Section 2 Class B Semis: Mechanicville Rolls, Fonda Knocks Off Top Seed

February 26, 2019

Usually when I cross the river and make an Unbreakable Nutrition stop, it's before watching perennial Class A power Averill Park. The trip was the same, the venue was the same, but the teams were different on Tuesday night, as AP played host to the Section 2 Class B semifinals. In the opener, Mechanicville took care of business as the game wore on, running away to a W against Mekeel. The nightcap proved to be the story, as #13 seed Fonda-Fultonville kept their playoff run alive and crashed the party on thoughts of an all-Wasaren final with a win over top-seeded Tamarac.


Mechanicville 62, Mekeel Christian Academy 38

A late 1st quarter run from Mekeel after a strong start from Mechanicville made it seem like they settled in, but the 2nd seeded Raiders responded by dominating the middle quarters and eliminating any thoughts of late-game drama. They ran their lead into the 20s by the middle of the 3rd quarter, winning in the same gym that they ended their season in last year to advance to the Class B finals.

Amy DiSiena went to work once again for Mechanicville, finishing with 18 points in Tuesday's win.

Mechanicville started off on the right foot, jumping to a 6-0 lead in the first two minutes thanks to their pressure. Mekeel, up in Class B this year after a couple successful years in the C ranks, was able to settle in and cut their deficit, briefly taking a 13-12 lead late in the quarter on a Jill Ballard (Mekeel 2020) three point play. That lead - the Lions' only lead of the night - was very short-lived, as Amy DiSiena (Mechanicville 2021) provided a bucket before the end of the quarter, giving them a 14-13 edge. Mechanicville's pressure & physicality started to take its toll on a young Mekeel squad as the 1st half wore on, and the Raiders started to gain separation in the 2nd quarter. A 7-0 spurt with a pair of DiSiena buckets and capped by a Chloe Goverski (Mechanicville 2022) trey gave them a 21-14 lead. The slow lead extension continued through the end of the half, with Jada Brown (Mechanicville 2020) scoring their last 6 of the half and pushing their lead to 30-20.

The Raiders carried their momentum into the 2nd half, and it didn't take long for them to break it open. Brown started it with 5 quick points, giving her 11 in a row for Mechanicville, and by the time DiSiena added a pair of buckets, they had scored the first 11 of the 3rd and extended their lead to 41-20. Mekeel briefly stopped the bleeding, scoring 4 straight in the middle of the quarter, but Mechanicville pushed their lead to 49-27 by the end of the 3rd. From there, Mekeel never chipped their deficit closer than 17 as the Raiders hit cruise control into the Class B final.

Jada Brown played well throughout for Mechanicville, finishing with 14 points in their semifinal W.

Amy DiSiena continued her strong play this season with a strong semifinal showing, finishing with a game high 18 points. Jada Brown played well at both ends in the win and added 14 points, and AJ-Analda Joseph (Mechanicville 2020) joined them in double digits with 10, 8 coming in the 3rd quarter. For Mekeel, Avery Mills (2024) put an end to a season that put her on the local map as a 7th grader with a team high 13 points. Jill Ballard joined her in double digits, finishing with 11.


Fonda-Fultonville 52, Tamarac 41

Class B in Section 2 has been wide open the entire season, with no one truly separating themselves as a frontrunner. That became ever more evident in Tuesday's nightcap, when the #13 seed from Fonda-Fultonville gained control late in the 1st half and never relinquished it, continuing their run by pulling off the most striking seeding upset in recent memory by knocking off top-seeded Tamarac.

Carly Atty was huge in Fonda's semifinal W, finishing with 11 pts (3 treys) while effectively serving as their primary ballhandler against the top seed's pressure.

The game became entertaining, but the start was slow for both sides, with a 1st quarter filled with ice-cold perimeter shooting - and a lot of it. Both teams primarily lived behind the arc in the opening stanza, with no one scoring inside the arc until :31.0 left in the quarter, when Syrita Faraj (Tamarac 2021) finished at the rim & then added a short jumper before the buzzer, giving Tamarac a 10-6 lead. They extended their lead to 14-6 early in the quarter before the basket started to open up for Fonda. It started with a Carly Atty (Fonda-Fultonville 2022) three to break a 6+ minute drought, then it became the Abby Lombardoni show. After Faraj scored again, the Fonda-Fultonville 2020 answered with 5 quick points. She added a free throw and another bucket to cut their deficit to 1, and another Faraj make was answered with a Lombardoni trey to tie it up. Trailing 21-20 late in the half, Lombardoni got room and canned another one from deep, giving Fonda a lead they'd never relinquish. Marilyn Whitcavitch (Fonda-Fultonville 2022) then finished through contact, and Lombardoni banked home yet another three - her 5th of the half, 17th point of the 2nd quarter & 20th of the half - to give them a 28-21 lead at the break.

The Fonda momentum continued into the 3rd quarter. A Faraj free throw started the half, but Fonda reeled off 8 straight points - threes from Lombardoni & Atty wrapped around a Whitcavitch midrange J - to extend their run to 19-2 and lead to 36-22. Tamarac would cut their deficit to single digits when Emily Erickson (Tamarac 2019) finished off an and-one, and they went into the 4th quarter down 9 at 41-32. The Braves got what they needed to start the 4th quarter, extending their lead back to 13 after an Atty drive & finish at the rim. The cushion extended to 14 once more on a pair of Lombardoni free throws with 4:11 remaining, and although Fonda went without a field goal the rest of the way - only tacking on a pair of free throws in the final minute - Tamarac was never able to really challenge, only getting as close as 9 on an Erickson three with 1:09 left.

Syrita Faraj was a bright spot for Tamarac, finding ways to make life difficult for Fonda & finishing with 12 pts.

Abby Lombardoni continued her recent tear, going off for a game high 28 points in the victory. She had 20 in the 1st half, 17 of those coming in the 2nd quarter, and she knocked down 7 threes in the process. Carly Atty also finished in double digits, contributing 11 points and their other 3 triples. For Tamarac, Syrita Faraj led the way with 12 points and was the only Bengal in double figures.


#JeffsNotes

- Of course, I'm neutral with this stuff and always will be. I'm here to evaluate, provide coverage of these hoopers, and in this segment, give my thoughts & observations. But I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel great for the Fonda girls and their coach, Flip Boshart. I understand why they were given the 13 seed - young & inconsistent, play in the WAC, lost games that they would've needed to win to receive a favorable seed - but more than a few people heard my thoughts along the way about their ability to make a real run. Well, here we are, and they're one of two Section 2 Class B teams that will be playing into March. They're playing their best basketball now, which every team hopes to achieve. The ball is moving crisply, they're locked in as a team defensively, they're playing with energy & confidence, and Coach Boshart has clearly done his homework. Happy for him, someone who puts in the work throughout the year for his program and cares about his players - how many times do you see high school coaches going to watch their players' AAU games? I'll wait - and it's paying dividends, perhaps even ahead of schedule.

