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Where Are They Now Flashback - The Girls
Remember in 1983 when Cindy Lauper sang that "girls just want to have fun"? Or, better yet, remember when we were kids we'd chant "What are little girls made of? Sugar and spice and everything nice ..."?
Whoever wrote those lines never met the girls I'll be talking about in this blog. When these girls trotted out onto a basketball court, they wanted more than just fun. They were determined, competitive, and they were strong hard-working athletes. Nothing could hold them back.
When I wrote about Saranac's Linda Ryan in early 1990, she was living in Schenectady and she was a sales representative for a pharmaceutical firm. Her senior year of 1981 already seemed a long time ago. During Ryan's varsity years at Saranac, the Chiefs won 62 games and lost just 7. Both Ryan and her teammate Tina Pellerin scored over a thousand points in their high school careers. The Press-Republican called the 5' 11" Ryan "the most dominant force in CVAC girls' basketball." She later starred at Siena College and in her four years there tallied 1130 points, including her all-time high of 32 points against Niagra.
Her brothers Mike and Tom, as well as her sister Patricia, also made their marks on the CVAC basketball courts. That's why most longtime basketball observers figure it's the Ryans who hold the North Country record for most points scored by a family.
Over the years two of the most successful girls' basketball programs have been at Westport Central and Northeastern Clinton Central. At Westport Tom Beauvais coached many outstanding basketball players, but perhaps the two finest were Julie Moore and Erin Pratt. During those years sectional titles were almost a given for the Westport Eagles. Both girls went on to play college ball at Division 1 schools. The Conley girls were also standouts for Westport and their steady reliable ballhandling and shooting skills kept Coach Beauvais smiling all the way to his retirement.
Perhaps the first basketball standout at NCCS was Bonnie Covey. A 1981 graduate she is still remembered as one of the best volleyball players ever in the CVAC. However, she also played basketball, averaging 18 points a game her senior year, as the Cougars went 17-1.
Covey's exploits were followed by many, including, in more recent years, Sarah Bushey, Miranda Perras and Courtney Coryea. The Coryea sisters figure to challenge the Ryan sisters for most prolific CVAC scorers before they are done. This year's Northeastern Clinton edition featured Rachel Coryea and Johni-Rae Coryea.
Bruce Stevens, who coached CVAC girls' basketball for seven years, first at Mount Assumption Institute and then at Seton Catholic Central, recently listed several outstanding players that he coached. These, too, were girls who were a lot more than just "sugar and spice." Among those listed were Suzie Paiser, Kathy Lawless, Jane Nicknish, Mary Rickson, Katie Zeglis, Ann Yeckley, Rita Boule and Cindy Beebie.
Just last night, from my terrific courtside seat, I watched a determined Seton Catholic team battle the outstanding Madrid-Wattington Central team into the final minutes. The Knights quick, hustling defense kept the Madrid-Wattington team out of any offensive game plan. Seton Catholic coach Carrie Converse, along with her assistant Angie Mungrue, did a great job this year.
So -- the call is now out -- what other North Country girl basketball stars do you remember?
Comments
A Note for Barnstorm, Patricia Ryan-Curry, and Foxy- I saw you mention Jan Trombley. I am a high school Athletic Director in North Carollina (in Greensboro where former Westport Standout Julie Moore played college ball), and Old Dominion Head Women's Coach Wendy Larry came to our open gym this season to look at a couple of our players, and when I met her and she asked where I was from, I told her Plattsburgh, NY and her eyes lit up. She asked me all about Jan Trombley and if I knew her. I said I did not know her, but I definitely knew the name. It was interesting seeing her mentioned here. Also, for another more recent local great, I e-mailed Foxy a while back about Franklin Academy's Missy West who went on to play at Duke. The night before our girls basketball team played in the state championship at the Dean Smith Center, we got to pratice at Cameron Indoor at Duke, and I was lucky enough to meet Gayle Valley, the Duke asst. coach who recruited Missy. She raved about her and about the North Country and how beautiful it was, and I think Missy is now an asst. coach at Clarkson or somewhere close to there.
Posted by: Jeff Stoller | March 29, 2007 1:47 PM
Hi Foxy.
I really enjoyed reading all of the comments in this post. As the Section 7 Girls Basketball Coordinator, I would have to rate this year’s sectional/regional experience a 10 out of 10. As was previously mentioned by several of your followers, the crew at the table is outstanding. Mark Christiansen, Kirk Frasier, “Goose” Gagnon, Rick Bruce, Lori Kowaloski, Mark Donnelly, and you are an absolute pleasure to work with. I owe a ton of thanks to the Section 7 Basketball Committee, especially Jon Rebideau. He is always ready to listen and has been a great mentor in my first four years on the job. I’d like to congratulate the officiating crew on a job well done throughout the whole tournament.
