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Post by HC13 on Nov 8, 2019 8:38:20 GMT -5
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Post by lou on Nov 8, 2019 9:24:47 GMT -5
What's the good news? Can't get the story ...
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Post by rgs318 on Nov 8, 2019 9:55:34 GMT -5
Might she use a medical redshirt?
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Post by rgs318 on Nov 8, 2019 9:56:18 GMT -5
WORCESTER — During her pregame routine, Holy Cross sophomore point guard Avery LaBarbera likes to be alone listening to peaceful, instrumental music in her earbuds.
“I don’t like to get myself too amped up,” LaBarbera said. “I wait until I get on the court for that.”
As a freshman, LaBarbera made an immediate impact for the Crusaders while shining as a spirited, competitive leader. She averaged 11.3 points and 4.2 rebounds, led the team with 40 steals and was named Patriot League Rookie of the Year. “She brings so much energy, so much spunk,” said senior forward Lauren Manis, the preseason PL Player of the Year. “Everyone feeds off her energy. She’s just so fun to play with. I think you can see how much fun she’s having when she’s playing.”
In 2018-19, LaBarbera helped lead Holy Cross to 18 wins, its most since the 2013-14 season, and the semifinals of the Patriot League Tournament. The Crusaders were picked second in the 2019-20 preseason Patriot League poll, but, with 99 percent of last year’s scoring returning, expectations are even higher around the Hart Center. “I think we’ll be really good,” LaBarbera said. “It’s a different feel this year. We know how we play. We know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. It’s just a different feel.” The Crusaders open the season Saturday at Illinois.
In her collegiate debut last November against Rider, LaBarbera scored 18 points. She scored in double figures in 19 games and poured in a career-high 30 in a win over Brown. She had a career-high eight assists in a late-season win against Colgate. Pressure situations may be where LaBarbera performs the best. She made two clutch baskets in a three-point win over Navy, sank a pair of three throws to close out Lafayette in overtime, and had 11 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists in HC’s thrilling win over Boston University in the PL quarterfinals. “She’s a gamer,” Holy Cross interim head coach Ann McInerney said. “She’s fearless. She’s not afraid to take the big shots. She’s not afraid to have the ball in her hand. She really gives us a lot of great energy.”
McInerney, who served as associate head coach for 10 seasons, was named interim head coach at the time of former coach Bill Gibbons’ suspension in January and remained in that capacity when Holy Cross fired Gibbons in March. McInerney is in her 12th season with the HC program. LaBarbera set the Harrison (N.Y.) High School career (1,457), single-season (421) and single-game (40) records for points, and has obviously continued as a major offensive threat at Holy Cross. “As a sophomore,” McInerney said, “the challenge will be to continue to develop her game. More attention will be paid to her (by opposing defenses). They will try to shut her down. She will continue to learn the game, moving without the ball and staying within the flow of our offense.”
LaBarbera said senior guard Maddy Smith was a big help in her transition from the high school to college game last season. “I learned from her,” LaBarbera said. “The speed and the physicality is different in college. It’s much faster, much harder. Working in the weight room and learning from older people really helped me. I was thrown into the fire quickly, but it was fun.”
LaBarbera spent six weeks this summer at Holy Cross, working out with several teammates, lifting and taking a class. She is poised for another big season. LaBarbera, Smith, junior guard Jenay Faulkner, Manis and senior Megan Swords project as the starting five. The Crusaders will be without sophomore forward Madison Demski this season. She suffered a torn ACL.
Manis, a three-time All-Patriot League selection, ranked second in the PL in scoring (16.8 ppg) and rebounding (11.1 rpg) last season. “We’re excited,” McInerney said. “The team worked hard in the offseason and the preseason. We’re trying to build on the end of last season. We’re staying together, continuing to put in the effort and enjoying the process every day.
