Greenwich Country Day School

Greenwich Country Day School girls basketball team tops Rye Country Day, McDermott with 23 points for Tigers

Photo by David Fierro: Brianna McDermott, a Greenwich Country Day School junior point guard, dribbles the ball up the court during a varsity basketball game against Rye Country Day School at Greenwich Country Day. The Tigers won, 62-36.

Friday was Senior Night/Hoops Night at Greenwich Country Day School and the Tigers’ girls basketball team certainly celebrated the special event in style.

Thriving on both ends of the court, it was a happy Senior Night/Hoops night for the Tigers, who continued their highly successful season with another impressive home triumph.

Junior point guard/tri-captain Brianna McDermott scored a game-high 23 points with five 3-pointers to pace Greenwich Country Day to a decisive 62-36 win over visiting foe Rye Country Day School on Friday.

Photo by David Fierro: From left to right: Nina Ferry, Paloma Snisky and Brianna McDermott are captains of the Greenwich Country Day School girls basketball team, which defeated Rye Country Day School, 62-36, on Senior Night on Feb. 9, 2024.

The win improved the Tigers’ overall record to 6-6 on the season. Currently, GCDS has a 3-3 record in the FAA and is in fifth place in the league, heading into its final two regular season games. The Tigers host league opponent Greenwich Academy Monday at 4:45 p.m., and visit FAA foe School of the Holy Child on Wednesday. The FAA tournament features eight teams.

GCDS honored seniors Anna Lonski, Jashiyah McCoy and Paloma Snisky on Senior Day. Snisky serves as a captain, along with McDermott and junior Nina Ferry.

“Paloma is one of my best friends we met through this school and we’ve got so much closer through basketball,” McDermott said. “So, this is a bittersweet moment. I never thought this moment would come it makes me super sad. She’s paved the way for this basketball team and each year we grow it’s because of her.”

Photo by David Fierro: Greenwich Country Day continued its strong season with a recent victory vs. Rye Country Day School.

Junior forward Lara Young scored nine points, including one 3-pointer, while Snisky and sophomore center Mia McCauliffe-Grant added seven points apiece for the Tigers. Eighth-grader McKenna McNeil, a guard, posted seven points for the victors.

“I did not expect it to be the way it was,” Snisky said, referring to the squad’s senior game. “There were balloons everywhere and posters. I got so many hugs and that really made me happy, because I love my basketball team and it makes me really sad that this is ending – I really love this team.”

Guard Claire Jiang scored a team-best 19 points for Rye Country Day School, which does not compete in the FAA Tournament. The matchup was close for much of the first half, with GCDS holding a 24-19 advantage with four minutes left in the second quarter.

Greenwich Country Day School’s Nina Ferry dribbles the ball up the court during an FAA basketball game vs. Rye Country Day School at Greenwich Country Day. The Tigers led from start to finish on their way to posting a 62-36 Senior Night win.

A basket from the low post by McCauliffe-Grant and a lefty layup by McDermott upped Greenwich Country Day’s lead to 28-19 at the 2:55 mark of the second quarter.

McDermott then swished consecutive 3-point shots, the second of which was from the left corner, putting the hosts on top, 34-21, with just 10 seconds remaining in the second quarter.

“We could have played better, honestly especially on offense, but I’m proud that we won and still pushed through and won,” Snisky said.

Photo by David Fierro: McKenna O’Neil of Greenwich Country Day looks to pass the ball, while being tightly guarded.

The Tigers seized control of this game in the third quarter. McCauliffe-Grant scored the first three points, making it 37-21. Young converted a foul line jump shot and freshman guard Skylar Brokaw made a layup, moving GCDS’ advantage up to 41-23 at the 2:13 mark of the third quarter.

McDermott received a pass from Lonski, a senior forward and scored at the buzzer ending the third quarter, making it 43-30 in favor of the home team.

Brianna McDermott of the Tigers takes a shot from the top of the key against FAA opponent Rye Country Day School.

McCoy had four points, while Lonski scored three points in one of their final home games for the Tigers. McDermott nailed a shot from beyond the arc to start the fourth quarter, O’Neil made a basket and Snisky swished a 3-pointer, giving GCDS a comfortable 48-30 lead with 6:57 to play.

“It’s been an amazing season, I love our seniors so much,” noted Ferry, who pointed to the team’s chemistry as one of the reasons for its success.

Lara Young of Greenwich Country Day gets ready to take a perimeter shot versus visiting Rye Country Day School.

“I think coming together as a team and bonding and having no drama on the team has helped us,” Ferry said. “That helps us on the court too playing together, so its’ been amazing.”

Following their final two remaining regular season games, the Tigers will play in the FAA Tournament.

Greenwich Country Day forward Jashiyah McCoy takes a shot from the low post vs. Rye Country Day.

“I’m ready for the playoffs and I’m ready for us to work and play really, really hard,” Snisky said. “As I said before, I think we can win the FAA.”

Greenwich Country Day guard Skylar Brokaw, right, in action against Rye Country Day in a varsity game at GCDS.
Greenwich Country Day’s Anna Lonski puts up a shot in the lane during FAA varsity basketball action.
Tigers senior captain/guard Paloma Snisky takes the ball up the court during an FAA matchup vs. Rye Country Day School.
Tigers center Mia Grant, left, grabs a rebound during second-half action against Rye Country Day School.
GCDS junior point guard Brianna McDermott totaled a game-high 23 points in a 62-36 victory over RCDS.
Mia Grant of Greenwich Country Day School scores from the low post against Rye Country Day.

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