2017 Opening Night Full Recap

For the 3rd straight year, the last week of June meant one thing - many of the region's top girls' basketball players planned to invade Union College for the opening night of the Empire State Takeover summer league. That they did, and the stars were shining brighter than ever on this night. Between big-time performances from big-time players and a couple games for the ages, June 28 was a night to remember for EST. More about it below!


Rising Stars 62, Dynasty 40

A strong - and nearly full - Rising Stars team was able to shake an undermanned, but tough Dynasty squad with a huge 2nd half. After leading by only 2 at the break, Rising Stars turned on the jets and shot 50% after the break. They received double digit scoring from three different players in their season opener; Dolly Cairns, a rising sophomore at Saratoga Springs that already holds an offer from Albany, led the way with 15 points and 5 rebounds. Sarah Mattfeld, a rising freshman at Catholic Central & one of the headliners of a very strong 2021 class in upstate NY, scored all 11 of her points after halftime, and Cat Almeida, a 6'5" rising junior at Shenendehowa that holds a Binghamton offer, added 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 blocks. For Dynasty, Columbia 2018 Emily Zeyak led all scorers with 15 points, and she added 4 rebounds and 2 steals.

Dynasty (0-1): Madison Greco 7, Alivia Paeglow 4, Emily Zeyak 15, Ahnalese Pearson 3, Paige Brinkman 4, Ashlyn O'Neil 7. Totals 12-10-40.

Rising Stars (1-0): Mary Kate Palleschi 5, Giuliana Pritchard 6, Cat Almeida 10, Dolly Cairns 15, Olivia Langdon 2, Grace Mahar 7, Sarah Mattfeld 11, Harmony Philo 6. Totals 22-12-62.

Field Goals: Dynasty 12/50 (Greco 2/3, Paeglow 1/5, Konicki 0/5, Zeyak 4/13, Pearson 1/3, Brinkman 1/6, O'Neil 3/6, Stuart 0/4, Smith 0/2, Daubon 0/3), Rising Stars 22/52 (Palleschi 2/7, Pritchard 3/6, Almeida 3/5, Pacatte 0/3, Ryan 0/4, Cairns 4/7, Langdon 1/4, Mahar 2/5, Mattfeld 5/6, Philo 2/5).

3-Point Field Goals: Dynasty 6/20 (Zeyak 2/5, Greco 1/1, Pearson 1/3, O'Neil 1/3, Brinkman 1/4, Stuart 0/1, Smith 0/1, Zeyak 0/2), Rising Stars 6/13 (Cairns 3/4, Philo 2/3, Mattfeld 1/1, Palleschi 0/1, Pacatte 0/2, Ryan 0/2).

Free Throws: Dynasty 10/15 (Zeyak 5/9, Greco 2/2, Paeglow 2/2, Brinkman 1/2), Rising Stars 12/16 (Cairns 4/4, Almeida 4/5, Mahar 3/4, Palleschi 1/2, Mattfeld 0/1).

Rebounds: Dynasty 22 (Zeyak 4), Rising Stars 39 (Pritchard 7).

Assists: Dynasty 7 (Pearson 3), Rising Stars 14 (Pacatte, Ryan 3).


Next Big Thing 72, Show Stoppers 39

A huge 2nd quarter for the team in purple turned the opener for both teams into a blowout, and NBT was able to continue its barrage as the game went on into the largest offensive output a team has ever produced on opening night. Balance was the story for NBT, showing willingness to make the extra pass to get easy baskets throughout the game. Julie Ford, a rising senior at Cooperstown who recently made her verbal commitment to Albany, led all scorers with 17 points and added 8 rebounds & 2 blocks. Schalmont 2018 Madison Graber added 16 points, and Averill Park 2018 Stephanie Jankovic contributed 11 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals. Madison Hoyt (Stamford 2019) and Molly Kirby (Bethlehem 2018) paced Show Stoppers with 8 and 7 points, respectively.

Next Big Thing (1-0): Kayla Doody 6, Julie Ford 17, Madison Graber 16, Stephanie Jankovic 11, Renna Poulin 6, Anna Jankovic 3, Lilly Phillips 1, Logan Thayne 8, Sophie Phillips 4. Totals: 29-9-72.

Show Stoppers (0-1): Madison Hoyt 8, Julianna Okoniewski 6, Molly Kirby 7, Maddy Malicki 5, Sam Pasinella 4, Shyla Sanford 3, Melanie Hoyt 2, Lexi Mercier 4. Totals: 14-10-39.

Field Goals: Next Big Thing 29/56 (Doody 2/4, Ford 7/13, Graber 6/15, S. Jankovic 5/9, Poulin 3/5, A. Jankovic 1/2, L. Phillips 0/1, Thayne 4/5, S. Phillips 1/2), Show Stoppers 14/53 (Ma. Hoyt 3/8, Okoniewski 3/7, Kirby 2/7, Malicki 1/4, Steenland 0/4, Pasinella 1/3, Sanford 1/7, Me. Hoyt 1/4, Mercier 2/9).

