Wednesday Recap: Schalmont Run Turns The Tide in W Over Mekeel, ESTers in Action

*** GAME RECAP FIRST; ESTers IN ACTION BELOW ***


January 15, 2020

Game of Choice (Primary): Schalmont @ Mekeel
Game of Choice (Secondary): Mechanicville @ Hoosic Valley (Mechanicville 42-39)


Schalmont 53, Mekeel Christian Academy 48

Wednesday is usually a sleepy night for girls' basketball in Section II, and although it was another light evening as far as quantity, this particular Hump Day didn't lack for interesting matchups. Perhaps the most interesting took place at Mekeel Christian Academy, as they hosted Schalmont in an entertaining non-league matchup between programs looking to make noise as contenders in a crowded Section II Class B pack. It was close from start to finish, with the margin never reaching double digits, but a long 2nd half run gave Schalmont an edge that they never relinquished as they picked up a quality victory.

Overall, it was the hosts that looked better in the early going. With a Schalmont defensive gameplan geared toward Mekeel's standout backcourt of Avery Mills (Mekeel 2024) and Mikyla Mitchell (Mekeel 2020), the supporting cast stepped up early. The Lions' first 12 points came from others besides Mills & Mitchell, with 7 coming from Maraya Davis (Mekeel 2021). On the other end, outside of a quick 7-0 spurt that included a couple threes, Schalmont came out stagnant on the offensive end and struggled to get good shots early. Payton Graber (Schalmont 2022), 24 hours removed from scoring her 1,000th point, had the answer on a few occasions in the 2nd quarter. Following a Schalmont timeout after Jill Ballard (Mekeel 2020) scored to put MCA up 20-14, Graber canned a corner three and followed it with a drive & bucket. After Mekeel extended the edge back to 5, a pair of Karissa Antoine (Schalmont 2024) free throws cut the Sabres' deficit to 26-23 at half.

Payton Graber led Schalmont with 17 points in Wednesday's win over Mekeel.

Mekeel started the 2nd half with a Mitchell finish at the rim, but Schalmont used another 7-0 surge capped by a Siena Hallberg (Schalmont 2022) jumper to briefly take the lead. Mekeel had the answer with a 7-0 run of their own including a Davis trey, two Mills free throws, and a Promise Mitchell (Mekeel 2022) bucket off a beautiful Mills feed to put the Lions up 35-30. The Sabres took it from there though, as a pair of Emily Lenehan (Schalmont 2020) free throws with 1:56 left in the 3rd started a run that would give the visitors control for good. She hit a three after that to tie it, and Graber added a free throw just before the quarter's end to put Schalmont up 36-35. They continued their charge into the 4th quarter, with Antoine putting in a pair of free throws & a jump hook on a post iso, then Graber knocked down a three to extend the run to 13-0 and lead to 43-35. By the time Mills finally stopped the bleeding with a bucket at the 4:11 mark, Mekeel had went scoreless for over 6 minutes. The youngster breathed some life into them though, scoring again on the ensuing possession to cut it to 43-39. Graber answered with another trey, her 3rd of the night, and Davis knocked down a three of her own to cap a quick scoring flurry and make it 46-42 Schalmont. After the teams traded stops and turnovers, Haley Burchhardt (Schalmont 2022) got free and knocked down a huge three, also her 3rd of the night, to extend their lead to 7 again with just over a minute left. Mitchell would answer with a three-point play and Mills got a great look at a left wing trey that would've cut Mekeel's deficit to 1, but it came up just short & Schalmont secured the rebound. On the ensuing SLOB, after fouling once, Antoine got free on a slip & her layup with 20 seconds left put it away. Burchhardt added a pair of free throws after that to ice the Sabres' win.

Four players finished in double digits for Schalmont, led by Payton Graber's 17 points. Haley Burchhardt added 13 in the win, and each of them hit 3 threes. Karissa Antoine was a consistent force on the boards and added 11 points, and Emily Lenehan chipped in with 10. For Mekeel, Maraya Davis had a solid game and led them in the books with 15 points, and Avery Mills contributed 14 points with 7 coming in the 4th quarter.

Avery Mills scored 7 of her 14 in the 4th quarter for Mekeel on Wednesday.

#ThoughtsFromTheBaseline

- This game felt... odd. Lot of ebbs & flows. Not sure if it was both teams on their 2nd half of a back-to-back after easy wins the night before or what, but it definitely had stretches of life & stretches of lull. Both offenses were a bit stagnant for much of the night and they were often bailed out by players making plays. That'll happen from time to time. I don't think either team will look back at this game and say it was a work of art on their part, but they fought through & battled. Schalmont made plays offensively in the 4th & buckled down defensively to pick up a W that I imagine boosts their confidence a little more, and it could be a learning experience for a Mekeel team that doesn't get pushed into the 4th quarter too often.

- I probably don't have to say this to anyone that knows how the Section II playoff seeding system works, but look for that result - a Schalmont (Colonial Council) road victory over Mekeel (WAC) - to potentially be a little bit of a factor when it comes time to seed Class B in a month.

