Carthage climbs all way back for crown

PHILADELPHIA — Gabbie Kamide fouled out of Wednesday's Frontier League girls basketball game. But coach Randi Smith didn't care. She embraced the four-year member of the Comets and didn't want to let go. They had finally climbed all the way out of the cellar.

Sarah Johnson continued her dominance of the Frontier League, collecting 26 points and 11 rebounds as visiting Carthage outlasted Indian River 50-40 to claim the "A" Division's regular season title — its first since winning the old "AA" Division I banner in 2004.

Smith couldn't help but to think back to the 2005-06 season, when Carthage sputtered through a 1-19 campaign. Yet just three years later here were the Comets, denying the Warriors' bid to claim a fifth consecutive league crown, and putting to an end one of the more impressive streaks of success any local team has enjoyed.

"These girls are the ones who put the time in to put together this season for Gabbie," Smith said. "She was on that 1-19 team. We set a goal to get her a Frontier League championship and playoff title. It's a big help when you have probably the most dominant player in the north country."

Smith was referring to Johnson, who connected on 7 of 8 attempts from the field in the first half, and went to the break with 17 points.

The Comets (11-4 overall, 8-2 league) raced to a 9-0 advantage after the tip as Johnson, the league's top scorer, scored virtually every time she touched the ball.

The Warriors (12-5, 7-3), who dealt Carthage its last loss on Jan. 15, got two 3s each from Cindy Covarrubias and Taylore Kelsey but suffered a forgettable outing from the field. They made just 12-of-63 attempts, and only three in the second half.

Teddi Filiatrault scored 12 points — 10 in the second quarter — and pulled down 11 rebounds to help Indian River take a momentary 24-21 lead. Johnson, though, tallied back-to-back buckets as Carthage reclaimed the lead for good just before halftime.

"If you'd told me (Jessica) Dailey, (Sara) Anderson, and Covarrubias would combine for 12 points, I'd know we're going to lose," Warriors' coach Jim Whitley said. "We've got to get more production out of the backcourt. When you're a team that depends on 3s, you're going to lose on bad nights like this."

Carthage's switch to a 2-3 zone on defense in the second half made Indian River's night even more intolerable.

"I give Carthage credit, that was a nice change," Whitley said.

The Warriors made adjustments, too, in the second half and held Johnson to two field goals after halftime. But as they focused their efforts down low, shooting chances opened up outside, and Amy Tiernan took full advantage. Her second 3-pointer in a two-minute span allowed the Comets a seven-point edge as the final quarter commenced.

"That showed we have a good inside-out game," Johnson said of Tiernan's long-range contributions. "I had two or three people on me as soon as I got the ball. I had to either kick it out of get fouled."

Kamide finished with five assists and three steals, while Joelle Percy made five steals for Carthage, which plays Watertown in Friday's semifinals.

Kelsey came off the bench to notch 10 points for Indian River.