With another huge game Tuesday, it can be said that Fonda-Fultonville 2020 Abby Lombardoni is on a tear this sectional season.

- The last couple weeks have been Abby Lombardoni's coming-out party, and Tamarac fell victim to it Tuesday. I've been watching Abby since her freshman year, the back end of the J-Tay days where I believe Abby was their 2nd leading scorer behind Julianna Taylor, now at Brockport. This Abby is a different Abby than what I've seen before. She's sharp, quicker in every way, and playing with a completely different level of confidence. She's always been able to hit shots, but what's striking me is how much more quickly she's getting her shot off, how much better she's getting at creating space off the dribble, and how much more effective she is getting to the rim with both her right & left. On top of the 28 point performance - including 7 threes, which she got off the catch, off the dribble, off screens, you name it - she flashed playmaking ability, including a beautiful pass going to her left, wrapping it around a defender setting up for a charge in traffic to an open teammate on the right block. With continued improvements, look for Abby to become a priority recruit for many D3s over the next year.

- While Fonda has had a fantastic run, Mechanicville is absolutely their toughest opponent along the way as far as personnel & styles go... and the Raiders are playing some of their best basketball now as well. They have a handful of players that can really hurt you, and it showed when they ran away from Mekeel without Charli Goverski handling much of the scoring load. Amy DiSiena lived at or around the rim. Jada Brown played perhaps the best game I've seen her play, making an impact at both ends and also pulling up & hitting a couple midrange jumpers when the D was retreating. Dribble penetration from those three along with Chloe Goverski opened things up for AJ-Analda Joseph at the rim. They're good, pretty well-rounded, and Coach Goverski & staff had a keen eye on the nightcap Tuesday... expect them to be strategically ready for Fonda.

Amy DiSiena (Mechanicville 2021) is among my favorite players in Section 2 that you might not be aware of yet, and she showed why in Tuesday's win.

- I've said this to several people over the course of this season, now I'll throw it in a blog post... give me Amy DiSiena on my team any day. She might basically be an undersized forward - maybe 5'8"? - but she's one of those players that height doesn't matter. She finds ways to score around the rim, carves space, and finishes strong through contact. She's as tough as they come and is very active on the glass at both ends. Then there's the passing & playmaking ability, which is my favorite thing about her game. Amy often assumes the role of point forward, facing up from the high post or top of the key and going to work from there. The moment a second defender starts to commit, I've seen her lace teammates with on-time, on-target passes - sometimes really threading the needle - more than enough times to know a DiSiena dime isn't a fluke. Besides the aforementioned occasional eye-opening pass, her game isn't flashy, but she's the type of player that makes a good team great. Mechanicville, with Amy being a key part, has the opportunity to become a Section 2 champion on Saturday.

Five more years of Mekeel 2024 Avery Mills... buckle up!

- Last but not least... it might not have been the result Mekeel was looking for, but perhaps a wider audience was exposed to potentially the future of Section 2 basketball. I'm very rarely all in on someone before they hit their high school years as so much can change, people can catch up, etc., but this is me saying I'm all in on Avery Mills. I watched her a little on the AAU circuit with NY Havoc as a 6th grader and into this fall, and I was able to catch Mekeel in action three times this winter. At this stage, she's about as gifted as there is in the 2024 class in upstate NY, and it's not because of wild athleticism. She is deceptively quick, but this comes down to good old-fashioned skill. She can already hit with deep range, finish at the rim, and she has an extensive in-between game package, all while being able to create what she wants off the dribble. Her confidence & court presence far surpass her age, and it's all the sort of stuff that translates well over time. I look back at what a current freshman was two years ago for my first thought... at this stage, she reminds me of Jackie Piddock two years ago, except more bucket-oriented. Anyone that knows what I think of Lil' P knows that's pretty high praise... looking forward to seeing Avery for the next FIVE years.

MHAL Semifinals: Millbrook Fends Off Spackenkill, FDR Uses Big 2nd Half to Handle Red Hook

February 19, 2019

Another day that's turned into an annual trip for me is the opening of the Mid-Hudson Athletic League playoffs. A league that features many of Section 9's stronger Class A, B, & C teams - including the sectional champions in each of those classes last year - sends its top two teams in each division to a semifinal round. The 2019 field looked similar to the 2018 field, with only one new face (Red Hook) in the playoff equation. They looked sharp in the first 16 minutes of Tuesday's nightcap before a relentless FDR squad took control in the 3rd quarter. In the night's opener, Millbrook was able to overcome the adversity of losing one of its main guns to fouls early in the 4th quarter, getting contributions from a young supporting cast to knock off Spackenkill.


Millbrook 49, Spackenkill 42

In a game that featured eight lead changes and a margin that remained in single digits from end to end, Millbrook (#1 in Class C state rankings) was able to gain much needed separation in the 4th quarter and earn a quality win over their opponents from Spackenkill (#22 in Class B state rankings).

Erin Fox stepped up even more when needed, producing a game high 23 points in a tough Millbrook win.

A slow start both ways started to pick up late in the 1st quarter. After a pair of Sam McKenna (Millbrook 2019; Mitchell commit) buckets, Erin Fox (Millbrook 2020; Marist commit) knocked down a three to give them a 9-4 edge. Spackenkill, as was the case on more than one occasion, sent their response with the three ball. Issy Herrera (Spackenkill 2019; U of Chicago commit) and Simone Pelish (Spackenkill 2024) dialed long distance to end the quarter, with Pelish's right corner trey before the buzzer giving Spackenkill a 10-9 edge. 6 quick Fox points to start the 2nd, with another Pelish trey sandwiched in between them, gave Millbrook the lead back. They extended it to 23-17 late in the quarter thanks again to Fox, who had 10 in the 2nd stanza, but Spackenkill ended the 2nd quarter the same way they did the 1st. An 8-0 run over the last 1:20 - a pair of Pelish free throws in between two Herrera threes, both off the glass - gave Spackenkill a 25-23 lead going into the locker room.

The teams spent more time at the free throw line early in the 2nd half than anywhere else, with Millbrook & Spackenkill combining to make 2 field goals and shoot 14 free throws in the 3rd quarter, and foul issues started to pile up. McKenna was originally a recipient, going 3/4 from the line in the opening moments of the half, but it eventually sent her to the bench, as the longtime Millbrook standout headed to the bench with 4 fouls at the 4:16 mark in the 3rd. Spackenkill was unable to capitalize, however, as a staunch defensive effort from Millbrook kept them off the 3 point line and prevented easy looks. After Spackenkill briefly took a 30-28 lead late in the 3rd, Millbrook scored the last 3 of the quarter, with a Claire Martell (Millbrook 2019) bucket giving them a 31-30 lead at the end of the 3rd that they'd never relinquish.

Simone Pelish had a fast start for Spackenkill, and the 7th grader chipped in with 10 points Tuesday.

