Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Swim Meet v Maplebrook School on Tuesday Feb 26th
The meet was excellent. Everyone swam at least 2 races and the atmosphere was terrific. We won the event by 70 points to 46 but really the result didn't seem to matter much. We had four swimmers in each event. Lillian won the heat 1 Butterfly with Shriman 4th. Isabel and Hudson finished 2nd and 3rd in heat 2 Butterfly. Hadley won heat 1 of the Backstroke with Eddie 3rd. Heat 2 Backstroke was won by Matthew with Zach 2nd. Hanna and Hudson finished 2nd and 3rd in heat 1 Breaststroke with Matthew 2nd and Abby 3rd in heat 2 breaststroke! Hadley won heat 1 freestyle with Danielle finishing 3rd. Bernadette won heat 2 freestyle with Hanna 3rd. Lillian won the Individual medley race with Shriman 3rd. Lillian also won the 4 lap freestyle with Isabel 3rd. In the relays, DDS came 1st and 3rd in the freestyle relay and 1st and 2nd in the medley relay!
Overall, it was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon!
Overall, it was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon!
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Sports Schedule for Week beginning Monday Feb 25th!
Mon Feb 25th - Varsity Volleyball v Rumsey @ home 3:30 p.m. start. Dismiss 3:00 p.m. Pick up 4:45 p.m.
Tuesday Feb 26th - Swim Meet away @ Maplebrook School. start 3:30 p.m. Dismiss 2:45 p.m. Pick Up 4:15 p.m. @ Maplebrook ( 4:45 p.m. @ DDS )
Wed Feb 27th - Junior Varsity BBall v Mizzentop @ home 3:45 p.m. start. Dismiss 3:00 p.m. Pick Up @ 5:00 p.m.
Varsity Volleyball away @ Rumsey. 3:30 p.m. start. Dismiss 2:00 p.m. Pick up @ 5:45 p.m.
Thursday Feb 28th - Varsity Basketball @ home v Woodstock 3:30 p.m. start. Dismiss 3:00 p.m. Pick Up 4:45 p.m.
Squash v Catherine Street School away @ Vassar. 3:45 p.m. start. Dismiss 3:00 p.m. Pick Up 5;45 p.m.
Tuesday Feb 26th - Swim Meet away @ Maplebrook School. start 3:30 p.m. Dismiss 2:45 p.m. Pick Up 4:15 p.m. @ Maplebrook ( 4:45 p.m. @ DDS )
Wed Feb 27th - Junior Varsity BBall v Mizzentop @ home 3:45 p.m. start. Dismiss 3:00 p.m. Pick Up @ 5:00 p.m.
Varsity Volleyball away @ Rumsey. 3:30 p.m. start. Dismiss 2:00 p.m. Pick up @ 5:45 p.m.
Thursday Feb 28th - Varsity Basketball @ home v Woodstock 3:30 p.m. start. Dismiss 3:00 p.m. Pick Up 4:45 p.m.
Squash v Catherine Street School away @ Vassar. 3:45 p.m. start. Dismiss 3:00 p.m. Pick Up 5;45 p.m.
Friday, February 22, 2008
VARSITY BASKETBALL TEAM STOPS OAKWOOD - DDS-54–OAKWOOD-34 – By Coach Ouellette
The DDS varsity basketball team traveled to Poughkeepsie on Thursday for their yearly contest with an always pesky Oakwood Friends team. I can tell you that this was our finest game of the year. It had all the earmarks of great game. Excellent execution of our plays, precision fast breaking, good position on the boards, both offensively and defensively, and contributions from the entire team.
Shriman Bala was the standout player in this game scoring a season and career high 17 points. Shriman was tough on the boards, grabbing an impressive 10 offensive rebounds. He was “finishing off” his lay-ups with incredible confidence and his improvement over the season has been significant. Shriman made some beautiful shots and was a force on defense as well. Fantastic game, Shriman!
Griffin Wilson added 16 points and was his usual steady and confident self at the point. Griffin makes it look so easy that you sometimes forget how difficult it is to be an effective and consistent point guard and floor “general”. Keep it up Griffin!
Another standout this game was Austin Christensen. I am so proud of how Austin has progressed this year. His ball control has greatly improved and he has filled in for Hudson Kuras admirably. Austin was out in front on several fast breaks and handled it with the confidence of a seasoned player. Austin had a career high 11 points and had several key steals throughout the contest. How to go Austin! Looking good!
Tri-captain Adam Baker had his usual strong game adding 7 points to the total. Adam has settled in nicely as the defensive floor leader on our punishing 2-3 zone. Go, Adam!
Rounding out the scoring was Danielle Stamer with a nice free throw and Christian Ouellette with a basket on another nice assist from our very unselfish point guard, Griffin Wilson. Cooper Davis, Jackson Ryan, and Ben Poholchuk played some great defense. In particular, Ben has improved a great deal at the point and is delivering the ball with consistent accuracy.
Overall, this was our finest outing of the year and our loyal fans were treated to a nice performance by this very strong DDS basketball team.
Next Wednesday and Thursday the team will play Mizzentop and Woodstock, respectively. We hope to finish the season with two more victories. Woodstock is always a tough matchup and we look forward to avenging our season ending loss of last season. The team record now stands at the fantastic 10-2 mark. The kids have worked very hard this year and are looking forward to the remaining two games. Please come and see us finish the season next week. We love having you there cheering us on to victory. Go DDS Tigers!
Shriman Bala was the standout player in this game scoring a season and career high 17 points. Shriman was tough on the boards, grabbing an impressive 10 offensive rebounds. He was “finishing off” his lay-ups with incredible confidence and his improvement over the season has been significant. Shriman made some beautiful shots and was a force on defense as well. Fantastic game, Shriman!