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Post by sader1970 on Nov 8, 2019 10:44:59 GMT -5
Avery is a star. I have mixed emotions about her coming from Harrison. 1. Good. I used to live there. 2. Bad. I got my first speeding ticket there about 2 weeks before they opened the new (at the time) Harrison High School. The cop "apologized" (he really didn't, it was just his excuse) but said he "caught" me on radar going 35 in a school zone 25 limit "and I can't do anything about it". I was a resident and told him we both knew the school hadn't opened yet so his fall back position was "we are trying to get everyone to realize that the school will open soon and need to slow down". Worse part was while I admit I was doing 35 +/- mph going up a steep grade in my Mustang before I got to the school, I took my foot off the accelerator and coasted to the top of the hill, slowing down. Mr. "Protect and Serve" was outside his unmarked car (also a joke as it looked exactly like every other Harrison cop car, just didn't say "POLICE" on it), standing in the middle of the road waving his hands and my first thought, believe it or not, was that his cop car broke down and was looking for help. Recall, while police cars had radios in those days, no cell phone. So, I roll down the window and ask "Everything OK, do you need help?" since I figured I was doing 25-30 mph when I hit the plateau. He politely asked me to pull in front of his car and then informed me he had to give me a speeding ticket. Next brush with Harrison PD, my wife and I are going for a drive. Go under a railroad bridge right next to the train station. A "T" intersection, I come to a full stop at the stop sign and make my left turn with no one coming. Drive about 200-300 yards by the train station with a park across the street and hear a siren and look in the rearview mirror and see police car with flashing lights (siren off). I pull to the curb to let him go by. He stops next to me, and yells out the window to me very angrily "when you hear a siren, you have to pull over!!!  ." My snappy rejoinder: "I did!" He starts jawing at me for a good 30-45 seconds and zooms off, lights flashing, no siren. All the while, there's a local pedestrian laughing his @ss off at the whole scene that has me even more pi$$ed off. After the cop leaves, the pedestrian comes over to me and says "what was HIS problem?" I tell him the cop said I didn't pull over when he had his siren on. He started laughing again and said: "I saw the whole thing. He put his siren on just as he got to you and you pulled over right away. And if he was in such a big hurry, how come he spent so much time yelling at you?" Perhaps a couple of weeks later, a Harrison cop, was up on charges for shooting at a moving car. Late at night, Mr. Law & Order makes a stop for a minor traffic violation. As he heads back to his car, Mr. Public decides "what'll happen if I just drive away?" His answer "in less than a heartbeat" (Marty Robbins, "El Paso") was a shot at his car. He stops. No harm, no foul? Nah, guess he lawyers up and they do an investigation. They never publicized in the local paper what the results of the investigation was. Always assumed the cop was quietly let go. I always suspected this was not the guy who ticketed me at the high school but would bet dollars to donuts the angry cop at the railroad station had enough anger to fire his weapon at a fleeing speeder. So, I digress. Pleased we have Avery and glad/amused she is from Harrison. A nice to live if the local cops don't shoot you for a traffic violation or just because they are having a bad day.   |
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Post by hchoops on Nov 8, 2019 10:57:33 GMT -5
I guess the Harrison Cof C will not be asking you for a referral very soon.
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Post by sader1970 on Nov 8, 2019 11:06:45 GMT -5
You'd be surprised at my answer. Recognizing I have a plaque for Genoa Township Police for being "Citizen of the Year." and my dozens of police and retired police friends over many years (none on the Harrison force you'd be surprised to know), we really liked living in Harrison. I have a nephew who lives there now. A really neat little village. In the 40+ years since my issues, I am sure they have fixed their policing problem. And, hey, the town has given us Avery and she seems special.
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Post by purplehaze on Nov 8, 2019 12:08:04 GMT -5
Season preview posted yday on our webpage includes Demski as a major contributor in the frontcourt - I'd say that's a little sloppy if she's indeed out for the year
We should be able to hang in there tmro as the Illini are coming off a 10-20 yr (2-16 in the big 10) and are predicted to be at the bottom of the league this season.
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Post by rgs318 on Nov 8, 2019 12:26:41 GMT -5
Hard to lose a 6'3" player and not feel the effects. However, this team has enough talent to overcome that...along with a strong desire to WIN.
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Post by hchoops on Nov 8, 2019 12:35:26 GMT -5
Probably eliminates the back up to Swords, who has injury history
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Post by hchoops on Nov 8, 2019 12:38:40 GMT -5
Season preview posted yday on our webpage includes Demski as a major contributor in the frontcourt - I'd say that's a little sloppy if she's indeed out for the year We should be able to hang in there tmro as the Illini are coming off a 10-20 yr (2-16 in the big 10) and are predicted to be at the bottom of the league this season. I would not assume hanging in there. I do not know the strength of Big10 women’s’ hoops, but if it is comparable to the men’s, we are probably a big underdog.,deservingly. |
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Post by bison137 on Nov 8, 2019 13:11:48 GMT -5
Season preview posted yday on our webpage includes Demski as a major contributor in the frontcourt - I'd say that's a little sloppy if she's indeed out for the year We should be able to hang in there tmro as the Illini are coming off a 10-20 yr (2-16 in the big 10) and are predicted to be at the bottom of the league this season. I would not assume hanging in there. I do not know the strength of Big10 women’s’ hoops, but if it is comparable to the men’s, we are probably a big underdog.,deservingly. As I mentioned before, Illinois has not been as good as the top Patriot League schools in any of the past four years. Their BEST team in that span ranked #144 while their worse (2017-18) was #207. During those years, they would have generally been the #3 or #4 team in the PL. HC will be an underdog, but not a big one. It's a winnable game if they play well and don't get intimidated by the fact that they are playing a Big Ten team. After all, they beat Bucknell last year, and Bucknell was much better than Illinois. |
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Post by hchoops on Nov 8, 2019 13:27:25 GMT -5
I really do not buy those numbers to prove much , esp in an opening game for both.