 Fox started the 4th quarter on the right note, burying a deep three after her defender went underneath on an exchange, but Millbrook would be dealt a major blow on the ensuing possession as McKenna would be whistled for her 5th foul trying to jump a passing lane with 6:22 left. The state's top-ranked Class C team would dial in from there, though, never letting Spackenkill take advantage of that. Martell added a bucket, and then Fox buried another three to give Millbrook a 39-32 lead. After Herrera answered with 5 straight points, it was Martell followed by Maddy Harkenrider (Millbrook 2022) burying an open jumper to give them a 6 point cushion again. Spackenkill made it interesting one more time, cutting the deficit to 43-40 with 3:21 left, but it was Millbrook's youngest player helping to ice the game in the final moments. Natalie Fox (Millbrook 2024), Erin's younger sister, knocked down a three at the 2:26 mark. After getting a couple stops, it was 'little' Fox again, knocking down a pretty well-contested 18 footer to give them a 48-40 lead with 1:14 remaining.

Claire Martell made big plays for Millbrook in the 2nd half when needed, scoring all of her pts in the final 8+ minutes.

Erin Fox had a strong game, shaking off a slow start to finish with a game high 23 points in the victory. The early Marist commit showed off her improved range, knocking down 3 threes. Sam McKenna added 9 before fouling out. Natalie Fox (7 points) and Claire Martell (6 points) combined to score 11 in the game's final 8:35 to give much needed support for Millbrook. In defeat, Issy Herrera led Spackenkill with 14 points and hit 4 of their 7 threes. Simone Pelish, a 2024 with immense promise, added 10 points.



Franklin D. Roosevelt 52, Red Hook 41

The two teams played each other less than two weeks prior, with FDR storming back in the 2nd half on Red Hook's home court to take control of the game and pull away with a victory. Without one of Red Hook's most consistent contributors on the court Tuesday, they did well to walk into the locker room at halftime with a lead. However, the nightcap at SUNY Ulster eventually looked like a bit of a repeat of their initial matchup, with FDR using a 16-4 3rd quarter to seize control and secure a berth in the MHAL championship against Millbrook.

Deliah Smith chipped in with 9 pts for FDR, including back to back threes early in the 4th to give them a double digit lead.

FDR started off on the right foot, jumping out to an 8-2 lead in the first 4 minutes off the strength of a pair of Kelsea Demelis (FDR 2020) threes. Red Hook, thanks to the exploits of 2022 Morgan Tompkins, was able to settle in and keep the 1st quarter deficit at 6, with Tompkins scoring 7 of their 9 in the frame to keep it manageable. It was a different game in the 2nd, as even without longtime starting guard Chrissy Gildersleeve in action, Red Hook controlled tempo in the quarter and was able to take full advantage of their strengths. Tompkins buried a three to start the quarter, and Erin Hare (Red Hook 2019) added a three-point play to tie it up. After Jae'len Daubon (FDR 2020) momentarily stopped the bleeding for the Presidents, Red Hook came back on the attack, with Hare eventually giving them the lead. They extended it to 24-19 before FDR, starting with a Daubon trey, scored 5 straight to tie it up. That was short-lived though, as Red Hook threw the last punch of the half. Hare hit a pair of free throws, and then after getting a stop, Tompkins brought it up the right side of the floor, shook off a defender, and buried a deep right wing three before the buzzer to give Red Hook a 29-24 lead.

Morgan Tompkins turned some heads with a big game Tuesday, finishing with 18 pts and showing why she'll be a force in the 845 for years to come.

Red Hook extended their lead to 7 at the beginning of the half with a pair of Hare free throws, but from there, it was all FDR. They reeled off 10 straight points, with Kamryn Hammond (FDR 2019) scoring in the middle of the run to give them a 32-31 lead that they'd never give back. With it still a 1 point game late in the 3rd - almost a mirror image of their battle at Red Hook 11 days prior - FDR banged home two threes to end the quarter, both of them this time coming off the left hand of Demelis to give them a 40-33 lead. Red Hook would never get closer than 6 from there, which they did with a free throw early in the 4th. Deliah Smith (FDR 2020) responded by hitting back-to-back threes, giving them their first double digit lead at 46-34 with 4:51 left. 4 straight Red Hook points were answered by another Daubon three, and the last Red Hook breath of life - a tough Tompkins bucket plus a free throw, cutting their deficit to 49-41 at the 1:41 mark - was answered by the same from Hammond at the other end.

The FDR Presidents won with extreme balance. Jae'len Daubon, Kelsea Demelis, and Kamryn Hammond all finished with 12 points apiece, and Deliah Smith added 9 in the win. All of Demelis' points came from behind the arc, as she hit 4 of their 9 threes on the night. For Red Hook, Morgan Tompkins attracted plenty of FDR's defensive attention after a dynamic 1st half, where she scored 13 of her game high 18 points. Erin Hare added 12 points, with 8 coming in the 2nd quarter where they outscored FDR 20-9.

Kelsea Demelis was one of three with 12 pts for FDR, and her 2 treys late in the 3rd gave them much needed breathing room.

Section 10 Class D Quarterfinals: Higher Seeds All Advance

February 17, 2019

The 3rd Sunday in February has brought me to the same place each of the last three winters. Section X, covering a large portion of northern NY, has had the Ds in recent memory. Their run of success included 2015-2017 state champions in Heuvelton, a team whose best competition was often in their own sectional playoffs, and the Section 10 champion has advanced through regional play into at least the state semifinals every year in recent memory. The Class D quarterfinals all took place at the Roos House at SUNY Canton as nearly the only show in NY Sunday, so it was worth another trip. The higher seeds - Edwards-Knox, Heuvelton, Chateaugay, and Hammond - all took care of business, punching their tickets to what will be a competitive semifinal round.


(2) Heuvelton 53, (7) Hermon-DeKalb 44

In what amounted to be the most entertaining game of the day, second-seeded Heuvelton overcame a double digit deficit and finally put away a game Hermon-DeKalb squad in the final minutes.

Madison McCormick turned it up after a slow start, pumping in a quarterfinal-high 25 pts to push Heuvelton into the semis.

7th seeded Hermon, a team that by what I was able to gather - for whatever reason, some people on the H-D side were secretive about this - featured some JV call-ups, jumped on Heuvelton early behind the shooting prowess of one of those players. Hillary Jones (Hermon-DeKalb 2021) knocked down 3 threes in the opening quarter, and their opponents had a rocky start on the offensive end to compound their issues. By the time Jones hit her 3rd trey, Hermon led 14-3, which was the score at the end of the 1st and their largest lead. Madison McCormick (Heuvelton 2019; Roberts Wesleyan commit) started to make things happen in the 2nd, knocking down a three to start the quarter and contributing 7 points in a 12-0 run to briefly give Heuvelton the lead. But Jones had the answer with her 4th three, and a pair of Brooke Reed (H-D 2019) free throws gave them a 21-18 lead going into the locker room.

