Youth and stamina once again trump age and wile

CORNWALL — “Mom, could you get open?” Not something you usually hear in a basketball game. But at Cornwall Consolidated School (CCS) Feb. 13, it was the middle school girls’ basketball team against “the parents” — a loosely contrived group that also included some current students, a former student and school Principal Michael Croft (who turned out to be a ringer).After more than an hour of grueling play, it was 39-36, students. It was a hard-fought battle.The adults took an early lead. The girls rallied and in the middle of the third period opened up a sizable lead at 27-18. By then, the parents et al. were resorting to determination as endurance flagged. But even the girls were looking a little winded. Their strategy to press and get the ball back didn’t really jibe with the adults’ attempts at a less strenuous passing game.Croft poured his game on thick in the last few minutes. It was too little too late, but made for great drama.Of course, there was some trash talk. Croft tried to disguise his as authoritative when he suggested some of the crazy socks worn by the girls didn’t meet dress code. All was trumped with the final cheer. Two, four, six, eight, who do they appreciate? “Seniors!” the girls shouted.