3-Point Field Goals: Next Big Thing 5/11 (Doody 1/1, A. Jankovic 1/1, S. Phillips 1/1, Graber 1/3, S. Jankovic 1/3, Ford 0/1, Poulin 0/1), Show Stoppers 1/10 (Malicki 1/3, Kirby 0/2, Steenland 0/2, Sanford 0/3).

Free Throws: Next Big Thing 9/13 (Ford 3/4, Graber 3/4, Doody 1/1, L. Phillips 1/2, S. Phillips 1/2), Show Stoppers 10/16 (Kirby 3/4, Ma. Hoyt 2/2, Pasinella 2/2, Malicki 2/4, Sanford 1/4).

Rebounds: Next Big Thing 39 (Ford, Thayne 8), Show Stoppers 27 (Okoniewski, Me. Hoyt 6).

Assists: Next Big Thing 16 (Doody, S. Jankovic, S. Phillips 4), Show Stoppers 7 (Kirby, Malicki, Sanford 2).


Outwork 55, Young Guns 36

A 24-9 3rd quarter turned a competitive game into a blowout, as an Outwork team with 4 returners from last year's championship team was able to outgun an undermanned Young Guns group. Outwork was able to push the lead to as great as 26 in the 2nd half before the lid came off the rim for Young Guns. Sam McKenna, a rising junior at Millbrook, led a balanced Outwork attack with 11 points in her EST debut. Maggie Malone, also a rising junior at Cornwall, added 10 points and 6 rebounds. Goshen 2020 Erin Smith scored all 8 of her points in the runaway 3rd quarter for Outwork. Young Guns was paced by local 2020 standout guards Julia DeBeatham (Shaker) and Mikyla Mitchell (Scotia-Glenville), who had 9 & 8 points.

Outwork (1-0): Chloe Chaffin 6, Brianna Rozzi 1, Erin Fox 7, Rebecca Townes 2, Maggie Malone 10, Erin Smith 8, Sam McKenna 11, Anna VanRoy 5, Grace VanRoy 5. Totals: 21-7-55.

Young Guns (0-1): Molly Williams 6, Rhaymi Porter 5, Julia DeBeatham 9, Alaina Holmes 5, Mikyla Mitchell 8, Haedyn Roberts 3. Totals: 15-2-36.

Field Goals: Outwork 21/55 (Chaffin 3/8, Rozzi 0/6, Fox 2/3, Townes 1/2, Malone 4/6, Smith 3/9, McKenna 4/10, A. VanRoy 2/6, G. VanRoy 2/5), Young Guns 15/44 (Williams 3/8, Oeffler 0/4, Porter 2/5, DeBeatham 4/11, Holmes 2/5, Mitchell 3/9, Roberts 1/2).

3-Point Field Goals: Outwork 6/16 (Malone 2/2, McKenna 2/5, G. VanRoy 1/1, Smith 1/3, Chaffin 0/1, Townes 0/1, A. VanRoy 0/1, Rozzi 0/2), Young Guns 4/13 (Porter 1/1, Holmes 1/2, Mitchell 1/2, DeBeatham 1/4, Williams 0/2, Oeffler 0/2).

Free Throws: Outwork 7/12 (Fox 3/5, Smith 1/1, Rozzi 1/2, McKenna 1/2, A. VanRoy 1/2), Young Guns 2/12 (Mitchell 1/2, Roberts 1/6, DeBeatham 0/2, Holmes 0/2).

Rebounds: Outwork 38 (Chaffin 7), Young Guns 30 (Porter, Roberts 7).

Assists: Outwork 13 (Rozzi, Townes 3), Young Guns 7 (DeBeatham 3).


