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DiRamio sparks Rams after a slow beginning

By MARK JEANNERET, Special to the Press Herald Tuesday, January 22, 2013

WINDHAM — Keneisha DiRamio is trying her hardest to make up for lost time.

DiRamio is healthy for the first time in four seasons and providing another dimension to a dangerous Deering girls´ basketball team that is among the elite in the SMAA.

DiRamio continued a solid comeback season Tuesday night with 10 points as the second-seeded Rams improved to 12-1 with a 38-24 victory over Windham.

"She gives us glimpses of greatness here and there," said Deering Coach Mike Murphy.

"I think she´s one of the most explosive players in the league and I think she´s one of the better ball defenders in the league. There´s no doubt she adds another element to our team. She´s a player for sure and it´s been something we´ve been looking forward to since her freshman year."

DiRamio´s impact has been stalled by serious injuries in each of her first three seasons.

As a freshman she suffered a shoulder injury that required surgery and ended her season prematurely.

She didn´t even get to dribble in her last two seasons as a result of knee injuries -- the medial collateral in her left knee as a sophomore and the anterior cruciate in the right knee last season.

"I don´t really even think about it anymore," said DiRamio.

"You can´t use that you´ve been out for three years as an excuse. That´s just really my mind-set. I really just have a lot of hope and determination and I´m hard headed. I love the game and I´m very competitive and that´s what has kept me into the game. I don´t give up and I just keep going."

DiRamio showed good ball-handling skills and playmaking abilities in an opening half that neither team was able to create any kind of offensive rhythm.

DiRamio, a 5-foot-7 guard, helped the Rams stay close to the Eagles (7-7), who led 11-8 after the first quarter. She accounted for the final six Deering points in the period.

"It was really slow at first and I don´t know what was up," said DiRamio. "We weren´t on the same page but we ended up coming through and finally clicking here and there."

The Rams took over in the second quarter, but it wasn´t pretty. Another basket by DiRamio 21/2 minutes into the period pushed Deering into a 14-13 lead.

The Rams ended up outscoring the Eagles 11-2 in the second quarter to carry a 19-13 lead into the half.

The second half didn´t get off to a blazing start either as the two teams combined for 11 points in the third quarter.

Deering carried a 25-18 lead into the fourth.

"We got off to a good start," said Windham Coach Brody Artes. "But we´ve gone on lulls this year where we just can´t put the ball in the basket."

Chelsea Saucier lead all scorers with 14 points, including eight straight from the free-throw line in the final two minutes of the game.

Luisa Sbardella scored seven to lead the Eagles.