Griffin Wilson added 16 points and was his usual steady and confident self at the point. Griffin makes it look so easy that you sometimes forget how difficult it is to be an effective and consistent point guard and floor “general”. Keep it up Griffin!
Another standout this game was Austin Christensen. I am so proud of how Austin has progressed this year. His ball control has greatly improved and he has filled in for Hudson Kuras admirably. Austin was out in front on several fast breaks and handled it with the confidence of a seasoned player. Austin had a career high 11 points and had several key steals throughout the contest. How to go Austin! Looking good!
Tri-captain Adam Baker had his usual strong game adding 7 points to the total. Adam has settled in nicely as the defensive floor leader on our punishing 2-3 zone. Go, Adam!
Rounding out the scoring was Danielle Stamer with a nice free throw and Christian Ouellette with a basket on another nice assist from our very unselfish point guard, Griffin Wilson. Cooper Davis, Jackson Ryan, and Ben Poholchuk played some great defense. In particular, Ben has improved a great deal at the point and is delivering the ball with consistent accuracy.
Overall, this was our finest outing of the year and our loyal fans were treated to a nice performance by this very strong DDS basketball team.
Next Wednesday and Thursday the team will play Mizzentop and Woodstock, respectively. We hope to finish the season with two more victories. Woodstock is always a tough matchup and we look forward to avenging our season ending loss of last season. The team record now stands at the fantastic 10-2 mark. The kids have worked very hard this year and are looking forward to the remaining two games. Please come and see us finish the season next week. We love having you there cheering us on to victory. Go DDS Tigers!
VARSITY BASKETBALL TEAM BEATS IMS AT HOME-DDS-37-IMS-12-by Coach Ouellette
IMS came to the Bontecou Gym on Wednesday and brought with them a very young, but talented team. I foresee a great future for this team, as these young players improve and grow. DDS will have a time of it in years to come with this potentially fine team. For now though, DDS was just too powerful for them.
A well-balanced attack by our young “hoopsters” and an even distribution of our scoring was just too much for IMS. Our team defense has showed steady and continuous improvement and everyone got some serious minutes.
Cooper Davis was the star of this game, coming off the bench with a determination to steal the ball and score some points. He did this quite effectively with several steals and some aggressive defensive play. Cooper, our very own “energizer bunny” also poured in 7 points. I know that Cooper would say that he didn’t “finish-off” several lay-ups and probably would have scored 12 points easily if he had. How to go Coop!
Jackson Ryan also made his mark on this game with some very impressive moves to the basket. I was happy to see Jackson score 6 points and play some great basketball at both ends of the court. I hope Jackson will build on today’s successes and become the steady player I know that is in him. Great job, Jackson!
Rounding out the scoring was the steady play of our premiere point guard Griffin Wilson, who scored 8 points and distributed the ball to everyone. Danielle Stamer played her usual tough defense and scored 6 points. Austin Christensen, finding his confidence with every game he plays, scored 3 points. Shriman Bala, who has been scoring more points lately and has been an effective defender at the back of the 2-3 zone defense, had 5 points. And finally team tri-captain Adam Baker added 2 points and played his usual strong game on defense.
While Christian Ouellette and Ben Pohulchuk didn’t get in the scoring column, both players contributed to the team’s success. Ben has been steadily improving at the point with better penetration and crisper passing. Keep up the good work Ben! Christian continues to flourish at the defensive end of the court and is part of many great defensive rebounds and fast-break opportunities. He needs to improve his offensive game and is trying very hard to do so. Keep working hard Christian, it will come!
This win leaves the team with a very impressive 9-2 record with 3 games to go. I hope you will stop by and support your DDS Tigers.
A well-balanced attack by our young “hoopsters” and an even distribution of our scoring was just too much for IMS. Our team defense has showed steady and continuous improvement and everyone got some serious minutes.
Cooper Davis was the star of this game, coming off the bench with a determination to steal the ball and score some points. He did this quite effectively with several steals and some aggressive defensive play. Cooper, our very own “energizer bunny” also poured in 7 points. I know that Cooper would say that he didn’t “finish-off” several lay-ups and probably would have scored 12 points easily if he had. How to go Coop!
Jackson Ryan also made his mark on this game with some very impressive moves to the basket. I was happy to see Jackson score 6 points and play some great basketball at both ends of the court. I hope Jackson will build on today’s successes and become the steady player I know that is in him. Great job, Jackson!
Rounding out the scoring was the steady play of our premiere point guard Griffin Wilson, who scored 8 points and distributed the ball to everyone. Danielle Stamer played her usual tough defense and scored 6 points. Austin Christensen, finding his confidence with every game he plays, scored 3 points. Shriman Bala, who has been scoring more points lately and has been an effective defender at the back of the 2-3 zone defense, had 5 points. And finally team tri-captain Adam Baker added 2 points and played his usual strong game on defense.
While Christian Ouellette and Ben Pohulchuk didn’t get in the scoring column, both players contributed to the team’s success. Ben has been steadily improving at the point with better penetration and crisper passing. Keep up the good work Ben! Christian continues to flourish at the defensive end of the court and is part of many great defensive rebounds and fast-break opportunities. He needs to improve his offensive game and is trying very hard to do so. Keep working hard Christian, it will come!
This win leaves the team with a very impressive 9-2 record with 3 games to go. I hope you will stop by and support your DDS Tigers.