Next Level 59, Lockdown 50

In what quickly became the early frontrunner for most fun watch of the year, Next Level was able to use a big 3rd quarter run to turn a halftime deficit into a lead that they wouldn't relinquish en route to their first win of the year. A strong start from St. Francis (BK) commit Alexandra Tudor (Shenendehowa 2018), Cameron Tooley (Shenendehowa 2018), and Kelsey Wood (Averill Park 2020) pushed Lockdown to a 19-11 lead late in the 1st quarter. After Next Level went on a 7-0 run to start the 2nd, Lockdown responded to take a 29-24 lead into halftime, with the aforementioned three having scored 24 of the 29 points. It didn't take long for Next Level to find its mojo out of the huddle, however, as they started the 3rd on a 15-3 tear, with a Silke Milliman (Northfield Mount Hermon (MA) 2019) layup extending their lead to 39-32. A Grace Heeps (Northfield Mount Hermon (MA) 2019) three, following two assists on Milliman baskets, pushed the Next Level lead to 46-37. After Lockdown cut back into their deficit, Albany rising senior Aubrey Halloran scored 6 quick points to push Next Level's lead back to 54-45. Lockdown had numerous chances to cut back into it late, closing the gap to 6 at 56-50 on a Kelsey Wood putback with under 2 minutes left, but a handful of missed layups and open looks in the waning moments thwarted any hope of a photo finish. Silke Milliman, a rising junior that currently has 3 D1 offers, led all scorers with 16 points in the victory. Halloran pumped in 15 and 6 rebounds, with both having huge 2nd halves. Belle Kranbuhl, a 6'2" rising sophomore at Adirondack, added 9 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 steals in a breakout performance for Next Level, and Heeps, whose offer from Boston College pushed her total to 12, had 5 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 steals. Alex Tudor, Cam Tooley, and Kelsey Wood all finished with 12 points for Lockdown. Tudor added 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals; Tooley, a standout PG with D2 offers from Le Moyne & Daemen, added a pair of assists and steals, and Wood went 6/7 from the field and added 6 rebounds.

Next Level (1-0): Silke Milliman 16, Aubrey Halloran 15, Jenna Zimmerman 3, Grace Heeps 5, Belle Kranbuhl 9, Jackie Piddock 6, Abby Piddock 4, Kylie Sisto 1. Totals: 22-10-59.

Lockdown (0-1): Brooke Curtin 5, Mallory Wood 4, Kelsey Wood 12, Cameron Tooley 12, Alexandra Tudor 12, Taylor Hansen 3, Jenalyse Alarcon 2. Totals: 19-7-50.

Field Goals: Next Level 22/41 (Milliman 7/10, Halloran 6/7, Zimmerman 1/1, Heeps 1/3, Kranbuhl 4/10, J. Piddock 2/3, Tougas 0/2, A. Piddock 1/4, Sisto 0/1), Lockdown 19/54 (Curtin 2/11, M. Wood 2/7, K. Wood 6/7, Tooley 4/8, Tudor 3/11, Hansen 1/2, Meacham 0/3, Alarcon 1/5).

3-Point Field Goals: Next Level 5/13 (J. Piddock 2/3, Zimmerman 1/1, Milliman 1/2, Heeps 1/3, Sisto 0/1, Tougas 0/2, A. Piddock 0/2), Lockdown 5/18 (Tudor 2/7, Hansen 1/1, Tooley 1/2, Curtin 1/6, M. Wood 0/2).

Free Throws: Next Level 10/13 (Halloran 3/5, Heeps 2/2, A. Piddock 2/2, Milliman 1/1, Kranbuhl 1/1, Sisto 1/2), Lockdown 7/16 (Tudor 4/4, Tooley 3/5, Curtin 0/2, Hansen 0/2, K. Wood 0/3).

Rebounds: Next Level 33 (Kranbuhl 8), Lockdown 20 (K. Wood 6).

Assists: Next Level 16 (Heeps 8), Lockdown 9 (Tudor 4).


Next Big Thing 62, Rising Stars 58

In a back-and-forth game between teams that won their openers, a couple well-timed spurts were just enough for Next Big Thing to keep their record unblemished on the night. After a 1st quarter that saw a hot start from Tamarac 2019 Renna Poulin & a Next Big Thing 18-16 edge, Rising Stars started the 2nd strong to take a slight 24-21 edge. NBT responded with a 10-3 run of their own to end the half and take a 35-29 lead into the 3rd. After they took a 7 point lead in the middle of the 3rd, Rising Stars responded with a run of their own to take the lead again. A Mary Kate Palleschi basket off a Grace Mahar feed gave Rising Stars a 40-39 edge, and they extended their run to 10-0 on two free throws from Mahar. True to form, Next Big Thing responded with a 9-0 run of their own. Logan Thayne (Hoosick Falls 2020) started it with a putback to end the 3rd, and a Julie Ford basket to start the 4th gave NBT a lead they wouldn't relinquish. She added another basket and Madison Graber had a 3 point play to push the lead to 6. A tough Rising Stars squad was able to challenge throughout the 4th, and they cut their deficit to 53-52 at one point on a Giuliana Pritchard basket. That was when Stephanie Jankovic delivered the knockout punch, going on a personal 8-0 run in the waning moments to give NBT its largest lead of 9 and essentially put the game out of reach. Rising Stars went on one more quick 6-0 spurt to make it a 3 point game, but it was too little, too late for the team in red. Madison Graber, a rising senior at Schalmont, led all scorers with 14 points, and Albany commit Julie Ford had a double-double with 12 points & 10 rebounds. Poulin joined them in double digits with 11, and Jankovic had 10 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals from the PG spot. For Rising Stars, Dolly Cairns had a hot start and scored 11 of her team high 14 points in the 1st half, and Olivia Langdon (Little Falls 2019) and the aforementioned Mahar added 8 points apiece. Harmony Philo (Gloversville 2019) & the aforementioned Palleschi added 7 each.