Hermon-DeKalb was able to extend their lead to 7 on a pair of occasions in the 3rd quarter, but Heuvelton quickly had the answer both times. The last time, coming off another Jones three, was quickly answered by a McCormick bucket - the same way the first one was answered. She then added a pair of free throws, and after Bella Doyle (Heuvelton 2022) scored, it was McCormick again to give Heuvelton a 31-30 lead - one they'd never give back. Another McCormick bucket gave her 11 in the quarter and gave Heuvelton a 34-32 lead going into the 4th. Hermon cut it to 1 early in the 4th, but a Rayna Cameron (Heuvelton 2020) bucket sparked a 6-0 spurt with Doyle & McCormick adding baskets. Reed (H-D) and Doyle (Heuvelton) traded points twice, the last of the flurry coming from Doyle to give Heuvelton a 46-39 lead with 1:29 left. After Jones hit her 6th & final three to cut Hermon's deficit to 4 with 1:12 left, Heuvelton broke the press and Doyle found McCormick for a layup, and a Heuvelton stop effectively iced the game.

Hillary Jones made her mark on Sunday's 2/7 quarterfinal, dropping a team high 18 points (6 treys) for Hermon-DeKalb.

Madison McCormick pumped in a game high 25 points, with 17 of them coming in the 2nd half. Bella Doyle, a 2022 that shows promise, contributed 8 of her 12 points in the 4th quarter. For Hermon-DeKalb, Hillary Jones scored 18 points and hit 6 of their 9 threes. Brooke Reed added 12 points in defeat. They'll move on to face Chateaugay in the semifinals, who was a 27-22 winner over Colton-Pierrepoint in the day's opener, the only game I missed.



(4) Hammond 71, (5) Harrisville 44

A back-and-forth start turned into a game that looked like anything but a 4/5 matchup, as Hammond dominated the middle quarters to run away with a victory over Harrisville.

Kelsey Bennett drove Hammond to a double-digit halftime lead, scoring 18 of her 21 points before intermission.

Both teams came out pressing, and both teams got burnt early. The first 4 minutes looked more like a layup drill than a sectional contest, as each team found itself getting easy ones before they settled back into the half-court. A Kelsey Bennett (Hammond 2020) three bumped their lead to 15-8 midway through the quarter, but Harrisville cut it back to 1 at 17-16 on a Hannah LaPlatney (Harrisville 2020) trey. After Bennett & Avery Kenyon (Hammond 2021) teamed up to score 5 straight points, a Torie Moore (Harrisville 2021) three - their 4th of the quarter - sent them into the huddle down 22-19. It didn't take long for Hammond to extend their lead, though, as it quickly approached danger time for a Harrisville squad already starting to lose some of its composure. Bennett reeled off 8 points in a 15-3 run to start the quarter - another three from LaPlatney the only production for Harrisville in that stretch. Bennett canned another trey, her 4th of the half, to give Hammond a 40-23 lead, and they went into the locker room up 41-27.

The first 4 minutes of the 2nd half were going to dictate how the rest of this game went, and Hammond made sure to dictate that. A quick 8-0 spurt, capped by Bennett's 5th & final three, ran their lead to 22. After Lydia Kerr (Harrisville 2019) scored to briefly stop the bleeding, the onslaught continued. Kenyon & Kylie Vaughan (Hammond 2020) teamed up to reel off 12 straight, 6 coming from each, to give them their largest lead at 61-29 late in the 3rd. From there, the Red Devils were able to coast to the finish line.

Lydia Kerr paced Harrisville with 12 points in Sunday's 4/5 quarterfinal matchup.

Avery Kenyon led all scorers with 23 points for Hammond, 15 coming in the 2nd half. Kelsey Bennett pumped in 18 of her 21 points in the 1st half, and she hit 5 threes on the night. Kylie Vaughan added 17 points in the win, making them a formidable trio on this Sunday evening. Lydia Kerr paced Harrisville in defeat with 12 points, and Torie Moore added 11.



(1) Edwards-Knox 63, (9) St. Regis Falls 30

The game that seemed like the sheer mismatch on the card quickly became just that, as an Edwards-Knox team currently ranked #2 in the latest NYSSWA Class D state polls flexed in the first few minutes and coasted to a quarterfinal win.

Koryn Rowe was one of three in double figures for E-K, finishing with 14 pts while running the show at the PG spot.

Edwards-Knox controlled things from the tip. Carly Frary (EK 2019) hit a three to open up the scoring, and St. Regis Falls was forced to call a timeout after falling behind 7-0 in the first two minutes. Another Frary trey pushed their lead to double digits, and Lucy Frary (EK 2021) added a pair of buckets to give them a 14-0 lead before St. Regis finally got on the board. The game went dead for several minutes from there, with EK going on a long drought deep into the 2nd quarter as the offense became stagnant against the St. Regis zone. The margin was 18-8 with under 3 minutes left in the half, but the insertion of Abby Hart (EK 2020) back into the game, who missed much of the first 16 minutes, helped spark a late run. They threw the press back on and reeled off 8 quick points. A Koryn Rowe (EK 2019) three gave her 8 points in the 2nd quarter, and a Hart bucket capped a 13-0 run as they led 31-8 at the break.

The 9th seed battled in the 2nd half, playing their opponents even for much of the 3rd quarter, but Edwards-Knox eventually gained more separation. A pair of Hart treys capped an 8-0 spurt to put them up 43-14, and her 3rd three of the quarter - a buzzer-beater from not far inside half-court - capped a frenetic stretch of scoring over the last two minutes, giving E-K a 49-19 lead after 3. After St. Regis Falls scored 9 of the first 11 points in the 4th, Edwards-Knox scored 12 of the game's last 14, eventually leading by as much as 34.

Skyelin Bradford paced 9th seeded St. Regis Falls with 11 points in Sunday's nightcap.

After playing limited minutes in the 1st half, Abby Hart reeled off 11 points in the 3rd quarter and led all scorers with 21 points in the win. Carly Frary added 15 points, and Koryn Rowe chipped in with 14. They hit 3 threes apiece, powering EK's total of 10 made threes. Skyelin Bradford paced St. Regis Falls with 11 points in defeat.


#JeffsNotes

- Hermon-DeKalb may be a team that makes some noise over the next couple years in the North Country. They lose their point guard, Brooke Reed, but 2021s Hillary Jones & Brianna Grant - both apparently JV call-ups that are bona fide varsity starters - are good building blocks. Jones, in particular, went off Sunday. She has a relatively quick, high release with range well beyond the college line, and she banged home 6 threes on the day. But they simply ran out of gas against a Heuvelton squad that's a bit more battle-tested and in better shape. When Heuvelton let the dogs out on them, it steadily wore them down. Good experience for Hermon though, as it showed them that although there's work to do, they certainly can hang.