VARSITY BASKETBALL TEAM TAKES ON MILLBROOK JV GIRLS – By Coach Ouellette
The Millbrook School JV girl’s team visited DDS on Tuesday for the very first meeting of these two teams. The girl’s team is made up of mostly 9th and 10th graders, so we were expecting a more physical game than we would normally face from our league opponents. That expectation proved to be true with Millbrook coming out very aggressively with a half-court man-to-man press and some very strong man-to-man defense. When I saw our players getting moved around like they weren’t even there, I thought we’d be in for a long game. This did not prove to be the case. Our kids handled the physical play just great, especially Griffin and Danielle. While Millbrook’s defense was relentless, the speed and fast-break ability of our DDS Tigers was the difference in this game. Griffin Wilson lead the precision DDS break with great passing and steady shooting. Griffin also led all shooters with 20 points. Millbrook had trouble keeping up with our up-tempo game and crisp fast-break passing. The final score was DDS-38 and Millbrook-21. Millbrook was misfiring throughout the first half, but seemed to settle down in the second half and scored some nice buckets. Meanwhile, the entire DDS squad saw some good minutes and the scoring was spread out nicely amongst the team. Danielle, Austin, and Matthew all had four points, while Christian, Shriman, and Adam each had 2 points for the cause.
Austin, taking the place of Hudson, who is still recovering from a broken finger, has been doing a great job at the number 2 position. His confidence is improving and he is taking the ball to the basket with a new found authority. Danielle, playing against other young women with similar talents and within her age group, proved she could hold her own at both ends of the court. Danielle accepts all challenges with a fierce determination to succeed.
I was very proud of our team after this outing. Not knowing what kind of challenge a high school aged team would be for us, I was glad to see the team never backed down from the more physical play of Millbrook. The team experienced first-hand how important it is to execute their plays, continue to play sound, steady fundamental basketball, and have confidence in their abilities and that of their teammates. These are the keys to a successful effort. As our season winds down, it is gratifying to see our hard work paying off for this dedicated and special group of young kids.
Austin, taking the place of Hudson, who is still recovering from a broken finger, has been doing a great job at the number 2 position. His confidence is improving and he is taking the ball to the basket with a new found authority. Danielle, playing against other young women with similar talents and within her age group, proved she could hold her own at both ends of the court. Danielle accepts all challenges with a fierce determination to succeed.
I was very proud of our team after this outing. Not knowing what kind of challenge a high school aged team would be for us, I was glad to see the team never backed down from the more physical play of Millbrook. The team experienced first-hand how important it is to execute their plays, continue to play sound, steady fundamental basketball, and have confidence in their abilities and that of their teammates. These are the keys to a successful effort. As our season winds down, it is gratifying to see our hard work paying off for this dedicated and special group of young kids.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Varsity Volleyball News
The varsity volleyball team has been very busy with the heart of their season. On January 23rd, the team visited Westover School. Due to illness, we went with three varsity and three junior varsity players. Despite the age and size difference, the Tigers startled Westover by beating them the first game, before succumbing to their greater experience for the rest of the match. Adrienne Sieverding, Claire Shope, and Caitlin Tardio all served well for the Tigers.
Since the Westover match, the varsity volleyball team has played four matches with Rumsey, winning three and losing one. Each match has been hard fought to the very last point. The Tigers have relied on their serving and defense to pull them through. Every player has had something to contribute. In the January 24th match, Adrienne Sieverding scored 20 points during the match, while Eddie Castillo and Claire Shope each had 11, and Alexa Colangelo had 10. Eddie, Adrienne, and Alexa were also excellent on defense. On January 30th, Paige Reifler scored 19 points in the match, while Adrienne Sieverding served two game-winning points along with her 15 other points. Eddie Castillo, Kayleigh Jones, and Alexa Colangelo were all tough on defense. DDS’s third match with Rumsey was their only loss to them this year. The Tigers, who played without one of their most experienced players, struggled with consistency, while Rumsey played well-controlled games, serving hard and setting up spikers whenever they could. The most consistent player for DDS was Kayleigh Jones, who served 12 points in the match.
In their most recent match with Rumsey, it looked as though Rumsey would once again defeat the Tigers, after winning the first two games in the best of five match. The Tigers had a different outcome in mind, however, as they clawed their way back into the match, winning the next two games, to force a tie-breaker game. DDS was once again victorious, winning the tie-breaker 15-5. This match was a true team effort, with every player scoring several points with his or her serves. All played well on defense, winning some long volleys. There were also several attempts to set up our spikers. The varsity volleyball team has one more match to go, against Rumsey, on Monday, February 25th, at home. This is a change from the original schedule. Please come out and cheer the team on in their final games of the season.
Since the Westover match, the varsity volleyball team has played four matches with Rumsey, winning three and losing one. Each match has been hard fought to the very last point. The Tigers have relied on their serving and defense to pull them through. Every player has had something to contribute. In the January 24th match, Adrienne Sieverding scored 20 points during the match, while Eddie Castillo and Claire Shope each had 11, and Alexa Colangelo had 10. Eddie, Adrienne, and Alexa were also excellent on defense. On January 30th, Paige Reifler scored 19 points in the match, while Adrienne Sieverding served two game-winning points along with her 15 other points. Eddie Castillo, Kayleigh Jones, and Alexa Colangelo were all tough on defense. DDS’s third match with Rumsey was their only loss to them this year. The Tigers, who played without one of their most experienced players, struggled with consistency, while Rumsey played well-controlled games, serving hard and setting up spikers whenever they could. The most consistent player for DDS was Kayleigh Jones, who served 12 points in the match.
In their most recent match with Rumsey, it looked as though Rumsey would once again defeat the Tigers, after winning the first two games in the best of five match. The Tigers had a different outcome in mind, however, as they clawed their way back into the match, winning the next two games, to force a tie-breaker game. DDS was once again victorious, winning the tie-breaker 15-5. This match was a true team effort, with every player scoring several points with his or her serves. All played well on defense, winning some long volleys. There were also several attempts to set up our spikers. The varsity volleyball team has one more match to go, against Rumsey, on Monday, February 25th, at home. This is a change from the original schedule. Please come out and cheer the team on in their final games of the season.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Sports Schedule for Week beginning Monday Feb 18th
Tuesday Feb 19th - Varsity Basketball @ home v Millbrook School JV Girls
3;10 p.m. Dismiss : 4:00 p.m. Start
5:15 p.m. Pick Up
Wednesday Feb 20th - Varsity Basketball @ home v I.M.S. ;
3:00 p.m. Dismiss : 3:30 p.m. Start : 4:45 p.m. Pick Up
Thursday Feb 21st - Varsity Basketball away @ Oakwood.