Next Big Thing (2-0): Julie Ford 12, Madison Graber 14, Stephanie Jankovic 10, Renna Poulin 11, Anna Jankovic 3, Lilly Phillips 2, Logan Thayne 4, Sophie Phillips 6. Totals: 23-8-62.

Rising Stars (1-1): Mary Kate Palleschi 7, Giuliana Pritchard 6, Cat Almeida 2, Dolly Cairns 14, Olivia Langdon 8, Grace Mahar 8, Sarah Mattfeld 6, Harmony Philo 7. Totals: 23-6-58.

Field Goals: Next Big Thing 23/69 (Doody 0/1, Ford 5/9, Graber 5/10, S. Jankovic 4/15, Poulin 3/9, A. Jankovic 1/5, L. Phillips 1/6, Thayne 2/6, S. Phillips 2/8), Rising Stars 23/57 (Palleschi 3/7, Pritchard 3/9, Almeida 1/3, Pacatte 0/2, Ryan 0/4, Cairns 6/11, Langdon 3/5, Mahar 2/3, Mattfeld 2/6, Philo 3/7).

3-Point Field Goals: Next Big Thing 8/22 (Graber 3/5, Poulin 2/3, S. Jankovic 2/5, S. Phillips 1/2, A. Jankovic 1/3, Doody 0/1, L. Phillips 0/1, Ford 0/3), Rising Stars 6/19 (Mattfeld 2/3, Cairns 2/6, Palleschi 1/2, Philo 1/3, Ryan 0/2, Pritchard 0/3).

Free Throws: Next Big Thing 8/14 (Poulin 3/4, Ford 2/3, Graber 2/3, S. Phillips 1/2, L. Phillips 0/2), Rising Stars 6/9 (Mahar 4/4, Langdon 2/3, Pacatte 0/2).

Rebounds: Next Big Thing 46 (Ford 10), Rising Stars 29 (Philo 6).

Assists: Next Big Thing 13 (Doody, S. Jankovic 3), Rising Stars 8 (Cairns, Langdon, Philo 2).


Dynasty 64, Show Stoppers 57

A strong 4th quarter comeback effort came up short for Show Stoppers, as Dynasty was able to even their opening night record behind a strong offensive showing and the emergence of a future Section IX standout. Dynasty held a 34-28 lead after an uptempo first half, and the game remained tight deep into the 3rd. That was when Deliah Smith left her mark on the game. The rising sophomore guard at FDR (Hyde Park) introduced herself to Capital District hoops by dropping 12 points in the last 4 minutes of the 3rd, doing so by hitting threes, getting all the way to the rim, and using a strong in-between games. The lefty even hit a right-handed floater in the mix, as Dynasty took a 54-40 lead into the 4th. Show Stoppers fought back, as their press caused problems for the opposition, led by scrappy guards Molly Kirby and Shyla Sanford. Kirby scored 7 of her team high 14 points in the 4th, turning defense into offense by getting out into the open court and finishing. A couple missed opportunities in the final minutes and 3/10 free throw shooting in the 4th proved to be too much to overcome, though, as the comeback rally was stalled. Smith led all scorers with 16 in the victory, and 6'3" Voorheesville 2019 Victoria Konicki scored all 11 of her points in the 1st half. Along with Kirby's 14, she added 5 rebounds and 4 steals, and 6'1" Stamford 2021 Melanie Hoyt contributed 11 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks. Hoosac Valley (MA) 2019 Lexi Mercier added 9 points for Show Stoppers.

Dynasty (1-1): Madison Greco 5, Alivia Paeglow 9, Victoria Konicki 11, Emily Zeyak 7, Paige Brinkman 4, Ashlyn O'Neil 6, Bella Stuart 1, Deliah Smith 16, Jaelen Daubon 5. Totals: 24-10-64.

Show Stoppers (0-2): Madison Hoyt 2, Maddy Malicki 4, Molly Kirby 14, Julianna Okoniewski 6, Haley Steenland 5, Sam Pasinella 3, Shyla Sanford 3, Melanie Hoyt 11, Lexi Mercier 9. Totals: 21-9-57.

Field Goals: Dynasty 24/53 (Greco 2/4, Paeglow 4/7, Konicki 4/7, Zeyak 26, Pearson 0/1, Brinkman 1/4, O'Neil 3/5, Stuart 0/3, Smith 6/10, Daubon 2/6), Show Stoppers 21/63 (Ma. Hoyt 1/6, Malicki 1/4, Kirby 6/12, Okoniewski 2/10, Steenland 2/6, Pasinella 0/2, Sanford 0/8, Me. Hoyt 5/8, Mercier 4/7).

