SOLVAY -- This week's Dunkin Donuts' CNY Central Athlete is about to enter the Solvay girls basketball record books.
Tessa Pucello, a senior for the Lady Bearcats, surpassed the 1,000 point plateau with a 38 point performance in a win over Jordan-Elbridge. With a 12 point game against Skaneateles, Tessa stands just 21 points shy of the all-time scoring record with two games to play.
The record is held by Sandy (Ponza) Sutherland, who coincidentally has been a family friend of Tessa's for a long time. Sandy's daughter Alyssa plays Division I hoops at Loyola after a stellar career at West Genesee. Sutherland has been there rooting on Tessa to break her record, in fact she says she's Tessa's "biggest fan".
Put it into perspective, for all of the years there's been a girls basketball program at Solvay, Tessa is about to become the scoring queen, the top of the heap for all players who have come before her. And in the process of her now five year career, she's been a shining example to the rest of her team of how to be above the rest on and off the court, she's a high-honor roll student. Surely, even after Tessa's left Solvay her presence will be remembered, not only by her name being on the scoring record banner, but also by showing all future basketball players the definition of a student-athlete.
Congratulations to Tessa for her nomination as a Dunkin' Donuts CNY Central Athlete!