2:30 p.m. Dismiss : 3:30 p.m. Start : 5:15 p.m. Pick Up
- JV Basketball @ home to Rumsey
3:00 p.m. Dismiss : 3:30 p.m. Start : 4:45 p.m. Pick Up
3;10 p.m. Dismiss : 4:00 p.m. Start
5:15 p.m. Pick Up
Wednesday Feb 20th - Varsity Basketball @ home v I.M.S. ;
3:00 p.m. Dismiss : 3:30 p.m. Start : 4:45 p.m. Pick Up
Thursday Feb 21st - Varsity Basketball away @ Oakwood.
2:30 p.m. Dismiss : 3:30 p.m. Start : 5:15 p.m. Pick Up
- JV Basketball @ home to Rumsey
3:00 p.m. Dismiss : 3:30 p.m. Start : 4:45 p.m. Pick Up
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Parents Spring Sports Meeting - Monday March 3rd
Spring Sports start immediately after Spring Break (Monday March 31st). Spring Sports include Boys Lacrosse, Girls Lacrosse, Tennis and Golf. The meeting starts at 3:30 p.m. in the Bontecou Gym. It is important that you attend as coaches will be outlining their plans for the season. If you want to know what's going on then please be here!
****Basketball Schedule Change*****
The Monday Feb 25th JV Basketball game v Melrose, has been cancelled. I am currently looking for another team to play. I will keep you posted!
DDS VARSITY BASKETBALL TEAM FALLS TO RUMSEY – by Coach Ouellette (Thursday Feb 14th)
What a difference a few days makes in the life of a basketball team. Our varsity Tigers found the shoe on the other foot today in our game with Rumsey. Depleted by the loss of Hudson Kuras to a broken finger; Adam Baker, participating in a choral event in Hartford, Ct. (Well done, Adam); Shriman Bala leaving school early on game day for what was later diagnosed as strep throat; and Roan Gideon to a skiing mishap, the remaining eight Tigers bravely traveled to Rumsey for our second meeting of the year.
The Rumsey coach excitedly welcomed me and the team to his home court and was genuinely sad to hear that we were missing three starters. We both were looking forward to this meeting because our first match-up was so competitive. It wasn’t to be on this day.
We prepared to make this a very defensive game by clogging up the middle and hopefully limiting the inside play of Rumsey’s dangerous big men. I chose Matthew Stapylton and Christian Ouellette to fill in for Adam and Shriman, while Austin Christensen took over for Hudson. Christian was a defensive standout, giving up an easy 60 pounds to the “twin towers” of Rumsey; Christian hustled the whole game and proved his defensive skills are quite valuable to our team. Matt continued to improve his defensive game, while also showing he can play tough under the offensive boards. He had several scoring opportunities but tended to wait a bit too long to “pull the trigger” giving the defense a chance to key on him and miss his shots. Matt has shown great desire and improvement this year and soon will become a consistent scorer. Jackson Ryan saw some valuable minutes and is learning his role much better at both ends of the court. Ben Poholchuk filled in at the number “2” spot and handled the ball with a great deal more confidence than in earlier games. He even drew a foul on a shot and made one of his two free throws. (How to go, Benjamin!) Austin and Cooper Davis saw action throughout the game and sparked a few fast breaks of their own. I am proud of how this team has matured and I am especially proud of how their basketball knowledge has improved and grown. A comment by the Rumsey coach to me after the game made me especially proud. He said that DDS was the smartest team they play without any doubt or reservation. Boy, is that a great compliment or what!
Captain Griffin Wilson did his very best to single-handedly win this game by dropping in 23 of our 24 points. His defense was superb as was his leadership at both ends of the court. I marvel at his boundless energy and imagine he sleeps well at night. Griffin is an amazing athlete, not to mention a fine young person. He is joy to coach and to just be around. He played every minute of the game without a single break and never gave up. That is the mark of a true competitor. If I were picking an all-star team, made up of all the kids I have ever coached over my 30+ years, Griffin would be right at the top of my list. He has all the qualities of an athlete and a gentleman that I hold in high regard.
Finally, this game would have been 100 – 24 instead of the final score of 50-24 if it wasn’t for the tenacious play of Danielle Stamer. Dani took on Rumsey’s (# 00 ), a large eighth grader who was a least six feet tall and 200 pounds. She pushed him, boxed him out, challenged him for every rebound on defense and then did the same thing at the offensive end of the court as she tried to score on this massive player. Dani has such a marvelous work ethic for such a young person. Quitting and giving up are not her vocabulary. No matter how big they are, or how good they are, Dani does not back down or give up one inch of her territory to anyone. Dani was and is our rock in the middle. She was tireless on the court and was an inspiration to our team. I watched as she directed the new players to their correct positions at the defensive end and was a true “floor general” throughout the entire game. Dani is one of the most disciplined, single-minded, determined young athletes I have ever coached. Even in defeat, her performance was superb. Her hustle and determination were contagious. I predict some great basketball in this wonderful young person’s future. Fantastic game, Danielle.
The loss makes our record now stand at 6-2 with 5 games to go. Hopefully some of our walking wounded will be ready to play next week and we will rebound from this temporary setback. This is one resilient team and I can easily predict that we will bounce right back on Tuesday when we take on the Millbrook JV girls team. This is a high school age team that hopefully will be a great game for our kids. Please come out and support our DDS Tigers. It is always great to see the parents at the games and the kids love having you there.