3-Point Field Goals: Dynasty 6/13 (Smith 2/3, Konicki 1/1, Greco 1/2, Zeyak 1/2, Daubon 1/2, Pearson 0/1, Brinkman 0/1, Stuart 0/1), Show Stoppers 6/18 (Okoniewski 1/1, Me. Hoyt 1/1, Mercier 1/2, Malicki 1/3, Kirby 1/3, Steenland 1/4, Pasinella 0/1, Sanford 0/3).

Free Throws: Dynasty 10/15 (Konicki 2/2, Brinkman 2/2, Smith 2/2, Zeyak 2/4, Paeglow 1/2, Stuart 1/2, Greco 0/1), Show Stoppers 9/20 (Sanford 3/4, Pasinella 3/6, Kirby 1/3, Okoniewski 1/3, Malicki 1/4).

Rebounds: Dynasty 32 (Stuart, Daubon 5), Show Stoppers 37 (Okoniewski, Me. Hoyt 7).

Assists: Dynasty 11 (Smith 3), Show Stoppers 9 (Malicki 3).


Lockdown 44, Young Guns 30

What started favorably for Young Guns turned into a nightmarish final 30 minutes on the offensive end, as the lid was on the rim en route to 16 points in the 2nd-4th quarters combined. It wasn't Lockdown's strongest offensive showing either, but their strong defensive effort and taking control of the battle of the boards helped them manufacture a win in the nightcap. Down 14-8 after 1, Lockdown stayed true to its team name and held Young Guns without a field goal in the 2nd quarter as they forged a 19-16 halftime lead. They extended their margin to 8 after 3, and held Young Guns to 6 in the final 10 minutes to solidify the victory. Brooke Curtin (Cohoes 2020) scored all of her team high 9 points in the 2nd half. Rising Shenendehowa senior Cameron Tooley added 8 points, all in the 1st half, and added 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals. Kelsey Wood (Averill Park) had a team high 7 rebounds to go with her 7 points. Much of Young Guns' offensive production came from rising Scotia-Glenville sophomore Mikyla Mitchell, who scored a game high 12 points.

Lockdown (1-1): Brooke Curtin 9, Mallory Wood 5, Kelsey Wood 7, Cameron Tooley 8, Taylor Hansen 5, Taylor Meacham 4, Jenalyse Alarcon 6. Totals: 14-9-44.

Young Guns (0-2): Molly Williams 7, Kyra Oeffler 3, Rhaymi Porter 2, Julia DeBeatham 2, Alaina Holmes 3, Mikyla Mitchell 12, Haedyn Roberts 3. Totals: 9-9-30.

Field Goals: Lockdown 14/42 (Curtin 3/11, M. Wood 1/4, K. Wood 3/6, Tooley 2/6, Hansen 2/5, Meacham 1/4, Alarcon 2/6), Young Guns 9/38 (Williams 2/6, Oeffler 1/6, Porter 1/6, DeBeatham 1/6, Holmes 1/4, Mitchell 2/6, Roberts 1/4).

3-Point Field Goals: Lockdown 7/13 (Tooley 2/3, Curtin 2/6, Hansen 1/1, Alarcon 1/1, Meacham 1/2), Young Guns 3/10 (Holmes 1/1, Oeffler 1/2, Mitchell 1/3, Williams 0/1, Porter 0/1, DeBeatham 0/2).

Free Throws: Lockdown 9/15 (M. Wood 3/5, Tooley 2/2, Curtin 1/1, Meacham 1/2, Alarcon 1/2, K. Wood 1/3), Young Guns 9/18 (Mitchell 5/8, Williams 3/8, Roberts 1/2).

Rebounds: Lockdown 31 (K. Wood 7), Young Guns 25 (Roberts 7).

Assists: Lockdown 10 (Tooley 5), Young Guns 5 (DeBeatham 3).


