DeMarco Gets 1,000th Point; Cougars Get Win
WESTFIELD — In what may be the most dramatic basketball game in Westfield this year, Sophia DeMarco and the Westfield/Brocton Wolverines had two goals in mind — to see DeMarco’s dreams of scoring 1,000 points come true in Westfield, and to win the game.
One of the aspirations came true, while the other fell just short.
DeMarco scored her 1,000th career point for the Wolverines on Tuesday night, but they fell to Cassadaga Valley, 36-35, after a last-second shot by DeMarco rattled around the rim and out. The visiting Cougars held on for the one-point, Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Division 2 West girls basketball victory in Westfield.
Early on, both teams struggled to score. Near the halfway point in the first quarter, the score was tied, 4-4. Cassadaga Valley (9-5, 4-4) scored the next five points to take a 9-4 lead at the end of the first quarter.
DeMarco scored her first two points of the game with a pair of free throws with 6:46 remaining in the first half, but Westfield/Brocton (3-11, 1-7) still trailed 9-6. The Cassadaga Valley lead was cut to one point, 11-10, before the Cougars finished the first half with nine of the final 11 points. At the half, Cassadaga Valley led Westfield/Brocton, 20-12. DeMarco had just the two free throws to her name in the scorebook, needing 14 on the night to reach 1,000.
“I was definitely frustrated,” DeMarco said. “I was just trying to stay positive.”
In the third quarter, it started to turn around for the Wolverines. DeMarco hit her first shot from the field early in the third quarter, then Laura Johnston followed up with a layup to bring Westfield/Brocton within six, 22-16. DeMarco followed up with an and-one layup later in the quarter, to bring her within four points of 1,000. That was the circumstance headed into the fourth quarter, as Westfield/Brocton cut the deficit to three, 26-23.
The Lady Wolverines added a point early in the fourth quarter, before DeMarco rose up from the top of the key and drilled a 3-pointer to give Westfield/Brocton its first lead since the early moments of the game, 27-26. After the shot, DeMarco was just one point away from the milestone.
The teams split the next eight points evenly. Then, with 4:33 left in the game, DeMarco took a pass and rolled to the basket. She sunk the layup and the Westfield Academy crowd — filled with students holding cutout pictures of DeMarco’s smiling face — erupted in celebration of their senior star.
At that point, Westfield/Brocton led 33-30 over Cassadaga Valley. The Wolverines held the lead until under 20 seconds remained in the game, when an inbounds pass went wrong.
Cassadaga Valley’s Bella Ruiz stole the pass off Johnston’s fingertips around mid-court, then drove down the court and rose up for a contested layup. The shot was good, and with only 7.6 seconds left on the clock, the Cougars took a one-point lead.
“If I could have that play back, believe me I would,” Westfield/Brocton head coach Dave Mathews said. “I take full responsibility for that.”
Westfield/Brocton had one final shot for the win, but DeMarco was forced out of the design of the play and the shot rattled in-and-out. After an overtime win in Sinclairville the first time the two teams met, Cassadaga Valley hung on again for another nail-biting win.
DeMarco finished with 15 points while Johnston had 10. Cassadaga Valley had a big game from Meghan LeBaron, with 14 points and 17 rebounds. Ruiz has 9 points and five rebounds.
“I’m feeling great for the girls,” Cassadaga Valley head coach Todd Fryberger said. “This is a great step for us moving toward the playoffs.”
As tough of an ending as it was for the Wolverines, judging by the smiles of DeMarco and her teammates after the 1,000-point accomplishment, the night will be remembered for the good times, rather than the bad.
“I think the world of Sophia,” Mathews said. “She’s been an absolute joy to be around.”
“Anything is possible,” said DeMarco after the game. “If you work hard and have something in mind, you can accomplish it. This shows that hard work pays off.”