Please allow me to thank my wife, Eileen, for the chocolate-dipped Valentine cookies and pumpkin, chocolate chip muffins that she baked for the team. The kids really loved them. “Thanks so much Mrs. O.” was heard from all over the bus.
The Rumsey coach excitedly welcomed me and the team to his home court and was genuinely sad to hear that we were missing three starters. We both were looking forward to this meeting because our first match-up was so competitive. It wasn’t to be on this day.
We prepared to make this a very defensive game by clogging up the middle and hopefully limiting the inside play of Rumsey’s dangerous big men. I chose Matthew Stapylton and Christian Ouellette to fill in for Adam and Shriman, while Austin Christensen took over for Hudson. Christian was a defensive standout, giving up an easy 60 pounds to the “twin towers” of Rumsey; Christian hustled the whole game and proved his defensive skills are quite valuable to our team. Matt continued to improve his defensive game, while also showing he can play tough under the offensive boards. He had several scoring opportunities but tended to wait a bit too long to “pull the trigger” giving the defense a chance to key on him and miss his shots. Matt has shown great desire and improvement this year and soon will become a consistent scorer. Jackson Ryan saw some valuable minutes and is learning his role much better at both ends of the court. Ben Poholchuk filled in at the number “2” spot and handled the ball with a great deal more confidence than in earlier games. He even drew a foul on a shot and made one of his two free throws. (How to go, Benjamin!) Austin and Cooper Davis saw action throughout the game and sparked a few fast breaks of their own. I am proud of how this team has matured and I am especially proud of how their basketball knowledge has improved and grown. A comment by the Rumsey coach to me after the game made me especially proud. He said that DDS was the smartest team they play without any doubt or reservation. Boy, is that a great compliment or what!
Captain Griffin Wilson did his very best to single-handedly win this game by dropping in 23 of our 24 points. His defense was superb as was his leadership at both ends of the court. I marvel at his boundless energy and imagine he sleeps well at night. Griffin is an amazing athlete, not to mention a fine young person. He is joy to coach and to just be around. He played every minute of the game without a single break and never gave up. That is the mark of a true competitor. If I were picking an all-star team, made up of all the kids I have ever coached over my 30+ years, Griffin would be right at the top of my list. He has all the qualities of an athlete and a gentleman that I hold in high regard.
Finally, this game would have been 100 – 24 instead of the final score of 50-24 if it wasn’t for the tenacious play of Danielle Stamer. Dani took on Rumsey’s (# 00 ), a large eighth grader who was a least six feet tall and 200 pounds. She pushed him, boxed him out, challenged him for every rebound on defense and then did the same thing at the offensive end of the court as she tried to score on this massive player. Dani has such a marvelous work ethic for such a young person. Quitting and giving up are not her vocabulary. No matter how big they are, or how good they are, Dani does not back down or give up one inch of her territory to anyone. Dani was and is our rock in the middle. She was tireless on the court and was an inspiration to our team. I watched as she directed the new players to their correct positions at the defensive end and was a true “floor general” throughout the entire game. Dani is one of the most disciplined, single-minded, determined young athletes I have ever coached. Even in defeat, her performance was superb. Her hustle and determination were contagious. I predict some great basketball in this wonderful young person’s future. Fantastic game, Danielle.
The loss makes our record now stand at 6-2 with 5 games to go. Hopefully some of our walking wounded will be ready to play next week and we will rebound from this temporary setback. This is one resilient team and I can easily predict that we will bounce right back on Tuesday when we take on the Millbrook JV girls team. This is a high school age team that hopefully will be a great game for our kids. Please come out and support our DDS Tigers. It is always great to see the parents at the games and the kids love having you there.
Please allow me to thank my wife, Eileen, for the chocolate-dipped Valentine cookies and pumpkin, chocolate chip muffins that she baked for the team. The kids really loved them. “Thanks so much Mrs. O.” was heard from all over the bus.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
DDS Varsity Basketball Plays a Depleted Kildonan Team-by Coach Ouellette
This coach was sad to see Kildonan walk into our gym Monday afternoon with just five players. Kildonan had been hit hard by illness and were missing many key players. Our long anticipated meeting was not what either side wanted. I thought back to the two games we played last season. DDS lost both exciting games by just one basket. They were real high energy outings from start to finish and it was great to have both teams work so hard and play so well. That’s what this coach wanted and my heart went out to Kildonan. I hope we will be able to make up our weather cancelled, second meeting with Kildonan soon. I really want that same great matchup we had last season.
All our DDS Tigers scored with Ben Poholchuk and Jackson Ryan scoring their first varsity buckets. Great shot Ben and Jackson! Danielle Stamer led all scorers with 10 points and some fantastic defensive play, not to mention some great rebounds. Eighth grade guards Austin Christensen and Cooper Davis each scored 8 points and both got a significant amount of playing time. Their defense was excellent, causing many turnovers that we converted into scores. Matthew Stapylton added 7 points, Christian Ouellette scored 6 points, Griffin Wilson added 4 points, relinquishing much of his playing time to the rest of the team. He even gave up several shots to help everyone get in the scorebook. Adam Baker and Shriman Bala added a bucket a piece and also gave up playing time for their teammates. Hudson Kuras sat this game out with a broken finger. I know it was hard to keep this DDS captain on the bench. I hope he will be able to come back before the end of the season. We need his energy and leadership very much.
It was a great game for the team to work on their fast break coverage and rebound positioning. We also worked on our man-to-man defense in preparation for Rumsey on Thursday. While the final score was 51-16, it is in no way indicative of the talent of Kildonan. I told our kids to remember how it must feel to lose a game by so many points, especially when your key players are absent. Our DDS players handled themselves with great class as they congratulated Kildonan on their “never say never” attitude. This win brings the Tigers record to 6-1. Another big test is coming up on Thursday against Rumsey on their home court. DDS will be missing two key players, Hudson and Adam, but our remaining players learned a great lesson from the Kildonan players. Never give up and play your heart out. I salute Kildonan. They should be very proud of their efforts.