Next Level 38, Outwork 36

In a defensive battle where points were difficult to come by, shots started falling for Next Level at the perfect time, as they ended the game on a 10-0 run to steal a victory against an Outwork team that had the lead nearly from wire to wire. Outwork jumped out to a 14-5 lead at the end of the 1st quarter, and a Brianna Rozzi basket gave them their largest lead at 16-5 early in the 2nd. 4 straight points from Fordham commit Chloe Chaffin gave Outwork a double-digit lead one more time, at 22-12, late in the 2nd. Next Level then received back-to-back baskets from Silke Milliman, both on assists from Allison Moreau, to end the half. This sparked what turned into a 10-0 run, with a pair of Grace Heeps free throws tying the game at 22 in the 3rd quarter. After a Belle Kranbuhl basket tied it once more at 26 for Next Level, Outwork was able to extend their lead once more. Sam McKenna knocked down a transition three off a feed from Rozzi to give Outwork a 34-28 lead, and Rebecca Townes added a steal & layup to push their lead to 8 with under 4 minutes left. Those would be the final points Outwork scored in the game, however, as Next Level was able to rip victory from the hands of defeat thanks to big plays from Sophie Tougas and Silke Milliman. Held to 4 points before this stretch, Tougas had the first 7 of the 10-0 run herself, hitting back-to-back threes after splitting a pair at the line to bring their deficit down to 1. With under 2 minutes left, it was then Tougas who kicked out and found an open Milliman, whose three rang true to give Next Level their first and only lead of the game. Thankfully for them, their first lead proved to be the most important ones, as Milliman's three completed the scoring on the night. Tougas, a 6' 2019 wing, paced Next Level with 11 points and added 5 rebounds. Milliman was just short of a double-double, finishing with 9 points and 10 rebounds. Heeps contributed 7 points, 3 assists, and 4 steals, and Jenna Zimmerman added her 2nd straight 5 block game. For Outwork, Chaffin led the way with 11 points and added 5 rebounds, and Rozzi & Townes added 7 points & 4 rebounds each, with Townes also contributing 4 steals.

Next Level (2-0): Silke Milliman 9, Jenna Zimmerman 3, Grace Heeps 7, Belle Kranbuhl 6, Sophie Tougas 11, Abby Piddock 2. Totals: 12-10-38.

Outwork (1-1): Chloe Chaffin 11, Brianna Rozzi 7, Erin Fox 2, Rebecca Townes 7, Maggie Malone 2, Sam McKenna 4, Anna VanRoy 3. Totals: 13-5-36.

Field Goals: Next Level 12/54 (Milliman 4/11, Sisto 0/5, Zimmerman 1/5, Heeps 1/6, Moreau 0/1, Kranbuhl 3/9, Brown 0/2, J. Piddock 0/3, Tougas 3/10, A. Piddock 0/2), Outwork 13/49 (Chaffin 3/9, Rozzi 3/9, Fox 1/3, Townes 3/7, Malone 1/6, Smith 0/6, McKenna 1/4, A. VanRoy 1/4).

3-Point Field Goals: Next Level 4/23 (Tougas 2/6, Heeps 1/3, Milliman 1/5, Sisto 0/1, Moreau 0/1, J. Piddock 0/2, A. Piddock 0/2, Zimmerman 0/3), Outwork 5/15 (Townes 1/2, A. VanRoy 1/2, Chaffin 1/3, Rozzi 1/3, McKenna 1/3, Malone 0/1, Smith 0/1).

Free Throws: Next Level 10/13 (Heeps 4/6, Tougas 3/4, A. Piddock 2/2, Zimmerman 1/1), Outwork 5/6 (Chaffin 4/4, McKenna 1/2).

Rebounds: Next Level 37 (Milliman 10), Outwork 30 (Chaffin 5).

Assists: Next Level 11 (Heeps, Zimmerman 3), Outwork 5 (McKenna 2).

1st Annual Summer Kickoff Showcase - Notes & Thoughts

On Friday, June 16, the 518 was the home of some high-level hoops. Over the course of the evening, 92 girls took the court at Schenectady HS - 43 in the early session, 49 in the late session - in front of a healthy supply of Division II & III schools and junior colleges, along with Joe Fenelon (NYG Hoops Report) in attendance. Players came from near & far; the locals were heavily represented in the early session, but the late session was dominated by athletes coming from Utica, Syracuse, Binghamton, Rochester, Olean, Westchester County, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and more. Higher-profile AAU programs like NY Havoc, I-90 Elite, NDO Elite, Mass Rivals, City Rocks, Empire State Blue Flames, Saratoga Sparks, and many more represented, along with players under the radar playing with more local programs.

I guess you could say it was a successful 1st annual EST Summer Kickoff Showcase.

Between my observations at the event itself, evaluating the game film I was able to capture, and comments from coaches, here are some quick notes & thoughts regarding the Summer Kickoff.


- A couple 2018s showed out and potentially helped themselves with their play in the early session, and it was a pair of locals in Averill Park's Stephanie Jankovic and Columbia's Emily Zeyak. Steph, a standout guard that's receiving the epitome of 'borderline scholarship' attention now, was the best player on the court for considerable stretches of play throughout the evening. She was feeling it early and kept it rolling into the final session, where she hit 3 threes, a floater, and a couple more at the rim through contact over a 12 minute stretch. She took advantage of the more open style of play to showcase creative playmaking ability, a welcome addition to her game. She was able to control play with the ball in her hands. Zeyak did a great job of doing that for her team as well, as she showed all of the ability & athleticism that people come to expect from her while remaining under control and rarely turning it over. She was hitting shots from the perimeter Friday, which made it easier for her to blow by defenders & get to the rim. I was impressed with her improved decision making on the offensive end while still playing with reckless abandon on defense, where she was a catalyst as her team, largely following her lead, was the only one in the early session to throw the man-to-man press on.

