Sports

Suddenly up-tempo, run-and-gun Dalton coasts past Columbia Prep

Dalton took an interesting approach en route to pulling off the upset of Columbia Prep and that was to go away from its game plan for the entire season.

Dalton defeated Columbia Prep, 52-35, in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic at the Fieldston School in The Bronx, running an up-tempo style, something that suited their opponent much more than themselves.

Dalton coach Amanda Cecil, in her first season, switched up the team’s approach, hoping it would lead to success.

“We knew what they were going to do, they were going to look to get out,” said Cecil. “So we decided to get out and run with them. It’s something we haven’t done all year, but we were able to today.”

Dalton (9-10) opened up the game on a 12-0 run, having four out of its five starters score in the quarter’s first four minutes. The Tigers ran Columbia Prep (15-5) off the court in the first quarter, extending their lead to 22-6. Columbia Prep’s six points came off of two 3-pointers, finding every offensive possession to be a struggle.

Dalton would end up having eight players score in that first quarter.

“We’re a very athletic and deep team all around, so I was able to keep players fresh, rotating them in and out, which was key with the new up-tempo offense,” Cecil said.

Dalton’s offense, being paced by their senior captain Isabel Feldman, who had 11 points, ran flawlessly no matter who was in the game. Feldman had nine points at the half and spent most of the second half on the bench. Yet the offense was able to maintain its edge.

This newfound, aggressive up-tempo offense fed off of Dalton’s defense, which was anchored by 6-foot-2 center Ada Dolan-Zalaznick, who had a double-double on the day. Coming off of her previous game in which she had nine blocks, Dolan-Zalaznick filled the stat sheet with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

“If one person can step on the court and really give it their all, everyone else can feed off that, and bring their games to the next level,” Dolan-Zalaznick said.

Dolan-Zalaznick drew the assignment of stopping Columbia Prep’s Carly Doyle. In Columbia Prep’s last game, Doyle scored 30 points, while adding 10 rebounds, and five assists. Doyle would be hard-pressed to find the same success in this matchup.

She would finish with 14 points, but most of them coming with Dolan-Zalaznick on the bench – like in the fourth quarter, when Doyle scored eight points. Penny Savryn would also add nine points for Columbia Prep.

“Doyle got in foul trouble early, so we really couldn’t do anything on offense, she’s our best scorer,” Columbia Prep coach Andy Chappell said.

Chappell went on to commend Dalton for the game it played, saying that the Tigers exploited every weakness his team had in the game.

“I don’t think we came out ready to play today. Which is a shame, and it should have been a good matchup for us,” Chappell said. “We just didn’t do anything well, it was not a good day for us at all.”

Columbia Prep will now wait to see what happens in the Monday matchup between Calhoun and Loyola. If Calhoun wins, Columbia Prep will tie for the NYCAL title, earning an automatic bid to the NYSAISSA.

As for Dalton, they’re looking to end its rollercoaster season on a high note, said Cecil.

“We’ve had quite the up and down season,” she said. “This team really came together last week, and you could see it from their focus. They want to win out and that’s the goal.””