Avery Kenyon continues to be a difference maker for a Hammond squad reemerging as a contender.

- Kelsey Bennett & Avery Kenyon took turns putting their stamp on the game for Hammond. Early, it was a heavy dose of Kelsey. The 5'8" 2020 G was the best player on the court in the first 16 minutes, imposing her will at both ends as Hammond started to seize control. She shot the three with confidence and knocked down 4 of them in the 1st half, and she got out in transition and made things happen for herself or for teammates on several occasions. A couple times, it was creating for 5'10" 2021 Avery, who had a big 2nd half. She's a natural athlete that is tough to contain in the open court, particularly at the small school level. If yesterday was any indication, it looks like her jumper has improved some, which was the main knock against her. She hit a pair of threes and a couple more midrange Js, and the release looked much better. If it becomes consistent, that takes her game to the next level.

Bella Doyle, a 2022, has the tools to show promise for Heuvelton girls' hoops going forward.

- Madison McCormick tuning Section 10 teams up doesn't come to a surprise to anyone at this point, so I won't waste time talking about what we already know. However, they become a much tougher out if Bella Doyle consistently plays like she did in the 2nd half. At 5'9"ish, she has the ability to play at the wing or mix it up around the rim. She found herself getting to the rim throughout the game, but struggled finishing early. As the game went on, it looked like she stopped worrying about potential contact and went up stronger. She Euroed around a defender twice in transition and scored, and then she started to gain confidence and put it on the deck to get to the rim in the half-court. Her versatility allows her to be a good compliment for Madison. A full game like Sunday's 2nd half for her along with Madison doing her thing and others like Rayna Cameron making plays, and Heuvelton could still have plenty of ball left in them. From what I've been told, it looks like Bella will make the jump from local AAU to suit up for the Syracuse Royals this spring, something that will only benefit her.

Abby Hart, who had a game high 21 pts in Sunday's nightcap, could prove to be a prime D3 target in the 2020 class.

- In stretches, Edwards-Knox showed why they're deserving of the reputation as one of New York's premier Class D teams. They have the experience of playing at Hudson Valley, getting to the state semis last year before running into a Franklinville buzzsaw. They have the guard play in 2019 Koryn Rowe, a true PG, and 2020 Abby Hart, a dynamic, hard-nosed off-guard. Add Carly Frary, a knockdown shooter with some size that essentially plays as a stretch 4, and Lucy Frary as another guard, and they have depth of skilled players that most D teams can't match. Rowe is an underrated 2019 PG that could make a D3 program very happy, and I'll be saying the same thing about Abby - whose game I love - in a year. Their level of play Sunday night fluctuated as they pumped the brakes at times after gaining a big lead, but I saw what I needed to. The fun begins this week, as every game is a battle from here on out in Section 10 & beyond.

Cambridge Pulls Away Late to Win Wasaren Championship

February 11, 2019

Cambridge 56, Tamarac 48

For those that watched the Wasaren League girls championship game in 2018, Monday night at Mechanicville probably had more than a hint of familiarity. In a rematch from the prior year, Cambridge ran to a big 1st half lead and Tamarac charged back into the game by the end of the 3rd quarter - almost a mirror image of 2018's turn of events. However, Cambridge was able to produce on Monday night what never came in the previous matchup at Skidmore - a 4th quarter run. The timely spurt gave the Indians some much-needed separation once again, and they rode to the finish line to earn the Wasaren title heading into sectionals.

Lilly Phillips provided timely buckets throughout the game and paced Cambridge with 17 points in their win.

After watching the first 8 minutes, most in attendance probably wouldn't have anticipated the 2nd half drama. Cambridge rolled early, getting out in transition often and hitting shots in the half-court when they weren't able to run. All five Cambridge starters scored in the first 4 minutes, with a McKayla McLenithan layup off a drive & feed from Sophie Phillips (Cambridge 2021) giving them a 13-2 lead at the 4:08 mark. They were able to extend their lead to 24-6 after one quarter on a Ruth Nolan (Cambridge 2021) three. On top of the huge start for Cambridge, things got worse for Tamarac late in the quarter as injuries mounted. Three Bengals, including Tamarac all-time leading scorer Emily Erickson, would go down over a stretch of just over 90 seconds. Two, including Erickson, would return to the game.

Cambridge continued to build their cushion into the 2nd quarter, and they looked like they were well on their way to running away with it after Stasia Epler (Cambridge 2022) knocked down a three to make it 31-8. But at that point, Tamarac - with Erickson back on the floor - started to settle in. Syrita Faraj (Tamarac 2021) broke the drought with a bucket & free throw, then Erickson would reel off 7 points of her own in the quarter, as they chipped their deficit to 37-21 by the halftime break.

It was all Tamarac in the 3rd quarter from the opening possession. A missed Cambridge three led to an Erickson layup, then Faraj stole a pass and finished at the other end to force a Cambridge timeout just over 30 seconds into the half. It would only briefly curb the Bengals' momentum, as Lilly Phillips (Cambridge 2021) produced 4 quick points before Tamarac made its major push. Thanks to a strong defensive effort and sheer dominance on the offensive glass against a smaller Cambridge squad - missing Fiona Mooney, out with a wrist injury - Tamarac quickly powered back within single digits. Erickson produced another 8 points in the first 4 minutes of the 3rd, with the last of those cutting their deficit to 41-33. After Epler banked home a three, Tamarac scored the last 5 points of the quarter to cut their deficit to 6. Jordyn Sorel then scored for the Bengals to start the 4th quarter to cut their deficit to 44-40 - but unlike 2018, they would get no closer. Cambridge reeled off a 10-0 run in under 90 seconds of action, with Nolan, Lilly Phillips, and Epler all hitting threes in that stretch to run their lead back to 54-40 with 5:07 left. Cambridge would only score 2 more points the rest of the way - a pair of Sophie Phillips (Cambridge 2021) free throws with 33 seconds remaining - but they were able to keep Tamarac at arm's length thanks to a strong defensive effort after switching to man-to-man in the 4th, with the Bengals never getting closer in the final minutes than 8.

Emily Erickson led Tamarac's charge back into the game and led all scorers with 21 points Monday.

Lilly Phillips paced Cambridge with 17 points in the Wasaren League championship victory, including a big three in the middle of their 4th quarter run to give Cambridge a double-digit lead once again. Stasia Epler pumped in 16 points and Ruth Nolan added 14 points to the cause, knocking down 4 threes apiece to power Cambridge's total of 10 made threes on the night. Emily Erickson came back from a nasty head-to-head collision with a teammate late in the 1st quarter to contribute a game high 21 points, 15 of them coming in the middle quarters that Tamarac won 32-20. Syrita Faraj added 14 points, with 12 coming in the middle quarters.


