Points: Artrip 29, Briggs 22, Jurgens 16, J. Hogan 10, Eliasson 5, Thorpe 5, Vinett 5, Darcy 3, LaGrutta 2, Coleman 1, Fosstveit 1. Threes: Briggs 5, Artrip 4, J. Hogan 2, Darcy, Thorpe. Free throws: Artrip 3-4. FDR game not included.