- Interesting tidbit: out of 101 points scored in this game, only 4 of them came from the bench. All 53 of Schalmont's points were from their starters, and Promise Mitchell had 4 off the Mekeel bench. Two teams that typically don't go deep into their benches so the number itself isn't a surprise, but interesting to look at nonetheless.

Karissa Antoine is already an impact player for a strong Schalmont team & is one of the region's top up-and-comers

- Whenever there's a chance to watch two of any region's finest young talents in the same game, count me in. That's exactly what there was in this one, with Avery Mills & Karissa Antoine both on the court and making major impact for their teams. They both contributed double digits in the books with 13 combined points in the 4th quarter, Avery with the ball in her hands at the PG & Karissa primarily in the blocks. On top of the scoring, they each showed additional aspects of what make them special at this age. Avery's ability to handle the ball, court vision & passing prowess with a few beautiful post dumps off of drives, and activity defensively at the top of their zone was all next level. Karissa was dominant on the glass - once she got off the ground to get a rebound, everyone else might as well start to make their next move because they had no chance of getting the board - and protected the rim, including a great, emphatic weak-side block on a Mitchell drive in a big 4th quarter moment. Avery was doing this at the varsity level last year and although Karissa was on JV, she probably could've too, and if you saw them at EST events in 2019 - including the summer league, where they were two of a very select few at that age - their impact now is no surprise. Looking forward to seeing their growth & development over the next few years, helping carry the torch forward for 518 girls' hoops.

ESTers IN ACTION (Including Sections 2, 3, 4, 9, and NEPSAC)

- Start off with this game. Payton Graber (Schalmont 2022; Young Guns), who scored her 1,000th point the night before, contributed a game high 17 points to lead four in double digits for Schalmont in a 53-48 victory. Haley Burchhardt (Schalmont 2022; Young Guns) added 13 in the W, and Karissa Antoine (Schalmont 2024; Rising Stars) chipped in with 11. In defeat, Avery Mills (Mekeel 2024; Outwork) finished with 14 points.

- Emma Shields (Emma Willard 2022; Rising Stars) pumped in 33 points, a career high, and matched her opponent's total output in a 58-33 W over Taconic Hills.

Emma Shields dropped 33, a new career high, in Emma Willard's 58-33 W over Taconic Hills.

- Molly Brophy (Greenwich 2021; Next Big Thing) dropped a game high 19 points and Adrianna Rojas (Greenwich 2024; Fall Futures Combine participant) added 17, as Greenwich blew past Saratoga Catholic 70-22.

- The three Cambridge EST summer leaguers contributed double digits in another blowout W. Lilly Phillips (Cambridge 2021; Next Big Thing) led the way with 15, Stasia Epler (Cambridge 2022; Next Big Thing) added 12, and Sophie Phillips (Cambridge 2021; Next Big Thing) contributed 10, and they jumped to a 27-5 1st quarter lead en route to a 52-27 W over Stillwater.

- Mechanicville went into the locker room down a bucket, but came out strong in the 2nd half & held off a late Hoosic Valley push to earn a 42-39 victory on the road. Charli Goverski (Mechanicville 2020; 2018 event participant) led all scorers with 18 points in the win.

- Morgan Tompkins (Red Hook 2022; Next Big Thing) dropped 21 points, continuing a strong sophomore campaign in a 78-55 triumph over Highland.

Morgan Tompkins has been on a tear in her sophomore year, and she dropped 21 in another Red Hook victory.

- Amarah Streiff (Bishop Ludden 2023; Multiple One-Day Event Participant) and Lauren Petrie (Bishop Ludden 2021; Upstate Fall Showcase participant) contributed double digits in a quality win over Syracuse Academy of Science, with Amarah punching in a game high 17 & Lauren adding 12. For SAS, Alexius Pierce (SAS 2022; 2018 event participant) had a team high 16 points and Freey Pleasants (SAS 2020, Queens signee; Upstate Fall Showcase participant) added 14 points, 7 rebounds, & 4 assists.

- Jaelyn Vleer-Elliott (Brookfield 2021; 2018 event participant) filled the stat line in an easy victory over Cincinnatus. She finished with 7 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, 8 steals, & 6 blocks, and they led 32-3 at halftime en route to a 58-13 W.

Kaci Donovan (pictured at the 2018 Upstate Fall Showcase), dropped 26 in an Owego victory.

- Kaci Donovan (Owego Free Academy 2020, Penn State signee; 2018 event participant), not long after being announced as a McDonald's All-American Game candidate, pumped in 26 points in a 65-44 victory over Union Springs.

- Margaret Dougher (Norwich 2022; Upstate Fall Showcase participant) finished with a team high 19 points, but they fell to Oneonta 67-45.

- Jordyn Meunier (Williston Northampton (MA) 2021; Next Level) finished with 19 points (3 threes) and Cristina Negron (Williston Northampton (MA) 2022; Upstate Fall Showcase participant) added 13, and they picked up another victory with a 49-45 OT triumph over Suffield.