#JeffsNotes

- Monday night's game showed Cambridge's flaws at times, but also showed what makes them so dangerous and such a tough out. Before Fiona Mooney went down with a wrist injury recently, depth was probably the main issue for the Indians. Now it's REALLY an issue, and it certainly showed in the 2nd & 3rd quarters as Tamarac was steadily able to work back into the game. With Mooney being a post presence that rarely was on the bench and some minor foul trouble among their remaining forwards Monday, Lilly Phillips had to move to the 4 in their zone offense for a while. It also removed their main rebounding presence, and they were dominated on the glass as Tamarac's offensive rebound count may have entered the dozens. They had to play zone most of the way, and although they often like to play various zones and use their length, it seemed like last night was more out of necessity than preference. But all that being said... they won. And they won with Sophie Phillips only scoring 7 points and not really looking for her shot. Their ability to score in bunches over spurts is unlike what you see from the vast majority of schools, even at the larger school level. With the Phillips twins leading the way - Monmouth was in the gym for them, a school that has extended scholarship offers to both - they put four kids on the court that can shoot it. Those other two - Stasia Epler & Ruth Nolan - drilled 8 threes combined. They scored 31 points in the first 9+ minutes of the game, then when Tamarac was just about to turn the corner, Cambridge scores 10 in 84 seconds. Making shots is contagious, and they have girls who can do just that.

The emergence of Stasia Epler (16 pts) makes Cambridge even more difficult to defend at the guard spot.

- I'm not big into moral victories... but certainly have to credit Tamarac for their grit and ability to get back into the game. Having this kind of success in the regular season without the services of Renna Poulin all year has been an impressive feat in its own right. Then when Lizzie Machnick, a starter, went down with an apparent non-contact knee injury while already down double digits early... then shortly after, the collision with Erickson & Kate Machnick knocking them both out... the odds were certainly stacked. Emily & Kate were able to return, but Lizzie wasn't. Digging in and coming back from down 23 to cut it to 4 against a quality opponent was impressive in itself. Now sectionals, and perhaps a top seed in Class B, await for them... let the fun begin.

Saratoga Makes Pre-Sectional Statement in Win Over Colonie

February 5, 2019

Saratoga Springs 73, Colonie 48

The game of the night in large-school Section 2 basketball was seemingly Saratoga/Colonie. It featured two of Section 2's most respected teams with highly regarded players on both sides. Saratoga has had a fine season to date, and Colonie has revved up their level of play noticeably after a sluggish start to the winter. However, the highly anticipated matchup turned into a lopsided affair, as Saratoga had their hosts on the ropes for a good portion of the game before delivering the knockout blow in the 4th quarter.

Kerry Flaherty went off for a game high 27 points Tuesday, 18 coming in a big 1st half.

The visiting Blue Streaks made their move basically from the opening tip. After Kyara Triblet (Colonie 2019; St. Michael's signee) opened up the scoring with a bucket, Saratoga went on a quick 10-0 run - 7 from Kerry Flaherty (Saratoga Springs 2019; Holy Cross signee) - to gain an early cushion. After Colonie chipped the deficit to 4 late in the quarter, Flaherty answered with a basket and Dolly Cairns (Saratoga Springs 2020) knocked down a three to give them a 19-10 lead after one. Triblet scored again to start the 2nd, but Colonie would never be able to cut their deficit beyond 7. A Flaherty bucket briefly extended Saratoga's lead to 13 in the middle of the quarter, and she got loose & knocked down a deep three before the 1st half buzzer to give her 18 points and Saratoga a 34-22 lead going into the locker room.

Saratoga was on the verge of breaking it open on numerous occasions in the 3rd quarter, but Colonie would push back and make enough plays to stay within striking distance. A 14 point lead was answered with an Ahnalese Pearson (Colonie 2020) three. After Saratoga extended their lead to 42-27, Aliyah Wright (Colonie 2019; New Haven signee) - held scoreless in the 1st half - knocked down a three. She hit another one not long after, and a short Natasha Chudy (Saratoga Springs 2023) jumper was answered by buckets from Wright and Makayla Blake (Colonie 2020) to cut their deficit to 46-38 late in the 3rd. The momentum swung in Saratoga's favor before the quarter ended, however. Flaherty, scoreless in the quarter to that point, got free on consecutive possessions in the final 30 seconds, and she buried right corner threes both times to extend their cushion back to 14. The game-clinching run came in the middle of the 4th quarter. A drive & finish from Abby Ray (Saratoga Springs 2021) started it off, then back-to-back Cairns threes and another Flaherty trey quickly extended their lead from 13 to 24. The run eventually extended to 15-0, as Saratoga grabbed its largest lead at 73-45 with under a minute remaining.

Kyara Triblet chipped in with 10 points and was a bright spot for Colonie on Tuesday.

Kerry Flaherty went off for a game high 27 points (18 1st half), including 5 threes. Dolly Cairns added 15 points, including 3 threes, and filled the stat sheet at the PG spot. Caroline LaFountain (Saratoga Springs 2019) joined them in double figures, chipping in with 11 points. For Colonie, Ahnalese Pearson and Aliyah Wright finished with 11 points apiece, and Kyara Triblet added 10 points.


#JeffsNotes

- Statement win for Saratoga heading into sectionals, and just a friendly reminder from them that they're remarkably dangerous when locked in & firing on all cylinders. Offensively, it was a bit of pick your poison. Kerry Flaherty got it going early, manufacturing points by finding different ways to score. Dolly Cairns, playing more of a distributor role early, added a scoring punch in the 2nd half both by knocking down perimeter jumpers & producing in transition. Caroline LaFountain provided a viable scoring option, hitting a three early and then getting to the rim & free throw line on a few occasions as the game went on. Abby Ray got to the rim & finished. They found ways to get Natasha Chudy involved in the post and in the P&R game when Colonie overplayed Saratoga's guards, and she converted. On the defensive end, I thought they did a good job containing the dribble and clogging the lane. Colonie, a team with a handful of viable offensive options, never got into any sort of a rhythm and Saratoga had plenty to do with that. Couldn't ask for a better outcome if you're a Blue Streak supporter.

Dolly Cairns was a catalyst in Saratoga's big win over Colonie, finishing with 15 points & filling the stat sheet.

EST Summer League 2018: The Dynasty Follow Up

The 4th annual Empire State Takeover summer league, by all accounts, was the most competitive one yet. Players from throughout upstate New York & western New England made the trip to Union College on several occasions to battle for bragging rights & to get pushed by other top talent. Over the next couple weeks, each team/individual will be highlighted with updates regarding how their high school seasons have went to date.

Starting off with a Section 3 heavy Dynasty team. All but two of its regular members were from Section 3, with many coming from the Utica area and representing the Tri-Valley League & Center State Conference. This team, despite having plenty of talent including a pair of players with an impressive list of Division I offers, finished last in the standings at 4-10. Unlike some teams that had a consistent core of 8-9 players there every night, Dynasty's downfall was how often they had to go undermanned with players missing time for various reasons. They had their impressive moments though, and they finished on a high note - with a full squad - by winning their last two games. This winter, some of them have had among the most eye-popping numbers of anyone that participated in EST in 2018. The rundown:

Allison Moreau is, once again, having a monster year to put a cap on an illustrious high school career at Sauquoit Valley.

