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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Scotty Sports Corner: Basketball, Soccer Gear Up for Tournaments
By Kelly Proctor '02
Special Correspondent
Tappahannock (February 11, 2002) - These past two weeks at St. Margaret's School have been hectic for busy students darting to and fro in preparation for exams. Even so, SMS athletes gave their all on the court and the fields-and they have the scores to prove it.
Photo left: - This year marked the first that St. Margaret's School competed in swimming. Coached by Tappahannock's Katie Speigler (front), the team includes, from left to right: Mary Burke Parker of Tappahannock, Merritt Allaun, Virginia King, Lulu Fiscella, Fi McMullan, Mary Andrews, Allie Burdette, Mary Elizabeth McDowell, Rachel Chang, Sojin Lee, Olivia Longest of Tappahannock. Not pictured: Margaret Moncure of Tappahannock.
Basketball: St. Margaret's varsity basketball team traveled down the Rappahannock to meet Christchurch School at the Seahorse gym on Wednesday, February 6. The Scotties could feel CCS nipping at their heels as the first half ended, but the start of the second half brought a renewed vigor to the SMS team.
Junior co-captain Fola Ogundiran made shot after winning shot to bring the Scotties well ahead of their rivals. When time ran out, Ogundiran had posted a double-double (28 points, 11 rebounds). The final score stood at 39-23, an important Scotty victory.
"We started off slow," said Coach Sue Saunders. "However, we took off the second half with a little lineup change. Also, Fola Ogundiran caught on fire!"
The basketball Scotties play in the first round of the League of Independent Schools tournament on Tuesday, February 12.
Soccer: On Wednesday, February 6, St. Margaret's varsity soccer team headed to Lynchburg to play Virginia Episcopal School. As their last matchup had resulted in a disappointing loss, the Scotties were more than ready to give their rivals some heat.
SMS displayed a fierce determination from the get-go; within the first 20 seconds of the game, senior co-captain Danielle Magid dribbled the ball down to the corner flag and crossed it smack into the center, where junior Jessie Malm drove it into the net. This was to be the one and only score of the game, as St. Margaret's stopped run after run from quick VES forwards.
The final minutes of the game were pandemonium, as every player on each team made mad dashes to receive the ball. To add to the mayhem, the sky opened up and let loose a barrage of sleet and snow. As the Scotties piled back into the bus to go home, they were wet from head to toe and covered with red clay from the field, yet overjoyed to have beaten VES, 1-0.
"That was an all-important game," said Head Coach Rodney Watkins. "There was outstanding play by everyone! Palmer Ware (of Dunnsville), the JV goalie, came up to help us out. She had outstanding goal play. Late in the third quarter, she stopped an indirect kick to preserve the win. It was a great team effort."
Earlier, on January 30, the Scotty varsity soccer squad played the Steward School of Richmond at Essex High. SMS dominated the game from the beginning. Ten minutes into first half, St. Margaret's scored its first goal as senior co-captain Kelly Proctor of Urbanna toed the ball across the line. The second half brought another score in the Scotties' favor, as senior co-captain Danielle Magid slammed a goal home to make the final score 2-0.
The soccer Scotties begin tournament play on Tuesday, February 12, at home against Steward.
Swimming: St. Margaret's swim team closed out its first season with a rematch against Norfolk Academy and the Collegiate School at NOVA Swimming Center on January 26. New Zealand swimming sensation Fi McMullan finished second overall in the 200-yard individual medley, 2:20.87. The 200-yard medley relay team of McMullan, Merritt Allaun, Mary Andrews, and Margaret Moncure of Tappahannock posted a 2:12.85 to finish second against Norfolk and fourth overall. Andrews placed third against Collegiate in the 100-yard freestyle, 1:01.44.
The swimming Scotties participated in the state championships on February 1 and 2; watch for details next week in the tournament report.