- The late session was the younger session of the two, but another pair of 2018s stuck out from the crowd for long stretches as well in Syracuse Nottingham's Chyna Butler and Susquehanna Valley's Holly Manchester. Not many people over the course of the night were able to get to the rim as easily as Butler, as she was able to break the defense down all night and wreak havoc on opponents. Once she got into the lane, she was making good decisions with the ball, knowing when to call her own number & when to create for someone else. She had several beautiful finishes at the rim and just as many beautiful passes to cutters or shooters. Butler made a 2-way impact throughout the evening as well, as her on-ball pressure defensively led to turnovers and tough shots - an overall great night for Chyna. Holly handled business in her own way as well, largely by Holly being Holly. People don't expect much from the 5'1" guard until she lights them up; if you've seen her play a few times, you know better. She didn't score a ton on this night, but she didn't need to as she made a living setting up teammates off dribble penetration or in the pick & roll game. She keeps her dribble until the last possible second and was able to fit passes into very tight windows. True PGs that create for others are extremely valuable in events like this, and Holly certainly fit the bill.

- If the Summer Kickoff was any indication, a pair of local 2019s that have been waiting in the wings of Section II hoops are ready to step into the limelight - and their level of recruitment will likely follow. One already started to make her move forward in a highly successful winter in Gloversville's Harmony Philo, and the other is gearing to step into the forefront next winter in Columbia's Lexi Vnn Vorst. Philo, a 5'9" guard known as a shooter, has made major strides over the last few months playing on the ball and showed that with regularity at this event. She was able to put the ball on the floor & get by the first defender, and showed ability to go all the way to the rim, hit close range floaters, midrange jumpers, and create off the bounce for teammates. Of course, the perimeter jumper is still there, and an open three was almost a guaranteed make for her. Van Vorst has long been recognized as a guard who combines skill with tenacity, but you can now add court presence and confidence to run the show to that list. She is starting to make the transition from a good player that does best feeding off other good players into a good player that can run the show with other good players. She was in attack mode from the word go and may have scored the most points out of anyone in the early session, doing so in a variety of ways, but it was her presence - the 'it' factor, so to speak - that stuck out the most to me about Lexi. The depth in the Class of 2019 in the 518 is fantastic, thanks in large part to the continuing emergence of players like Philo & Van Vorst.

- This event hopefully opened up the eyes of many in the region - Mackenzie Smith may be as good of a point guard as any you'll find in upstate NY. The West Genesee 2019 standout is receiving attention from a rapidly growing list of Division I schools, and the reason is easy to see. She controls the game - along with the other 9 girls playing it - with the ball in her hands. Not many people get into the lane with the fluidity & ease that Kenzie does, thanks to a fantastic change of pace and a herky-jerky game reminiscent of what you'd see on the playground. She can score if needed, but would rather create for teammates, and she does a very good job of that. In one session alone, she had nearly ten eye-popping passes that led to baskets. She's just as strong on the defensive end, with quick feet, quick hands, and the ability to anticipate and jump passing lanes. On a 5v5 team that featured more scholarship talent like Grace Heeps, Sophie Tougas, Alyssa Stevenson, and Mackenzie's sister Madison, she was the best player on the court for long stretches of the late session. To those unaware, now is as good a time as any to get familiar.

- Shaker 2020 G Julia DeBeatham stuck out during stretches of the early session, and for reasons other than what most would expect. DeBeatham, known more as a scoring guard, didn't do as much of that as usual. A reason for that was because she stepped into more of a true PG role at this event and focused more energy on distributing and creating for others. She scored when needed, but she was particularly dangerous finding teammates off the bounce or hitting others on the break with a long advance pass. With this being an area of her game I've thought she needed to work on in order to hit the next level as a player, it was great to see the mentality - and ability - of a true PG come through.