It's been quite the winter for Allison Moreau (Sauquoit Valley 2019). The three-year ESTer had her most productive summer in 2018. On a team that had balanced scoring, she averaged 6.7 PPG (season high 16), 4 RPG, & 1.4 SPG. She made 13 threes (6th in EST) and was in the top 20 in total points. Already with an illustrious high school career to that point, she's only etched her name among Section 3's record books even more. She's averaging 26.4 PPG, including 5 games of 30+ points with a season high of 41, and already has over 500 points on the season with games still remaining. She's also contributed 10.7 RPG, 4 APG, and slightly over 3 SPG & 2 BPG. Over the course of the winter, she became a rare addition to the 2,000 point club and she currently sits at #3 on Section 3's all-time scoring list... behind Emily Durr (Iowa State) and Breanna Stewart (you've probably heard of her). The multi-sport standout - highly regarded for her exploits protecting the net on the soccer pitch as well - will be heading to Le Moyne on scholarship in the fall to play keeper for the 'Phins.

Hannah Scott (Whitesboro 2019), Kelsey Wands (Whitesboro 2019), and Kiley Snow (Whitesboro 2020) have played integral roles for a now-surging Warriors squad. The three all had their moments over the course of the summer for Dynasty. For Whitesboro this winter, Hannah has been a catalyst as the team's floor general. She's averaged 11.7 PPG (season high 25), 6.5 RPG, 6.6 APG, & 3.1 SPG, and she's dished out 5 or more assists in all but one game so far. Kiley is Whitesboro's leading scorer, averaging 12.9 PPG (season high 21 twice) & 7.1 RPG. The 5'11" wing has knocked down 26 threes and has also produced back-to-back double-doubles in narrow wins. Kelsey looks to be not only fully recovered, but in her best form after recovering from a serious knee injury suffered in 2017. The 6'0" forward is averaging a double-double of 10.8 PPG & 10.4 RPG along with 2.5 BPG. She's been a major part of the Warriors' recent success - after a below .500 first half, they've went 6-1 so far in 2019 to potentially become a major player in the upcoming Section 3 Class A playoffs.

As a true PG, Hannah Scott may not end up with the individual statistic accolades of some of her peers, but her value to Whitesboro over the last couple years has been immeasurable.

Abby Wilkinson (Bishop Grimes 2019) has been the driving force for the Cobras this winter. A longtime varsity stalwart and standout in the Syracuse area, she's increased her production for Grimes to new heights. Abby is currently averaging 20.1 PPG (season high 32), 6.3 RPG, and just under 2.5 APG & 2.5 SPG this winter. Along the way, she became a member of the 1,000 point club and is now hovering around the 1,200 point mark with games still remaining. Abby will be heading to Salisbury University, a Division III in Maryland, in the fall to continue her education & basketball career.

Belle Kranbuhl (Adirondack 2020) is having the best of her four varsity seasons to date, and she's established herself as one of the most dominant post presences in CNY. After averaging 8.1 PPG (season high 18) & 5.8 RPG in summer 2018 - her 3rd year in EST - the 6'3" forward is producing career highs in points, rebounds, and blocks while continuing to rack up Division I offers. She's averaging 18.6 PPG (season high 27), 9.1 RPG, & 4.5 BPG per stats reported to the Post-Standard, and she's had 9 double-doubles & a 19 p/14 r/11 b triple-double this season. On top of that, Boonville, NY has become a destination for several Northeast D1 coaches this winter as she's months away from being the 3rd Division I commit out of the Center State Conference in the last five graduating classes. She's recently added offers from Albany & Bucknell to an extensive list that includes LaSalle, Hofstra, Manhattan, Niagara, Holy Cross, Iona, & more.

Belle Kranbuhl continues to develop and become more impactful, and she's turned into a nearly unstoppable force for Adirondack in her 4th varsity campaign.

Sydney Lusher (Oneida 2021) has played an integral role in the regular season success of her Oneida Indians this winter, and hopes to be playing into March as they look to be a major player in Section 3's upcoming Class B playoffs. She started to come into her own as her 1st EST summer league go-around went on, and although she wasn't a big scorer, she started to fill the stat sheet. This winter, the 5'10" guard has filled it to the brim while running the point for Oneida. She's posting career highs to this point in all five major statistical categories, averaging 11.8 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 6.4 APG, 2.2 SPG, & 3.3 BPG (per stats reported to the Post-Standard) for the 13-3 Indians. In the meantime, she's been able to squeeze in unofficial visits to Dartmouth & UMass as collegiate interest is starting to develop.

Sydney Lusher has flourished in her role at Oneida and has been a catalyst in their most successful regular season in recent memory.

Jaelyn Vleer-Elliott (Brookfield 2021), a versatile 6'0" player that's been known to put up some gaudy numbers at her high school, is taking 'stat stuffer' to an entirely different level this winter. After a summer that saw her average 4.5 PPG & 6.5 RPG - one of six players on the Dynasty team to average between 4-7 PPG - her production has been eye-popping at times for a team looking to contend for a Section 3 Class D championship. Now moving to various spots on the floor for Brookfield including playing plenty of PG, she's averaging 16.9 PPG (season high 29), 15 RPG, 8.3 APG, 3.4 SPG, & 4.3 BPG per stats reported to the Post-Standard. She's produced at least a double-double in every game this winter, and she's already been credited for a remarkable 6 triple-doubles out of 14 games.

Jaelyn Vleer-Elliott is putting forth monster numbers once again for a Brookfield team contending for a sectional title.

Haley Burchhardt (Schalmont 2022) has made a growing impact for her Sabres squad in her 2nd year at the varsity level. She's averaging 14.2 PPG, including a new season high of 28 points scored in their last game. Her production to go alongside classmate Payton Graber has been especially important for a Schalmont squad that's hovered around the .500 mark all winter. She looks to be back to around full strength heading into the stretch run for Section 2 Class B playoffs, after an ankle injury made her miss four games earlier in January - they went 1-3 in that stretch.

Kaia Henderson (New Hartford 2022) is adding to an already impressive portfolio with a monster freshman campaign - and some major offers to go along with it. In her 1st summer in EST, she averaged 6.8 PPG, 2.8 RPG, & 2.1 APG and had plenty of shining moments on a pretty balanced squad. Her production & impact this year for the Spartans, a team that will certainly get a high seed in the upcoming Section 3 Class A playoffs, has been nothing short of remarkable. After averaging nearly 26 PPG last winter as an 8th grader, she's pumped that up to 28.9 PPG to date. Out of their 16 games so far, she's scored at least 20 in all but one, and she's added a handful of 30+ point performances and a pair of 40+ point games. Kaia blew past the 1,000 point mark early in the season and is already around 1,300 for her varsity career. On top of all the numbers, the offers have been piling in due to her exploits on the court. Syracuse pulled the trigger, and then schools such as Virginia Tech & Providence have since offered the dynamic freshman.