All our DDS Tigers scored with Ben Poholchuk and Jackson Ryan scoring their first varsity buckets. Great shot Ben and Jackson! Danielle Stamer led all scorers with 10 points and some fantastic defensive play, not to mention some great rebounds. Eighth grade guards Austin Christensen and Cooper Davis each scored 8 points and both got a significant amount of playing time. Their defense was excellent, causing many turnovers that we converted into scores. Matthew Stapylton added 7 points, Christian Ouellette scored 6 points, Griffin Wilson added 4 points, relinquishing much of his playing time to the rest of the team. He even gave up several shots to help everyone get in the scorebook. Adam Baker and Shriman Bala added a bucket a piece and also gave up playing time for their teammates. Hudson Kuras sat this game out with a broken finger. I know it was hard to keep this DDS captain on the bench. I hope he will be able to come back before the end of the season. We need his energy and leadership very much.
It was a great game for the team to work on their fast break coverage and rebound positioning. We also worked on our man-to-man defense in preparation for Rumsey on Thursday. While the final score was 51-16, it is in no way indicative of the talent of Kildonan. I told our kids to remember how it must feel to lose a game by so many points, especially when your key players are absent. Our DDS players handled themselves with great class as they congratulated Kildonan on their “never say never” attitude. This win brings the Tigers record to 6-1. Another big test is coming up on Thursday against Rumsey on their home court. DDS will be missing two key players, Hudson and Adam, but our remaining players learned a great lesson from the Kildonan players. Never give up and play your heart out. I salute Kildonan. They should be very proud of their efforts.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Sports Schedule for Week beginning Monday February 11th
Monday Feb 11th - Varsity Basketball @ Home v Kildonan.
Dismiss 3:10 p.m. Start 4:00 p.m. Pick Up 5:15 p.m.
JV Basketball away @ Washington Montessori
Dismiss 2:00 p.m. Start 3:30 p.m. Pick Up 5:45 p.m.
Wednesday Feb 13th - Varsity Basketball away @ Kildonan.
Dismiss 2:30 p.m. Start 3:30 p.m. Pick Up 5:15 p.m.
JV Volleyball away @ Rumsey.
Dismiss 2:00 p.m. Start 3:30 p.m. Pick Up 5:45 p.m.
Squash away @ Westover.
Dismiss 1:20 p.m. Start 3:15 p.m. Pick Up 6:00 p.m.
Thursday Feb 14th - Varsity Basketball Away @ Rumsey.
Dismiss 2:00 p.m. Start 3:30 p.m. Pick Up 5:45 p.m.
JV Basketball @ Home v Washington Montessori
Dismiss 3:00 p.m. Start 3:30 p.m. Pick Up 4:45 p.m.
Varsity Volleyball @ Home v Rumsey.
Dismiss 3:00 p.m. Start 3:30 p.m. Pick Up 4:45 p.m.
Friday Feb 15th - Ski/Skate.....Looks good!!
Dismiss 3:10 p.m. Start 4:00 p.m. Pick Up 5:15 p.m.
JV Basketball away @ Washington Montessori
Dismiss 2:00 p.m. Start 3:30 p.m. Pick Up 5:45 p.m.
Wednesday Feb 13th - Varsity Basketball away @ Kildonan.
Dismiss 2:30 p.m. Start 3:30 p.m. Pick Up 5:15 p.m.
JV Volleyball away @ Rumsey.
Dismiss 2:00 p.m. Start 3:30 p.m. Pick Up 5:45 p.m.
Squash away @ Westover.
Dismiss 1:20 p.m. Start 3:15 p.m. Pick Up 6:00 p.m.
Thursday Feb 14th - Varsity Basketball Away @ Rumsey.
Dismiss 2:00 p.m. Start 3:30 p.m. Pick Up 5:45 p.m.
JV Basketball @ Home v Washington Montessori
Dismiss 3:00 p.m. Start 3:30 p.m. Pick Up 4:45 p.m.
Varsity Volleyball @ Home v Rumsey.
Dismiss 3:00 p.m. Start 3:30 p.m. Pick Up 4:45 p.m.
Friday Feb 15th - Ski/Skate.....Looks good!!
Friday, February 8, 2008
DDS JV Basketball game v Poughkeepsie Day School on Thursday February 7th - Report by Coach Cissel
Thursday afternoon, February 7, Poughkeepsie Day School’s JV basketball team came a calling – all 22 of them! This was our best game of the season… so far! The difference between this and previous games was easy to see – selfless play through excellent passing. We tripled the number of assists including players who had never recorded an assist this season. And an amazing 10 of the 12 players on the team scored!
Nick Salnikoff benefited from beautiful assist from Maggie Dull for two points and had his second after an offensive rebound in a forest of arms. Sebastian continues to drive hard to the hoop scoring six points off close range shots. Sean Gorwara is a triple threat off the dribble, from the outside and now as a dangerous passer. He coupled six points with two delicate assists. Matt Pelletier improved his vision on the court by assisting on one basket and slashing to the tin on a breakaway two pointer. Nick Akst is a force inside always with his high-handed board work resulting in three buckets adding to his bushel of points this season. A determined David Akst arched a floating swisher for two of his points from the baseline late in the game bring a smile from ear to ear to his face. Jon Hill was one of our assist leaders as he looks to broaden his skills as a leading winger. TJ Sayah inspired the team by throwing down one of the few frees throws the team has made this year. Alex Quartararo is slashing, dishing and even swishing as he scored four points and added more assists to his team-leading total. And last of all our savvy point guard Taylor Digilio led the team with eight points and had one assist as he shucks and jives through defenses on his way to finding an open shot.
