R’ville’s Aromando gets to 1,000 points
and I started a little slow this year and that was definitely something I was thinking about.”
As Steinert (9-3) continued to build its lead with intense defense, Aromando plugged away. She had 10 after three quarters, with eight coming from the foul line. She scored four quick ones to start the fourth and get within one. After a Steinert hoop, Fiona put back her own miss to start the celebration. Her sister Molly was the first to embrace her as the game was stopped and Aromando received balloons from Athletic Director Curtis Wyers.
Aromando didn’t know she made history until a roar went up after her bucket.
“I was really into the game, this is always a big rivalry,” she said. “But I’m really proud of myself. We’ve definitely had our ups and downs over the years but my teammates have worked so hard, all of us together, so this is definitely a team accomplishment. I wouldn’t be where I was without them.”
With 1,007 points, Aromando is 130 away from tying Kaitlyn Herbert’s school record for girls. Even the opposition had kind words.
“Fiona is a fantastic player, she’s worked very hard for this accomplishment and I absolutely congratulate her,” Steinert coach Kristin Jacobs said. “We knew it would be tough to keep her under 15. We knew if she was close she was going to get it. That’s a credit to her and her work ethic and how hard she has gone the past four years.”
Tatiana Dorner, who had six points, six rebounds, 10 steals and four assists, said of Aromando, “She’s a very great player, and she’s very sweet, too. She’s going to go far.”
So are the Spartans if they keep playing like this. In earning their sixth straight victory, Steinert is off to its best start in Jacobs’ six years as coach.
Using a stifling, pressing defense that forced 14 firsthalf turnovers, Steinert raced to a 10-0 lead that it stretched to 28-19 by halftime. With the score 43-23, the Spartans scored 15 straight to put the game away.
“That’s what we literally talk about,” Dorner said. “Having a lead and not letting it go.”
Natalie Mehl shot out of her mind en route to 21 points, as she went 7-for-11 with all seven buckets being 3-pointers. Jayda Bing added 12 points and seven rebounds, while Mehl also grabbed six boards. Leila Collazo had eight points and four assists, while Emily Diszler came off the bench for eight points.
“We established a game plan today that worked in our favor,” Jacobs said. “They followed it, they did what they were supposed to do. When that all comes together, you get 73 points.”
Much of it due to the Spartans pressing, aggressive defense that produced numerous transition buckets.
“I love it,” Dorner said. “Defense is probably our best asset and it leads straight to offense.”
Torrington 0-0-0, MAromando 3-0-7, FAromando 5-12-22, Cueto 0-0-0, Johnson 3-0-6, Heulitt 2-0-4, Perez 0-0-0, Mauerman 0-0-0, Schatz 0-1-1, Valerio 0-0-0. 13-13-40.
Totals —
Bing 4-2-12, Mehl 7-0-21, Collazo 4-0-8, Golik 2-0-4, Diszler 4-0-8, Dorner 3-0-6, Wood 1-1-3, Jones 3-0-6, Pappas 0-0-0, Huth 1-1-3, Haley 1-0-2, Comfort 0-0-0.
30-4-73.
Totals — Robbnsvlle(4-5) Steinert (9-3) 3-point goals —
7, Bing 2 (S).
9 20 10 18 6 20 15 — 15 —
MAromando (R), Mehl
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40 73