Kaia Henderson, just in her freshman year, has established herself as one of upstate NY's most electrifying players to watch.

Alexis Wright (Berne-Knox-Westerlo 2022), a skilled 5'11" forward, was noticeably starting to come into her own in her 1st year in EST before an ankle injury sidelined her for the rest of the summer. She was one of the league's more efficient players offensively, shooting 45% from the field. This winter, however, has been nothing short of a breakout campaign for her. Alexis is averaging just over 18 PPG (season high 29), in Section II's top 15 in scoring per game for the 14-4 Bulldogs, and they're looking to try & make some noise in the upcoming Section 2 Class C playoffs.

Whitesboro Digs In, Earns Win Over Oneida

February 1, 2019

Whitesboro 53, Oneida 46

The ladies took center stage at Whitesboro HS on Friday night, as two of the Tri-Valley League's top teams took the court for an interesting matchup. A cold start both ways turned entertaining as the game went on, and Whitesboro got contributions from a handful of players in the 2nd half to earn a quality victory and run their record in 2019 to 6-1 - 6-0 against Section 3 competition.

Whitesboro took advantage of their size & strength advantage early, and Grace Stuhlman got them off on the right foot.

Whitesboro was locked in on the defensive end early, and mixing that with cold Oneida shooting when they did get looks, and it was a struggle for the visiting Indians for much of the 1st half. Thankfully for them, scoring wasn't much easier for Whitesboro in what was a sluggish start on offense. The hosts jumped to a 9-2 lead midway through the 1st quarter off the strength of Grace Stuhlman (Whitesboro 2021) in the post and Kiley Snow (Whitesboro 2020) at the wing, and they extended their lead to 8 late in the 1st quarter while Oneida endured a scoreless stretch of nearly 6 minutes. Another Stuhlman bucket early in the 2nd quarter gave Whitesboro a 14-7 edge, but they'd then endure their own scoring drought of over 5 minutes. It took a while for Oneida to take advantage, as they once again went without scoring for an extended period, this time a 4 minute stretch, but they went on a flurry in the back end of the 1st half. It started with a Kaylin Curro (Oneida 2022) three with 3:16 left in the half. She then buried another trey, and Ella Rainbow (Oneida 2021) and Lauren Skibitski (Oneida 2019) added triples to make it a 12-1 run and give them a 19-15 edge before Alana Batson (Whitesboro 2021) stopped the bleeding with a three for the Warriors before the half.

The action heated up coming out of the locker room, and the 3rd quarter saw 5 lead changes as neither team was able to seize control. Back-to-back threes from Curro & Rainbow gave Oneida their largest lead early in the 3rd at 25-20, but Whitesboro went on a 7-0 run and took a lead in the middle of the quarter on a pair of Stuhlman free throws. Oneida grabbed the lead one more time in the quarter, after Sydney Lusher (Oneida 2021) knocked down a three and Skibitski tacked on a pair of free throws to go up 32-30. But in the final minute of the 3rd, Hannah Scott (Whitesboro 2019) scored to tie it up, and then Snow was fouled just before the quarter buzzer went off - Oneida's 5th team foul. Snow made both free throws, giving Whitesboro a 34-32 lead. She added a putback to start the 4th, and after Skibitski hit a three for Oneida, Whitesboro got 5 straight points from Batson to give them a 41-35 lead. Oneida responded with another Lusher trey, just beating the shot clock, to quickly calm what looked like it may be a momentum shifter. But Whitesboro kept producing, getting baskets from Scott & Batson to extend their lead to 7 in what was a high-octane start to the 4th. Oneida would make it a one-possession game one more time, when Rainbow knocked down a left wing three to cut their deficit to 47-44 with 1:57 left, but Scott hit a free throw and Kelsey Wands (Whitesboro 2019) scored off a nice feed from Batson to give Whitesboro breathing room late. Snow, Scott, and Wands all split trips to the free throw line in the final 40 seconds and aside from a Lusher floater with :28.1 left, Whitesboro was able to get stops in the final two minutes to secure the win.

Sydney Lusher finished with 10 points and 8 assists, & she made a couple big shots in the 4th quarter to help keep Oneida in the game.

Alana Batson had a strong game for Whitesboro, and she had 7 of her game high 16 points in the 4th quarter. Kiley Snow added 11 points, Grace Stuhlman chipped in with 9, and Hannah Scott & Kelsey Wands finished with 8 apiece. For Oneida, Lauren Skibitski led the way with 14 points. Sydney Lusher added 10 points, and Ella Rainbow & Kaylin Curro added 9 each as both teams showed balance. 30 of Oneida's 46 points came off the strength of 10 made threes.


#JeffsNotes

- Really solid game from Whitesboro 2021 Alana Batson - perhaps the best I've seen her play overall, as she showed improvement in different aspects that I've been hoping for. She finished with 16 points - a game high - but as usual, it wasn't just the point total to me. The 5'7" lefty guard has the reputation as a knockdown perimeter shooter, and she did knock down the three if given any daylight. On top of that, she showed improvement making plays and creating off the dribble, particularly using ball screens. She attacked various ways in a side P&R set against Oneida when they went man. One time, she used the screen from the left wing - going to her right - got around the hedge, stepped in front of the defender going to the rim to cut off their angle, and finished. Another time, in the 4th quarter when Whitesboro was looking to try & deliver a knockout blow, she used the screen from the right wing - going to her left - got into the right elbow area and hit a pull-up 17 footer. Later in the quarter, she used the screen and hit a rolling Kelsey Wands off the bounce on the money for a layup. She's turning into more than 'just a shooter', if tonight is any indication, which is certainly a good sign.

Alana Batson was a major part of Whitesboro's win on Friday.

- The strength of the three is more important to Oneida's success than nearly any team in all of upstate NY, let alone just Section 3... and they have four kids in their starting five that can knock it down & are threats to hit a bunch. Lauren Skibitski (2019), Sydney Lusher (2021), and Ella Rainbow (2021) are all known commodities at this point, and Kaylin Curro (2022) has emerged as a capable shooter to help take pressure off of those three. They got hot quickly and turned a 7 point deficit into a 4 point lead in under 3 minutes late in the 1st half. Unfortunately for them on this night, they had trouble scoring anywhere but outside the three point line. Credit Whitesboro for that, as their combination of length, physicality, and discipline make that difficult for plenty of teams on their schedule. But Oneida's ability to shoot the ball is certainly dangerous, and it makes them a major player in a couple weeks as they should probably hold down a high seed in the upcoming Section 3 Class B playoffs.