In what can only be described as one of the biggest upsets in years, the eighth-grade Lady Dawgs Basketball team took on previously unbeaten Grand Ave. and played the most unbelievable fifth period, outscoring their opponents by a 15-8 margin in gaining a 44-36 victory. The girls took on this team earlier in the year and dropped a 12-point decision before losing their leading scorer. The girls played seriously undermanned with only one sub in a fiercely played game. With full court pressure being applied by Grand throughout, the girls pulled it all together and never lost their composure. Meaghan Davis played what had to have been one of the best games in recent middle school memory. Meaghan scored the most points in a game at Island Trees in the past 10 years as she pumped in 25. She coolly dribbled out the clock in the 5th as all of Grand chased her around the court trying to foul. Catie Hollett played another outstanding game, finishing with 8 points, 10 rebounds, six blocked shots and was a huge factor in helping to break the press in the third period when the girls responded brilliantly. Nicole Leonick did an unbelievable job dribbling through the pressure of Grand as she displayed great poise and never got frustrated, although constantly being fouled and wound up shooting two points from the line. Playing in their most physical contest of the year, with 28 team fouls called against Grand, Brittany Guerrini scored 3 and Kelly Hyland would add 5 while both withstood some major contact under the boards. Their fearsome battling enabled the Dawgs to hold off Grand down the stretch. Outstanding defensive games were played by Katie Blauvelt, Alyssa Saracino, Jamie Ruiz, Janice Nussbaum, Nicole Thearle and Nicole Doller who continues to see the floor better each game as she distributes the ball with precision passes. The team should be very proud of their accomplishments to date, as their record now stands at 6-2 and they keep improving and learning from each contest. The seventh- and eighth-grade wrestling team finished in a tie with Packard after an exciting match. Leading the way for the Bulldogs were Dan DeDonno, Julio Fuentes, Matt Gelormino, John Pascale, Brendan Spiess, Steve Dedeus, Chris Volino, Ever Reyes, Jon Bartlett, Joe Sorisi and Kris Buhagiar. Each of them pinned their opponent to secure 6 team points.