It was a fun afternoon as we saw improvement in our team play, in our ever-present energy and in our victory over PDS.
Nick Salnikoff benefited from beautiful assist from Maggie Dull for two points and had his second after an offensive rebound in a forest of arms. Sebastian continues to drive hard to the hoop scoring six points off close range shots. Sean Gorwara is a triple threat off the dribble, from the outside and now as a dangerous passer. He coupled six points with two delicate assists. Matt Pelletier improved his vision on the court by assisting on one basket and slashing to the tin on a breakaway two pointer. Nick Akst is a force inside always with his high-handed board work resulting in three buckets adding to his bushel of points this season. A determined David Akst arched a floating swisher for two of his points from the baseline late in the game bring a smile from ear to ear to his face. Jon Hill was one of our assist leaders as he looks to broaden his skills as a leading winger. TJ Sayah inspired the team by throwing down one of the few frees throws the team has made this year. Alex Quartararo is slashing, dishing and even swishing as he scored four points and added more assists to his team-leading total. And last of all our savvy point guard Taylor Digilio led the team with eight points and had one assist as he shucks and jives through defenses on his way to finding an open shot.
It was a fun afternoon as we saw improvement in our team play, in our ever-present energy and in our victory over PDS.
Help The Homeless visit by 5th Graders to Hillcrest House on Thursday Feb 6th, 2008
Dear All,
On Thursday February 6th, as part of their health program, the 5th graders, accompanied by Mr Ouellette and myself, went to Hillcrest House in Poughkeepsie to see what it's like to be homeless in Dutchess County. The group were shown a short video and then were able to ask questions about the homeless problem and how the shelter works to accomodate up to 6o people every night. We were then given a tour of the building and viwed the the very sparse amenities (see attached photos). Although the shelter does receive some funding from social services, it still relies heavily on the work of volunteers and many fundraising events to cover their basic costs. The 5th Graders feel strongly that they want to be part of this and have decided to collect essential items that the center requires on a regular basis. These are listed below:
Twin-size mattress covers
Paper Towels
Feminine Hygiene Products
Mops and Brooms
Dishtowels
Toothbrushes
Pillows
Spray deodorant
Sugar and Syrup
Wash clothes
Shampoo
Laundry detergent and bleach
Towels
Sample sized soap bars
Shaving cream and disposable razors
Cleaning Supplies
Blankets.
CEREALS
(The center also looks for people who can provide services such as hair cuts, dental services, eyeglasses, optometrist services, mechanic services, groundswork and painting.)
As the center is always desperate for boxes of cereal, we thought that it would be great if every family at DDS could provide a box of cereals. Of course CASH donations are very welcome too and would go to the center's "Wind Chill" Fund!
Please, Please help by sending in as many items as you can.Bins outside the double glass doors and outside the two gyms will be put for collection starting next week (Mon Feb 11th). The homeless situation has worsened over the last few years and people are desperately in need of our help. As the 5th Graders found out, many homeless people in Poughkeepsie are on the streets because their jobs (yes, many have regular employment) do not pay enough even to afford the rent on a house or apartment. Minimum wage in New York is around 8 dollars I believe. The average lowest rent is between $800 - $900. How does one survive on that? We will be collecting items until just after Spring Break so if you are going away, don't forget to bring back all those sample sized hotel/airline shampoos and soaps.
Thanking You in Anticipation
Nigel Pink
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Dutchess Day Squash Team on cruise control! Game v Millbrook School Thirds on Wednesday February 8th.
Today,the Dutchess Day School squash team completed a 12 - 0 win over a depleted Millbrook School Thirds team. To be fair to Millbrook, this was not a strong team that they put out. Even so, it is a sign of how far the Dutchess Day School players have come this year. In every game, our players were winning rallies by sticking to basic tactics...playing the ball down to the corners, behind their opponents and dominating the middle of the court. Drop shots and volleys were being played too with guile and accuracy.
Such was our dominance, that every match, save three, were straight 3-0 victories. Kayleigh and Lucy, both playing, to my mind, the strongest opponent, won their matches by 3-1. Both showed solid determination in beating off the Millbrook number
2's challenge. Congratulations to Hugo too for grinding out a 3-1 victory in a marathon time! Our next game, away to Westover, will be a far harder test, but with our confidence on a high, things are looking good!!
Such was our dominance, that every match, save three, were straight 3-0 victories. Kayleigh and Lucy, both playing, to my mind, the strongest opponent, won their matches by 3-1. Both showed solid determination in beating off the Millbrook number
2's challenge. Congratulations to Hugo too for grinding out a 3-1 victory in a marathon time! Our next game, away to Westover, will be a far harder test, but with our confidence on a high, things are looking good!!
VARSITY BBALL PLAYS A BARNBURNER WMS -46-DDS-44
Washington Montessori rolled into town on Monday and I was a bit surprised by what I saw. They only had seven players. As their coach told me, the dreaded flu had taken a toll on his normally large group of players. I did however notice that it didn’t include their two best shooters, whom we had meticulously prepared for in practice. Like all our meetings with WMS, this one was the usual seesawing of the lead, some great offensive and defensive plays by both teams and the bounces that went our way in the first game, mostly belonged to WMS in this meeting. The nail-biting final score was WMS-46 and DDS-44. What a game!
DDS started off the game a bit slowly, maybe a combination of feeling a bit over-confident since we had beaten WMS earlier in the season and being undefeated so far this season. A few lapses of concentration at both ends of the court caused our Tigers to be one or two baskets behind most of the first half, but we managed to keep the score close with some outstanding shots and defensive plays. When the first half buzzer sounded, I was happy to be only three points down. It seemed that every three-pointer WMS was throwing up was nothing but net.