You can say one team would beat another, but unless they actually played, it is worth little
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Post by rgs318 on Nov 8, 2019 14:47:10 GMT -5
FWIW Massey has (125) Illinois, currently 1-0, as an 11 point favorite (73-62) over (226) Holy Cross with an 83% chance of victory.
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Post by hchoops on Nov 8, 2019 15:03:26 GMT -5
Their first game was a 30 point win over Chicago State, a member of the WAC
Last season, 2-28, 2-14
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Post by longsuffering on Nov 9, 2019 0:26:31 GMT -5
Hard to lose a 6'3" player and not feel the effects. However, this team has enough talent to overcome that...along with a strong desire to WIN. Madison Demski had a metal brace-like contraption on her knee last season. Full disclosure, I am not that observant, but on the website there is a photo from last season that shows the metal brace on Demski. Shannon Murphy at 6'1" is listed as a center, but in her first two years she has only appeared in a handful of games. Perhaps she can contribute this year. There are only two freshman on the roster and both are 5'7". We will need Demski back at full strength next season after Megan Swords graduates. Regarding the article by Jen Toland, did anyone else raise an eyebrow when she managed to include both BG's suspension and firing in a feature article about Avery? |
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Post by sader1970 on Nov 9, 2019 7:18:29 GMT -5
I think once you write about an interim coach for an entire season, you have to set the context why someone with a temporary title is going to be there an entire season.
I don’t think she can write the story as if every reader knows why AM is “interim.”
Don’t think she is the kind to just take gratuitous swipes at BG.
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Post by ndgradbuthcfan on Nov 9, 2019 7:29:06 GMT -5
Hard to lose a 6'3" player and not feel the effects. However, this team has enough talent to overcome that...along with a strong desire to WIN. Madison Demski had a metal brace-like contraption on her knee last season. Full disclosure, I am not that observant, but on the website there is a photo from last season that shows the metal brace on Demski. Shannon Murphy at 6'1" is listed as a center, but in her first two years she has only appeared in a handful of games. Perhaps she can contribute this year. There are only two freshman on the roster and both are 5'7". We will need Demski back at full strength next season after Megan Swords graduates. Regarding the article by Jen Toland, did anyone else raise an eyebrow when she managed to include both BG's suspension and firing in a feature article about Avery? Pretty certain that Demski missed her entire high school senior season for similar reason. Not able to read article but based on what you wrote, I am raising an eyebrow. |
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Post by sader1970 on Nov 9, 2019 7:43:55 GMT -5
The article is copied in its entirety in the 4th post from the top.
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Post by rgs318 on Nov 9, 2019 7:45:02 GMT -5
Madison Demski had a metal brace-like contraption on her knee last season. Full disclosure, I am not that observant, but on the website there is a photo from last season that shows the metal brace on Demski. Shannon Murphy at 6'1" is listed as a center, but in her first two years she has only appeared in a handful of games. Perhaps she can contribute this year. There are only two freshman on the roster and both are 5'7". We will need Demski back at full strength next season after Megan Swords graduates. Regarding the article by Jen Toland, did anyone else raise an eyebrow when she managed to include both BG's suspension and firing in a feature article about Avery? Pretty certain that Demski missed her entire high school senior season for similar reason. Not able to read article but based on what you wrote, I am raising an eyebrow. The entire article is posted above in this thread. Here is the line that spoke about Demski: "LaBarbera spent six weeks this summer at Holy Cross, working out with several teammates, lifting and taking a class. She is poised for another big season. LaBarbera, Smith, junior guard Jenay Faulkner, Manis and senior Megan Swords project as the starting five. The Crusaders will be without sophomore forward Madison Demski this season. She suffered a torn ACL" |
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Post by HC13 on Nov 9, 2019 12:49:27 GMT -5
Pretty certain that Demski missed her entire high school senior season for similar reason. Not able to read article but based on what you wrote, I am raising an eyebrow. The entire article is posted above in this thread. Here is the line that spoke about Demski: "LaBarbera spent six weeks this summer at Holy Cross, working out with several teammates, lifting and taking a class. She is poised for another big season. LaBarbera, Smith, junior guard Jenay Faulkner, Manis and senior Megan Swords project as the starting five. The Crusaders will be without sophomore forward Demski this season. She suffered a torn ACL"Demski had missed her senior year after a torn ACL in the first game of the season. She did travel with the team and based on the picture below, I am uncertain if the report is accurate. Sure we will find out later today /photo/1 |
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