MISENHEIMER — While men’s basketball coach Dave Davis was saying adios to just about everyone in a gold uniform Saturday on Pfeiffer’s emotional Senior Night, women’s coach Angie Morton was able to concentrate all her energy on one shy, 5-foot-10 guard from Pittsburgh.
Melinda Kostorick, known to the world as “Mindy,” is the Falcons’ senior class. She stood alone at center court, carefully gripping enough balloons to fly her halfway across the country.
“Mindy got spoiled tonight,” laughed Morton. “I even got her a teddy bear with her number on it. I guess that’s the kindergarten teacher in me coming out.”
When she wasn’t being spoiled by her coaches and teammates, Kostorick was busy spoiling the evening for visiting Lees-McRae. Pfeiffer romped 93-68, as
Kostorick, who averages a modest 4 ppg, went crazy for a career-high 23.
Kostorick rattled in a 3 from the top with 1:53 left to hit the 20-point mark. The final 3-point attempt of her career at Merner Gym swished through with 44 seconds left for points 21, 22 and 23.
“I’m so happy she had a great night tonight,” said Morton.
“It was fun,” said Kostorick, “but it was also sad. I was doing just fine until my teammates gave me a scrapbook right before the game.”
The scrapbook filled with memories prompted a few tears, but didn’t stop Kostorick from hitting five 3-pointers. She also was perfect on four free throws.
The Pfeiffer women are on their way to one of their best seasons ever, and Morton gives lots of the credit to her solo senior.
“She’s our leader,” said Morton. “Since we had only one senior, I’m so glad it was her. She’s never been immature — even when she was a freshman.”
Morton recalled her first meeting with Kostorick in 1996. Kostorick desperately wanted a chance to play college ball, and had driven from Pennsylvania to North Carolina with her dad for a tryout.
“I walked into the Hampton Inn and saw this tall, skinny girl and she gave me this little smile,” said Morton. “And then her dad stood up and he was a whole lot taller than she was. That made me feel good, because I figured he had to be an athlete.”
Morton figured right. Both of Kostorick’s parents were coaches and Mindy had been well-schooled.
“She had a super workout. She showed me a nice shot and good ballhandling skills,” said Morton.
The rest is history. Kostorick wound up starting the last three years for Morton and has been one of the CVAC’s top outside guns. She’s hit 25 3-pointers (second on the team to sophomore Shannon Reid) this season.
Still, Morton says the intangible stuff Kostorick brings has been far more important than the 3s.
“I know our other players get tired of hearing it,” said Morton, “but I’m always saying, ‘Watch how Mindy does it.’ In four years, I don’t know that she’s had one bad day of practice. She listens and she tries to carry out what I teach in practice in the games. In that way, she’s pleased me more than any player I’ve had.”
With roughly 20 seconds to play Saturday, Kostorick trotted over to chat with Morton while a teammate shot free throws. Both started giggling immediately.
“I asked her if she realized she was out there with four freshmen,” said Morton. “She said, ‘Oh yeah, I definitely know that.’ ”
Morton considered taking Kostorick out for an ovation when there was a stoppage of play with four seconds left, but all the Falcons pleaded with Morton to call one last play for the guest of honor. Morton agreed. Unfortunately, the execution on “Special” didn’t materialize. Kostorick stayed “stuck” on 23.
“I guess I was saving some up for this one,” Kostorick said with a big smile.
But Morton wasn’t exactly smiling when she talked about life after Mindy next season.
“Mindy will be hard to replace,” said Morton. “Players like her are rare. She might just be one of a kind.”
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