As far as past girls stars, I can give you a southern perspective, having been involved with MVAC girls basketball since 1995. Bolton players Allison Huck, Lacey Bromley and Amy Rich, all 1000 point scorers, are at the top of my list. I was fortunate enough to have coached Bromley and Rich. I never had a chance to see Huck play but heard she was lights out. She held the scoring record for years with 38 points (she scored every single point in that game), until Bromley had a 39 point performance. During her senior year, Rich also lit up the scoreboard with 39. Rebecca Scully from Indian Lake, another 1000 point scorer, was always a challenge to coach against. Amanda Greene from Minerva-Newcomb was an outstanding basketball player and I believe was also a 1000 point scorer. I’d love to see the Press-Republican reprint the all time scoring list from Section 7. Maybe even some other records…..most points in a game, most coaching wins, past champions, sectional scoring records……
During my years coaching, every single team from the south won a championship at least once, much different than the north powerhouse Westport. How many years in a row did they go undefeated in league play before Schroon Lake finally beat them anyways? By the way, congratulations to Jeff Cutting on winning his first sectional championship. All of that hard work finally paid off!
Just want to give a shout out to long time Long Lake coach Mike Farrell, who has probably fielded his last varsity team due to declining enrollment. Before every game, his girls line up at midcourt and sing the school alma mater. I always looked forward to that. I couldn’t sing one word from my alma mater (Parishville-Hopkinton) even if I had to. The year after they won the championship, they got new uniforms and Mike said it would probably be the last uniforms they would have to buy. Thanks for the memories Mike…..and thanks for the blog Foxy! See you next year!
(Foxy's note: Jennifer, thanks for the names and memories from some of the schools I seldom get to see play. One of the real treats for me at sectional/regional time is the opportunity to watch great athletes from south of us in the CVAC. Our paths probably won't cross till next March, but don't forget to check in at On the Sly from time to time!)
Posted by: Jennifer | March 14, 2007 9:52 PM
Just like Cindy Lauper had fun in 1983, I had fun reading this blog and the follow up comments. I graduated from Saranac CS in 1977 - yikes 30 years ago. Ever since, I have followed Section VII basketball.
I got involved in high school basketball as an 8th grader keeping score for the varsity team at Saranac. The blog starts recognizing players from the early 80's. However, there were many girls who played basketball prior to that and opened doors for girls in years to come to have greater opportunities.
Barnstorm commented about Jan Trombley. Jan tried to start a basketball team at Chazy in the mid-70's but had no success. So instead she headed off to Canada to start and finish her high school basketball career. From there she went on to play at Old Dominon. Anyone who knows anything about women's basketball knows the successes of Old Dominion. Jan and I used to play pick up games against the guys at Plattsburgh State in the summer to stay in shape for college ball. Trust me, no man wanted to play Jan, because they would hear "You are letting a girl beat you?"
There are many other girls who played basketball pre-Title IX who played the game well. I think of Poppy Rock, AuSable:, Sally Hulbert, Saranac; Laurie Rock, Beekmantown; Jackie Pellerin; Saranac; Joannie Moschelle: Beekmantown and Kim Snow, AuSable. These players succeeded when their practices were secondary to the boys teams and the girls were lucky to get uniforms.
The girls mentioned in your blog were recognized for being "determined, competitive, and they were strong hard-working athletes." They all certainly were. But let's not forget the girls that had those attributes when it wasn't necessarily popular or easy for a high school girl to be possess those traits.
By the way Foxy................after having the pleasure of working with you and the rest of the "table staff" for sectional basketball I totally concur with Tom Edwards comments here.
(Foxy's note: Great to hear from one of the greats, Patricia Ryan-Curry. Patricia was the Section 7 Girls' Basketball Chairperson, prior to Jennifer Trowbridge taking the post. Thanks for the history lesson!)
Posted by: Patricia Ryan-Curry | March 11, 2007 8:18 PM
Foxy,
Isn't it interesting that the girls sports greats don't begin until the 70's and 80's? There were no interschool games when I went to high school and I'm one of your contemporaries. I was a '66 grad of B'town. We played interschool team sports only 4 times a year. Our PE teacher, Connie Durkett, made an exchange arrangements with the PHS PE teacher. This was long before organized girls teams competed between schools. Art deGrandpre' was my math teacher at Beekmantown at that time. We played 1 game each in field hockey, volleyball, basketball and softball. Thank goodness times have changed! By the way, I really do enjoy the blog. Brings back old memories.
(Foxy's note: Thanks for the input, Vicki Mc.)
Posted by: Vicki Mc | March 11, 2007 1:03 PM
The youngest of the family always forgotten! Enjoyed your article and remember competing against many of the outstanding players you mentioned "back in my day."
I'm that youngest of the Ryan family you forgot to mention, but I'll forgive you. (hank you to the person who commented that you left me out.)
