BUFFALO — Starpoint headed into their game against Williamsville South with an under .500 record but that did not matter when it came to the game.
The only thing that mattered is how they played in the game and for the fourth consecutive year, Starpoint is heading to the Section VI title game.
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Starpoint’s season will continue for at least one more day after a 60-43 win over Williamsville South in the Section VI A1 Tournament Semifinals, Friday, at Buffalo State University’s Sports Arena.
In their previous three trips to the sectional title game, Starpoint is 2-1 with two consecutive wins in the game. One of the players that has played in all three of those games is senior Natalie Prezioso who scored 10 points in this game.
Prezioso was one of two Starpoint players in double figures alongside Gabby Schmidt with 14 points.
“I think it’s just the bond that we’ve had with the girls every single year, Prezioso said. “We’ve had a new coach this year and she’s done a great job keeping the spirit alive. I think in general it’s just having confidence in each other.”
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In last year’s win over North Tonawanda, Prezioso scored seven points.
As one of two seniors in this year’s roster alongside Ashlyn Lee, Prezioso is able to tell her teammates what it is like to play on the Sports Arena floor.
“When we won our first playoff game, the second we stepped in the locker room, I screamed that we were going to Buff State,” Prezioso said. “It’s such a flex to be able to come here. The court is huge and it’s such an experience.”
The win improves Starpoint’s record to 10-11 on the season.
The game started slowly with Williamsville South taking a 15-12 lead into the second quarter. The contest completely flipped in the second quarter though with the Spartans opening the quarter with a 9-0 run to take a 22-15 lead.
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The run was ended by a three but the Spartans could not be stopped in the second quarter taking a 32-21 lead into the half behind eight points from both Tori Kowalewski and Gabby Schmidt.
In the second quarter, Starpoint outscored their opponents 20-6.
The third quarter continued to be all about Starpoint who took a 45-30 lead into the final quarter. The fourth quarter continued to be lopsided for Starpoint who outscored Williamsville South 20-13 in the final frame.
This was the third game between Starpoint and Williamsville South this season with the Billies winning 62-48 in the first matchup before Starpoint came back with a 46-45 win on Jan. 28.
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“We really studied film and different things like that to figure out what way can we do things to make things successful,” Starpoint head coach Melissa Lindner said. “My coaching staff and these girls completely bought into the idea of what we want, what I threw at them for this gameplan and the scoreboard showed that it was the right plan.”
The Spartans now have off until Wednesday, March 4, when they take on Lake Shore.
