2012-13 Recap – FLCC’s Winning Season Fueled by “Hot Months” of January and February
CANANDAIGUA – The Finger Lakes CC women's hoops team endured a solid 2012-13 campaign. The Lady Lakers, who finished the season with a record of 18-13, put together some great accomplishments over the course of their 31-game schedule.
The team finished second in the MSAC standings as it went 10-2 in conference play this past season. In honor of their outstanding conference play, both head coach Bill Henry and Casi Strait, a prolific scorer, were named Coach of the Year and Player of the Year in the conference respectively.
The Lady Lakers season began on a turbulent ride. In the first two months of the season, in November and December combined, they went 3-9. After setting out for a month-long break for the holidays, Finger Lakes arrived into the New Year a different team.
Entering conference play in their first contest of the 2013 portion of their schedule, the Lady Lakers suddenly became a different team. Beginning on 1/8/13 in a road contest against Tompkins Cortland CC, they would peel off a six-game win streak to nod their record at 9 games up and 9 games down. After seeing their six-game win streak go away on 1/23 when they fell to Onondaga CC at home, the Lady Lakers would then peel off yet another six-game win streak.
After establishing a 12-1 record prior to the beginning of the New Year, Finger Lakes would go 3-3 in its remaining 6 games. Their excellent second half play gave them great momentum heading into postseason play. After defeating Cayuga CC and Jefferson CC in the quarter and semifinals of the MSAC playoffs respectively, the Lady Lakers found themselves in the championship game against top seed Onondaga. Unfortunately, in that contest, they were unable to bring home the conference championship crown as they fell to the Lady Lazers of Onondaga 72-55.
Finger Lakes, after its trip to the MSAC Championship, made an appearance in the 2013 Region III Tournament. In a regional quarterfinal matchup with fourth seeded Fulton-Montgomery CC on 3/1; the #5 Lady Lakers would fall to the Lady Raiders by a score of 64-51. The loss to Fulton-Montgomery put an end to what was a quality season for Finger Lakes.
The Lady Lakers, offensively, were paced for the second consecutive season by Strait's scoring abilities. The sophomore, who played in each of Finger Lakes 31 games, led the team in scoring with her 19.7 points per game average. Following her with double-digit scoring averages were sophomores Kelli McCauley and Britany Monpere. McCauley, in a season where she made a team-best 55 three-point baskets, averaged 14.4 PPG in 27 games played. Monpere, who unfortunately had her season cut short due to a torn ACL, averaged 10.5 PPG in 21 games.
Strait's scoring average stood atop of the region and ranked consistently inside the top 10 in the nation throughout the season. In conference play, she averaged an MSAC-best 21.3 PPG. She, along with McCauley, were one and two respectively in the region in free throw percentage this past season. Strait was an 84 percent free throw shooter, while McCauley, from the line, shot 81 percent. McCauley, who 89 percent from the line in 12 conference games, was the MSAC leader in free throw shooting.
Monpere, who averaged a team-best 9 rebounds per game to go along with her 10.5 PPG, hovered around the top 10 in rebounding in the region throughout 2012-13, even after she went down due to injury.
The Lady Lakers, in addition to the play of Strait, McCauley and Monpere, received solid seasons from Julia Pagano, Casey Dean, and Jordan Smith. Pagano, a sophomore, served as the teams' floor general. From atop of the key, in 30 games played, the point guard averaged a team-best 5.3 assists (second in the region) per game. At the end of the season, Pagano was first in the MSAC in assists as she averaged 6.4 APG in conference play. In addition, she led the MSAC in steals as she put claim to 5.2 SPG in 12 conference contests.
Dean, in 31 games, averaged 6 PPG, while Smith, who also played in all 31 Lady Laker contests, averaged 5 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.
Also contributing solid efforts all season long on the hardwood for Finger Lakes were Kelly Broderick, Alexis Maiorano, and Jennifer Guerrier.
Finger Lakes greatest strength all season long was its offense. The Lady Lakers consistently ranked inside the top 5 in the region in scoring and were seventh in total points scored in the nation. All and all, 2012-13 was a season that will be stored away in the positive memory book for the Lady Lakers.