Lady Vikings Answer The Call

When times are tough and your coach challenges you to raise to the occasion you can do one of two things. You either respond or give up.

The Nichols Schools girls basketball team responded.

Imani Dockery had 20 points as Nichols scored a 69-34 win over Health Science in non-league girls basketball action that was played at the Gerard Gym on the Nichols campus, Wednesday night.

The win comes on the heels of Monday’s loss to Mt.St. Mary in what was like the Vikings worst showing of the season. A study in frustration, the Vikings, after winning two straight, came unraveled against the Mount as they turned the ball over a total of 41 times. Head coach Bob Torgalski pulled no punches when he spoke to his team when he asked them what they wanted out of themselves and each other for the rest of the season.

“Yesterday in practice we did have a long talk and coach told us basically said the same thing. Either you grow up right now or we’re just gonna have a bad season,” said senior Ava Bueme, who was one of four players to his double digits.

“So everybody practiced hard and kept doing the drills and it really showed (today) and I think we’re just going to keep progressing.”

Bueme and Jill Niedzialowski had 11 points each while junior TaNia Cunningham added 12 points of her own and brought some much needed grit to the floor for the Vikings as Health Science presented them with their most physical challenge to date.

“I think this game taught us that we have to be just as physical,” Cunningham said. “Not in a bad way, but play aggressively and don’t give up. When a foul doesn’t get called don’t get upset just keep playing your game.”

Cunningham agreed that after the loss to Mount, the game against Health Science presented them with the opportunity to make a statement and they did by holding a 21-10 lead after the first quarter.

Health Science, which was led by Diamond Dunn who had 12 points, showed no quit. They had team speed and were not afraid to shoot. But while they were getting their looks at the hoop not nearly enough of those shots found the mark in the first half as they fell behind 32-18.

But the Falcons closed the gap a bit with a 7-0 run to open the second half. Ultimately coach Tiffany Prunty felt that the Vikings just wore her girls down with their team speed.

“I think it comes down to, sometimes, playing smart. Making good decisions,” said Prunty. “We play a lot of the city schools so we play (good) competition. So they’re used to this fast paced game. Shots weren’t falling. They’re easily frustrated and some times they don’t know how to come back.”

Nichols regained control with a 12-0 run late in the third that was highlighted by Cunningham closing out a 3-point play and going 4 of 4 from the line.

“It felt really good,” Cunningham said. “We all came together and did better with our passes. We really worked as a team. Talking to each other and making something happen.”