Garden School

Garden School’s Lady Griffins Look For Rebound Jan. 15

Garden School Lady Griffins in huddle with coach.

For the first full week of January, Garden School posted 2 wins and 2 losses.  The team’s overall record remained one game above 500 at 8-7. After earning their first G.I.S.A.L. victory of the season, GS dropped the next two games, Dwight School and Trevor Day School, as they are fifth in the standings with a 1-4 mark. GS looks to get back on the winning track, when they face York Prep, Manhattan, in a non-league contest on Thursday, January 15.

The Lady Griffins overwhelmingly beat Bay Ridge Prep on Monday, January 5.

The Grif’s defense only allowed three baskets the entire game and offensively displayed exceptional teamwork with all 10 players contributing at least one basket each. 

Lady Griffins opening tip-off vs. UNIS.

In the first quarter, Senior Center Daniela Triana, got the offense started by netting nine of her game-high 14 points. During the first eight-minutes of the contest, sisters Nadia and Tatiana Ambarsom connected with two buckets apiece opening a 23-2 advantage at the end of the first quarter en route to the lopsided victory. Claudia Kostich added 12 points to the Garden School score, 54-6.

On January 7 late game heroics by Larissa Ambarsom, as GS prevailed against UNIS 40-33 while Claudia Kostich scored a career-high 23 points

Lady Griff’s Larissa Ambarsom #10

Garden hosted the United Nations International School (UNIS) from Manhattan. Both institutions were evenly matched in this G.I.S.A.L. league contest, with neither squad gaining more than a six-point advantage. 

At the end of the third period, the score was knotted at 23. UNIS netted the first five points of the final quarter. Then, Larissa responded, making one of two free throws and connecting on two foul line jumpers to put the Lady Griffins even. 
UNIS went ahead when Chelsi Thomas (14 points) made a field goal, to make the score 30-28. Garden’s sophomore Claudia Kostich connected from behind the arc, to regain the lead at 31-30.  The Manhattan team took the lead again when Frankie Altumula (11 points) sank a three-pointer. 

The Queens team retaliated with Larissa Ambarsom following up when UNIS missed their shot to tie the score for the final time at 33. With a little over a minute remaining, Senior Guard Tatiana Ambarsom, stole the ball and raced the length of the court for an easy lay-up.  Kostich connected on her fourth trey of the game and Larissa Ambarsom made a 10-foot corner jump shot to close out the scoring. 

“Claudia’s shooting was amazing and Larissa [Ambarsom] hit some big shots at the end”, Senior Guard Giana Mylan said. Kostich scored a career-high 23 points, while grabbing eight rebounds.  Larissa Ambarsom scored all of her nine points in the final quarter.  Tatiana Ambarsom had an outstanding all-around performance with eight points, six rebounds, five assists and five steals.

Dwight School was too strong for Garden on January 8  and won the game 48-27.

This was Garden’s second chance to perform against the G.I.S.A.L. defending champions, Dwight School, Manhattan, but the outcome was the same. The Lady Griffins had a lackluster performance, especially in the third period, when they were outscored by their opponents 18-0, en route to the 21-point defeat.

“We did not play well, we did not play together, and we were not focused.  Dwight took advantage and earned the victory”, Coach John Vogel remarked. 

Senior Captain, Daniela Triana, added, “We didn’t work together, and we needed to try harder.” The Lady Tigers offensive attack was propelled by three players scoring double-digits:  Toni Smith (15 points), Hope Salvan (12 points) and Ebeni Marquez (10 points). One bright spot for Garden was Triana, who collected her first double double of the season, amassing 18 points and snaring 10 rebounds.

Lady Griffins fall to Trevor Day School, 29-33, in the final minutes of the game played at the school on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

This was Garden’s third G.I.S.A.L. league contest in the same number of days.  The Lady Griffs seemed tired at the onset, but battled their way back to take a one-point advantage before the Lady Dragons regained the lead and won the game on January 9.  Trevor held leads of 10-four at the end of the first quarter, 20-13 at halftime, and 27-23 after three quarters.  Garden netted two-free throws and Trevor made one from the charity stripe, making the score 28-25. 

Tatiana Ambarsom netted two baskets, the second of which came with 1:16 remaining on the clock.  Trevor’s Sophomore Point Guard Sophie Lasey, drove the lane and was fouled, but sank two free throws to recapture a one-point lead.  Garden had a chance, setting up a play with approximately 25 seconds left, but the home team stole the ball and the basketball ended up in Lasey’s hands, as she was fouled to stop the clock. Lasey connected with two more foul shots to secure the victory. 

Tatiana Ambarsom noted, “We weren’t moving to the open spot on offense and we didn’t execute at the end of the game.”  The Lady Dragons’ team effort was directed by Lasey’s game-high 20 points, which included three treys and nine-free throws. Others who contributed to the win were Nicole Festa (6 points) and Annie Bourque (5 points), while Nadia Ambarsom (9 points), Tatiana Ambarsom (8 points) and Daniela Triana (6 points) led Garden but couldn’t pull it off.