Cross girls confident against Guilford

BY RICK WILSON
REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN
WATERBURY — Holy Cross girls basketball coach Frank Lombardo knows what’s coming to town in No. 8 Guilford for the Class L quarterfinals tonight at 7.
But he also knows what already is in town in his No. 1 Crusaders, and he feels pretty good about that.
“We are playing with confidence after a bad game (loss to St. Paul in NVL final), and we have had a tremendous year, losing just twice,” said Lombardo. “I think we are playing our best basketball right now. We are playing with intensity, and that is what you need to win in the state tournament. No matter who you play, if you play with intensity you have a chance to win.”
The Crusaders (22-2) have rolled through Crosby, 83-31, and Sheehan, 59-34, in their first two games of the tournament. Against Sheehan, they were at their destructive best, overwhelming the Titans on the boards while a harassing defense rendered the offense impotent.
Aiyana Ward and Meah Austin did their usual workmanlike job on the boards while Idalis Miranda fired in 20 points.
The Crusaders will have to continue that solid play against Guilford, which beat Farmington, 60-46, in its second-round tilt.
The Indians (16-6) have lost to some of the state’s heavyweights, including twice to Hand, twice to Mercy and once to Career, all top-10 teams.
Guilford’s best player is 5-foot-8 junior Amanda King while 5-foot-10 center Cam Craig is the strength down low. The Indians will throw some man-to-man and trapping zone at Holy Cross to slow down the Crusaders.
And the pace of the game may very well decide who moves on and who packs its bags for the season.
“Tempo will be important,” said Lombardo. “I don’t think they want to play our tempo. If it is open-court and run the court, we will be all right. If it is a half-court game, we might struggle.”
The semifinals await.