South Fork Ponies pop off on Senior Night, 71-20
KINCAID — The South Fork girls basketball team’s senior members. From left: Brianne Drnjevic, Kennady Watson and Gianna Pop.
Lucas Domonousky
Breeze-Courier Sports Editor
KINCAID — The South Fork girls varsity basketball team hosted the Ramsey Rams for Senior Night on Thursday, Feb. 2. These girls had no problem at all with their opponent thanks to the leadership and depth of the Ponies’ bench. They defeated the Rams 71-20 the final.
South Fork was given extra fuel to get through this Senior Night victory. After coming off of the Monday, Jan. 30 loss to Gillespie Head Coach Josh Mulvaney had the feeling this game was going to be extra special.
“We probably had the best week of practice we’ve had.” He said. “We came out here and put on a show and we really wanted to. We don’t get a packed house like this very often so when we filled the stands I told the girls ‘let’s show them what they’ve been missing all season long’ and they came out here and executed. Couldn’t be prouder on a Senior Night to put on a shot that we did.”
The night’s focus was the three South Fork senior members who have been at the forefront of this team all season long. Out of the three Gianna Pop headlined putting up a crisp 15 points. Both Kennady Watson and Brianne Drnjevic notched 6 points each in the blowout victory.
“I’ll tell you what, great leaders all year long.” Mulvaney commented. “One of the most connect teams I’ve had since coaching. Zero drama and a lot of that goes with the seniors keeping these girls tight, not worrying about who’s getting playing time or whose scoring. At the end of the day they want us to succeed. Hats off to them.”
This team doesn’t just play with each other, they play for each other. Coach Mulvaney has seen this and continues to build off of it every single game.
“It’s believing, committing to the process and really just putting in the hard work.” He says. “We preach a ‘We above Me’ mentality and that’s what it is. At the end of the star of the team is the team. We’re not worried about whose scoring points as long as, at the end of the night, the scoreboard at on the Ponies side is more than the visitor’s side. It’s been commitment from all of them. Senior through freshman.”
South Fork had most of their team get in on the action against Ramsey. Junior Jayden Neal came close to double digit points with 9. Sophomore/freshman duo Jara Shoulders and Angelina Ippolito both put up 4 points of their own. Sophomore Re Jeana Carriker (3) and freshman Alyvia Mulvaney (2) combined for 5 points total.
However, leading the team in points was the Ponies main ball handler Lilly Wake. The sophomore finished with 22 points in the match. A career high in scoring which will undoubtably be broken in the years to come.
“She is best when she is going one hundred miles an hour getting to the rim.” The Head Coach said. “She did that and then it was also she was confident to pull the shot. Those shots she hasn’t been confident the last few weeks. Tonight, the old Lilly Wake showed up.”
In the midst of all the success the South Fork 7th grade boys team is having this season Coach Mulvaney wanted to give a shoutout but also remind people of this team.
“It’s not over. We wanted to his that twenty mark. It’s not out of the question yet but we want to just keep building on it. Like I said, last year we hit 15 and two years prior to that it was four. He said. “We even said tonight, we wanted to remind Kincaid and Edinburg that there’s another really good program. Best of luck to Coach Puccetti and them. I hope they bring that State title home but we wanted to remind the community, hey, there’s another elite program and that’s what we wanted to show.”
The 2022-’23 season isn’t over yet but it is in its final stretch of games. The Ponies improve to 16-11 on the season. They have one last game of the regular season left and that will be held at home on Thursday, Feb. 9. The match will be against the Lutheran/Calvary Crusaders with tip-off coming at 6:00 p.m.
KINCAID — South Fork senior Gianna Pop drives to the basket during the Thursday night contest against Ramsey. The Ponies trampled the Rams by a final score of 71-20. Pop finished the special night with 15 total points.
Lucas Domonousky / Breeze-Courier Photo
