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.

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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.

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“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.

 


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