Sam Retas had scored 15 points in her basketball career probably more times than the Bishop Kearney senior could remember. But she was still a bit apprehensive knowing that was the number she needed to reach the 1,000-point plateau for her career Sunday.
“She woke up and said she was nervous,” senior guard Jaclyn Grasso said. “I said don’t be nervous. She does this all the time. She scores how many points a game.”
Retas was able to let out a deep breath and a sigh of relief as her free throw hit nothing but net with 33.9 seconds left in the third quarter as flash bulbs went off to give the three-year varsity player the milestone.
“Everyone was like, ‘Oh don’t worry. You’ll get it,’” Retas said.
She scored 23 points, including two free throws in the final seconds to seal a 49-46 non-league girls basketball win for Bishop Kearney over host St. John Villa Sunday afternoon. She became the eighth player in school history to reach the mark and now has 1,008 points after scoring 563 points in a breakout junior season.
“I was just trying to play how I usually play,” Retas said. “I didn’t want to get too excited. I didn’t want to throw my game off.”
Retas, who added nine rebounds, attacked the basket early. She scored her 12th point on a pass from Grasso, who has played with her since she was in sixth grade. Allison Gasparino follow that with a layup to give Kearney an 18-11 lead with 2:15 left in the game. Retas’ milestone search put a bit of hesitance in the Tigers (7-9) as they at times second-guessed taking their own shot as they all wanted to get Retas the ball.
It allowed Villa (9-7) to hang around. Retas had a 3-pointer rattle out before the half and passed up another, much to the chagrin of her family and friends in the stands, to feed Maureen O’Sullivan (eight points) for a trey to open the third quarter.
“Everyone made a noise,” Retas said. “Everyone was like, ‘I can’t believe you passed that.’”
She didn’t miss her opportunities after that.
After another O’Sullivan 3-pointer she dropped in a layup along the right side to give Kearney, which won the first meeting nine days ago, a 30-24 lead with 4:25 left in the third. Retas was fouled going to the hoop after a pass from Marianne Hanning. The celebration was mild after the first free throw, a few hugs and pictures. Retas went back and made the second to make it 32-28 Tigers after three.
“She is a solid 20-point a game scorer and the fact that she’s started shooting 3s bumped that up a little bit,” Kearney coach Rocco Sellitto said.
Kearney appeared it was finally taking control of the game, opening up a 38-28 lead on an Erin Tacopina 3-pointer with 5:45 left in the game. But the Bears would rally behind Brittany Sullivan.
The senior forward scored 12 points, including six of her team’s next nine, to slice the lead to 38-37 with 4:16 remaining. Villa coach Liz Blanchard felt it was also the best defense her team played and they began to look inside. Nicole Francomano scored 15 points and Danielle Iacampo added eight.
“All season long we have told her go strong, so hard to the basket,” she said of Brittany Sullivan. “She has the potential to, but she likes to pass. She likes to kick out.”
Retas made sure her team pulled out the win back at the free throw line. Villa got within 47-46 on two Iacampo free throws with 10.6 second left. Retas knocked down her pair and the Bears’ last second 3-pointer was long.
“Of course my 1,000th was important,” Retas said. “But winning was more important.”
