Speaking of Sports Column Archive

Speaking
of
Sports

by
Bernie
Fratto

I Hear You Knocking…
-November Madness?

11/21/04
The Blackeyed Peas have made a fortune with their hit song, “Let’s Get it Started.” And in fact it’s been a staple at basketball arenas around the nation. When I hear that song, I think of Novi Wildcat Girls basketball. They are athletic, they are energetic, and they are ‘off and runnin’.

Last Monday the District Playoffs for Girl’s Basketball got underway, and Coach Bill Kelp’s Novi Wildcats landed in the Canton District. They opened up against cross-town rival Northville (a team they’d beaten by 1 earlier in the year on Northville’s hardwood), and they played a brilliant game as they garnered a convincing playoff win.

Next up would be Plymouth Salem, a team that had drawn a bye. Once again, Novi’s stellar defense and great transition game held the Rocks to just 3 points in the 1st Quarter. Novi rushed out to an 18-7 lead, but the Salem’s resilience and toughness started to surface.

The contest was tied at halftime, but if you weren’t there to see the game in the second half, there’s no way to explain it, and if you were there you probably don’t need any explanation. I know referees cannot decide a game, but they sure can influence one. I don’t expect them to be perfect, they are human beings, but so are HS athletes.

Suffice it to say, questionable officiating stifled Coach Kelp’s highly effective defense scheme and Salem prevailed.

But Novi fans, once again, take heart…Salem went on to topple host Canton, and they ended up winning the whole District. One can’t help but think how close Novi really came.

Add to that fact, that Howell won their District, and Lakeland won their District championship as well. Novi faced both of those teams during the regular season, and beat them both!

So the moral of the story is simple…Novi Girl’s basketball is knocking on the door and soon they will kick it down. We salute outgoing seniors Jessica Haggerty, Julie Longo, and Kelly Hebert. Your outstanding leadership, maturity, and terrific play on the court were things to behold. You set the bar and left an example for your fellow teammates;

Rachele Folino, Amanda Diacono, Jessie Gasiorek, Stephanie Crawford, Kristine Chaklos, Lisa Harden, Hope Morris, Brittany Safford, Katelyn Tuck, Nicole Stephen, Jamie Fratto, and Taylor Graybiel…

And, big props to Coaches Kelp and Marcos for a job well done…

A 14-8 record and a program on the rise, and you know they’re not finished.

…In fact, they’re just getting started!

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Bernie Fratto is a freelance writer, radio personality, and motivational speaker. His passion for sports comes in part from his experience as a former Cincinnati Red farm- hand. "Behind every sports story lies the hearts and minds of real human beings" said Fratto. "These athletic endeavors often serve as a metaphor for the game we call life."

Bernie is also on the broadcast team at Live 97.1FM talk-radio, and is a frequent co-host on the popular "Parker & The Man Show," a nightly sportstalk show which airs Monday-Friday from 7-11pm.