Our halftime talk focused on better ball control and crisper execution of our plays. This team is always very aware of the areas they need to improve and is quick to even point them out to me before I get to them myself. (It’s great to have smart players) I asked them all to dig down deep, support each other, and play the type of game they are capable of playing and have played all year. They are always willing to work harder and this game was no exception. They came out in the second half ready to play and determined to win.
The second half saw some great play execution, some beautiful passing and a game in the “paint” that would make any “big-man” coach proud. Dani, Shriman, and Adam were moving the ball like the veteran players they are, while Griffin and Hudson rotated at the point, setting up and leading some great fast break opportunities. Griffin, playing with the flu, and Hudson playing with a very severely sprained finger, scored 16 and 15 points respectively. They were tenacious on defense and held WMS’s best guard to just two baskets. Dani, Adam, and Shriman added 6, 5, and 2 points respectively and were tough and consistent under the boards. So, what was the difference in this game you ask? I think we missed our share of easy layups, but that happens in every game. I also think we were out of position on a few rebounds, but that also happens in every game. Quite simply, the ball bounces a certain way for every team during the year and in this game it just wasn’t bouncing our way. We never gave up and we played tough right until the final buzzer. After the game this team proved to themselves and to this coach that if they had finished off a layup here or there, they would have been victorious. Not one of them blamed another teammate. Each of them wished they had played better to help their team, and all of them rededicated themselves to playing a better game next time out. Sometimes a loss teaches us more than a series of wins will ever teach and sometimes a small setback is good for a team. I have a sneaking suspicion that this incredible group of DDS athletes will come back to the hardwood strong, dedicated, and determined in their next contest.
The team invites you to their next game at home on Monday, February 11, at 3:30 PM at the Bontecou Gym. Your support is always appreciated and welcome.
DDS started off the game a bit slowly, maybe a combination of feeling a bit over-confident since we had beaten WMS earlier in the season and being undefeated so far this season. A few lapses of concentration at both ends of the court caused our Tigers to be one or two baskets behind most of the first half, but we managed to keep the score close with some outstanding shots and defensive plays. When the first half buzzer sounded, I was happy to be only three points down. It seemed that every three-pointer WMS was throwing up was nothing but net.
Our halftime talk focused on better ball control and crisper execution of our plays. This team is always very aware of the areas they need to improve and is quick to even point them out to me before I get to them myself. (It’s great to have smart players) I asked them all to dig down deep, support each other, and play the type of game they are capable of playing and have played all year. They are always willing to work harder and this game was no exception. They came out in the second half ready to play and determined to win.
The second half saw some great play execution, some beautiful passing and a game in the “paint” that would make any “big-man” coach proud. Dani, Shriman, and Adam were moving the ball like the veteran players they are, while Griffin and Hudson rotated at the point, setting up and leading some great fast break opportunities. Griffin, playing with the flu, and Hudson playing with a very severely sprained finger, scored 16 and 15 points respectively. They were tenacious on defense and held WMS’s best guard to just two baskets. Dani, Adam, and Shriman added 6, 5, and 2 points respectively and were tough and consistent under the boards. So, what was the difference in this game you ask? I think we missed our share of easy layups, but that happens in every game. I also think we were out of position on a few rebounds, but that also happens in every game. Quite simply, the ball bounces a certain way for every team during the year and in this game it just wasn’t bouncing our way. We never gave up and we played tough right until the final buzzer. After the game this team proved to themselves and to this coach that if they had finished off a layup here or there, they would have been victorious. Not one of them blamed another teammate. Each of them wished they had played better to help their team, and all of them rededicated themselves to playing a better game next time out. Sometimes a loss teaches us more than a series of wins will ever teach and sometimes a small setback is good for a team. I have a sneaking suspicion that this incredible group of DDS athletes will come back to the hardwood strong, dedicated, and determined in their next contest.
The team invites you to their next game at home on Monday, February 11, at 3:30 PM at the Bontecou Gym. Your support is always appreciated and welcome.
Monday, February 4, 2008
JV Volleyball cancellation
The JV Volleyball game away against Rumsey on Wednesday Feb 6th has been cancelled. A new date will be arranged!
Friday, February 1, 2008
Sports Schedule for week beginning Monay February 4th, 2008
Monday February 4th - Varsity Basketball @ DDS v Washington Montessori.
Dismiss 3:00 p.m. Start 3:30 p.m. Pick up 4:45 p.m.
Wednesday February 6th - Squash @ Millbrook School v Millbrook/IMS
Dismiss 2:30 p.m. Start 3:15 p.m.
Pick up at Millbrook 5:00 p.m.
Pick Up at DDS 5:15 p.m.
- JV Volleyball @ Rumsey
Dismiss 2:00 p.m. Start 3:30 p.m. Pick Up 5:45 p.m.
Thursday February 7th - JV Basketball @ DDS v Poughkeepsie Day
Dismiss 3:00 p.m. Start 3:30 p.m. Pick up 4:45 p.m.
- Varsity Volleyball @ Rumsey
Dismiss 2:00 p.m. Start 3:30 p.m. Pick up 5:45 p.m.
Friday February 8th - Ski/Skate
Dismiss 3:00 p.m. Start 3:30 p.m. Pick up 4:45 p.m.
Wednesday February 6th - Squash @ Millbrook School v Millbrook/IMS
Dismiss 2:30 p.m. Start 3:15 p.m.
Pick up at Millbrook 5:00 p.m.
Pick Up at DDS 5:15 p.m.
- JV Volleyball @ Rumsey
Dismiss 2:00 p.m. Start 3:30 p.m. Pick Up 5:45 p.m.
Thursday February 7th - JV Basketball @ DDS v Poughkeepsie Day
Dismiss 3:00 p.m. Start 3:30 p.m. Pick up 4:45 p.m.
- Varsity Volleyball @ Rumsey
Dismiss 2:00 p.m. Start 3:30 p.m. Pick up 5:45 p.m.
Friday February 8th - Ski/Skate
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