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Ansonia
senior Brooke Jenkins applies the defensive pressure on
Southeastern
senior forward Jenna Erwin Saturday at Brookville. The
Tigers lost their sectional opener 51-25 to
the Trojans. Ansonia ends
its season with a mark of 3-18. CNO Photo by George Starks
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A-Lady Tigers
play hard in sectional loss
By George Starks
BROOKVILLE- The Ansonia Lady Tigers ended their season Saturday almost
the same way it started. On a sour note.
Or was it?
Four games into the season. The Ansonia coach walked out, leaving the
team high and dry. Volleyball coaches Craig Reithman and Jason
Hemmelgarn stepped up, took the reigns and kept the season going.
Saturday, it all came to an end for Ansonia as the Tigers fell to
Southeastern, 51-25 in sectional play.
Even in a 26 point loss, the Tigers went down fighting as the final
score does not indicate the effort put forth by Ansonia in a season
that won’t soon be forgotten.
“We had a game plan and we wanted to do what we were capable of doing,”
said Reithman. “We came out and our effort was there. We kept it close
for a while (12-7 after one) and we thought we were coming out and
putting ourselves in a pretty good position to win in the second half.”
Trailing by a dozen at the break, 23-11, the Trojans started to march,
holding the Tigers to just five points while putting 12 on the board on
offense, holding a 35-16 lead after three.
“They are a very good team and you have to give them a lot of credit,”
Hemmelgarn said. “They got up and down the floor on offense and proved
their ability to score. They had good open shots and that Erwin girl
(Jenna, 20 points) is a heck of a player. Our girls played hard and we
are very proud of them.”
In a year filled with adversity, the Tigers played themselves proud and
Reithman pointed that out.
“When we were asked to coach, I had to talk it over with my wife
because we didn’t know what we were getting into,” Reithman admitted.
“I appreciate what these kids gave me. The girls made it easy on us.
They worked hard, they listened and they enjoyed coming to practice.
They always had their heads up and they worked together as a team. They
did everything we asked them to do. They made it easy on us.”
“It was a pleasure to coach these kids,” Hemmelgarn added. “We are
going to miss the seniors a lot. It’s a shame things went down the way
it did but these kids sucked it up and took it to the next level.”
“It’s an opportunity most kids don’t come through,” Reithman continued.
“It’s a great learning experience and it will make them stronger.”
The Tigers season ends at 3-18 overall.
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