I checked to see that I'm still in the top 10 all-time highest scorers and I'm clinging on at #10. I think I'm the only one in the top 10 who played when there still no 3 point shot in high school girls basketball.
As for now, I get my basketball kicks from coaching my daughter's 6th grade basketball team in Schodack, NY about 15 minutes South of Albany.
(Foxy's note: Great to hear from Katie! I tried calling the Howard Ryan house before I printed the blog, because I knew I was forgetting someone, but there was no one home. Hey, maybe that Ryan family saved the best for last!)
Posted by: Katie Ryan - Pasko | March 11, 2007 10:12 AM
I may be a bit prejudiced, but one of the best all around girls basketball players from this area was my daughter, Kelly Gooley. She was sidelined with heart problems and unable to play to her potential. (By the way, I played against you in the 1960's Catholic league.)(St. Mary's in Champlain)
(Foxy's note: Thanks for the comments and welcome to the blog, Tom.)
Posted by: tom | March 11, 2007 5:29 AM
Hello Foxy!
Just another in regards to your "Hoops and Hopes" article and the table staff at the recent Section 7 Championships.
As always the entire table staff was outstanding. You don't know just how important the folks siiting at that table are to a well run and played contest!
As you know, we had to request "help" from the table in the Westport - Schroon Lake girls playoff game when we were not certain the horn had sounded to end the game yet the clock showed no time left.
As always you folks were right on top of it and we were able to make an informed decision and continue on.
Never worked with a more competent group anywhere in my 31 years on the hardwood. And believe me I've been in a lot of venues in that time.
As always, it was a pleasure to see you folks and look forward to many more opportunities to work with the gang!
(Foxy's note: Tom Edwards is a longtime highly-rated basketball official. That is why he is selected to work many sectional and regional basketball games. Heck, he has probably even worked some games at the state tournmant.)
Posted by: Tom Edwards | March 9, 2007 11:20 AM
I really never watched girls basketball until I started doing the shot clock for PHS. I really didn't expect a whole lot. My tune changed real quick. The first year I saw Missy West from Malone who went on to star at Duke. She had some tough luck with knee injuries but hung in there and her senior year at Duke was excellent. The other girl that impressed me wore the colors of the red and white of the Saranac chiefs - Ann Parks. She played with emotion, desire and heart. There have been alot of others since then but those two come to mind right away.These girls and all the others made me realize how the girls work just as hard as the boys and they are just as atheletic as the boys. You and I have broadcasted many exciting girls games just like the boys!!!! Goose
(Foxy's note: Well-said, Brother!)
Posted by: Goose | March 9, 2007 10:08 AM
A few years back PHS behind the talented Laura Phillips won the sectionals with a big upset of NCCS. Laura became the only woman to play at PHS to have scored 1,000 points in her career. Laura had a fine career at Plattsburgh State as well.
Art DeGrandpre, when he coached the girls at Beekmantown, had some very talented teams. There was a Frenyea girl, I believe Sue was her name, who was very good and went on to play at Cortland State. Beekmantown had several strong years and produced many very good ball players, like Donna Dixon and many others whose names escape this old mind at this time.
How about the Pearl Girls at St. Johns and at PHS, Joanne Dion, Beth Francis, Debbie Luff and Ann Slattery, now a SUNY Hall of Famer and the Cornwright girl from Elizabetown, who also is in the Plattsburgh State Hall of Fame. I am sure there are more.
(Foxy's note: More great names! Thanks, Mike. I'm glad you mentioned Laura Phillips of PHS. She and the Hornets' Kristin Moore and Lisa Zaferakis are three of my favorites!)
Posted by: Mike Mannix | March 9, 2007 7:23 AM
How about Jan Trombly from Chazy that started on the National Championship team at Old Dominion University in the late 70's early 80's . Can't do much better than that.
Better not forget Katie Ryan from Saranac in your Ryan round-up unless you are looking to get slam dunked. The youngest of the family also had much success. Could play inside and outside.
Karen Ashley in the 80"s was another fine player that Art DeGrandpre coached at Beekmantown that was a true low post force before that style of play was cultivated.
Guards Shannon Andrews and Liz Pearl from St. John's both went on to have excellent college careers. Were part of teams at St John's that thrived on end to end zone press from opening whistle to games end. Later followed by Brigid Connor and Suzie Paiser at StJohn's/Seton.
NCCS a power forever thanks to present day coaching of Andy Landry and prior long time coach Don Sears.
Art DeGrandpre certainly made his mark at Beekmantown paving the way for present success.
Have to takes hats off to Tom Beauvais at Westport. How is it possible that such a small school could be sooooo good. Not an accident. How does a team get to be that good playing for years against weaker opponents and in a tiny gym.
(Foxy's note: Thanks for the great comments and names! Just what I was hoping for!)
Posted by: barnstorm | March 8, 2007 10:39 PM