- Do you think Allison Moreau and Dani Haskell will want to play together again soon? There were plenty of big names in the house for the 7:00 session, with some bigger than theirs, but their 1-2 punch in the 5v5 session was perhaps stronger than any other combo in the event. They are both 1,000+ point scorers for their high schools - Haskell (Franklinville 2020) has over 1,200 and Moreau (Sauquoit Valley 2019) is close to 1,150 - but both showed much more than scoring ability. They had some experience together leading into this, playing on the same team in the Syracuse Nets' CNY Fall League last year, which seemingly carried forward into June as it seemed like each one always knew where the other one was if needed. Haskell came out of the gates blazing, showing a complete floor game in the back gym for their first game, knocking down shots from yards behind the 3 point line and breaking down defenders off the dribble nearly at will. Moreau eased her way into play a little bit, and by the second 5v5 game, she was off & running. As Haskell continued her onslaught, the PG/wing combo combined for a whopping 41 points in a 24 minute game. It continued in the final session, as the two established themselves as two of the standouts of the night. Combine Dani's nearly unmatched skill with the ball in her hands, Allison's scoring ability from the wing and ability to play off the ball/move without the ball, and the defensive intensity that both bring to the table, and it becomes easy to see how their team had so much success in the late session.

- Out of the many young standout players in attendance, I don't think anyone moved up the ladder in my head like Shaker 2021 Solé Carrington did. Carrington is drawing early comparisons to another Shaker standout 3 years her senior in LIU Brooklyn commit Shyla Sanford, and parts of her game make it easy to see why. Carrington, a super-athletic combo guard, was a 2-way impact player going up against older players with 2-3 years of varsity experience throughout the early session. Her defense against opposing perimeter players, both on-ball and off-ball, often sparked the offense going the other way for her team. She also showed the ability to hit the perimeter jumper, both off the catch and off the bounce. Where I was just as impressed was how comfortable she looked putting it on the deck and going to the rim, challenging 6 footers at the rim and succeeding in doing so. In a Capital District Class of 2021 that has some high-end players but not a great deal of depth, it's about time to put Carrington among the short list of standouts.

- A team that consisted exclusively of junior high talent took the court for the 5v5 contests in the late session, and their ability to compete with - and even outdo - many of the older players in attendance was a surprise to many. The group consisted of 8 of upstate NY's finest in the Class of 2021, along with 1 standout 2022. As far as the score was considered, they actually won two of their three games. Out of the 9 players, 4 were Section II talents, 3 were from Section III, and 2 more represented Section IV. Locals were introduced to the high-flying athleticism and flashy play of Hancock 2021 Laycee Drake, the pure dominant strength & ability in the post coming from 6'2" Cicero-North Syracuse 2021 Jess Cook, and a local 2022 in 5'10" Averill Park G Amelia Wood - the youngest of the 4 Wood sisters - that seems to get better every time I see her, among others. This blurb isn't about individual exploits of any of the players of this team, or any of the individual exploits of other young standouts that made noise in the late session such as Seton Catholic's Reese Vaughan - but what it is here for is to show that upstate NY girls basketball looks to be in very, very good hands going forward.

Some other players, on top of those above, that had their share of standout moments at the 1st annual Summer Kickoff Showcase:

Madison Graber (6'0" G, Schalmont 2018) - scored at all 3 levels, played within herself, finished through contact
Sam Pasinella (5'8" G, Mechanicville 2018) - put the ball on the deck & finished at the rim, adding to her well-documented ability to hit the three
Kyra Oeffler (5'11" F, Heatly 2018) - showed multi-dimensional scoring ability while shooting a high percentage
Kayla Doody (5'4" G, Tamarac 2018) - showed great creating PG ability, leaving passes on a platter for teammates on several occasions
Katelyn Flanagan (5'5" G, Canton 2018) - as strong defensively as anyone in the early session, made life difficult for opponents and knocked down perimeter Js on offense
Bridget Whelan (5'7" G, Albany 2018) - had a good overall evening and a fantastic stretch of play, thrived in more open style of play by getting into open court, scoring & creating for teammates
Giuliana Pritchard (5'9" F, Amsterdam 2018) - Definition of a 3/4 tweener, she showed equal skill of both by hitting shots & attacking from perimeter, scoring in post, passing well out of high post, and rebounding at a high level
Samantha Doupe (5'3" G, Phoenix 2018) - Ultra-quick guard that sliced her way to the rim, turned several steals into layups, and knocked down catch & shoot threes if given a little space
Alana Kornaker (5'3" G, Wayne 2018) - 2-way impact as she showed ability to hit midrange pull-ups, use the hesitation dribble to get all the way to the rim, and connect from long range, while also using a lot of energy pressuring the ball on defense. Always talking at both ends.
Anna VanRoy (5'11" F, Saugerties 2019) - good face-up 4 skills, spaced D and hit midrange jumpers, and as active as I've seen her on the glass, converting on offensive rebounds several times
Alyssa Stevenson (6'1" F, South Jefferson 2019) - rapidly emerging 4 out of the Watertown area - finished with right & left hand off post moves, made several good passes to cutters out of the post
Sophie Tougas (6'0" G, Glens Falls 2019) - got into open court and made things happen while showing improved ability to create for others. Not her best shooting day, but still one of the best players on the court at all times
Grace Heeps (5'11" G, Northfield Mount Hermon (MA) 2019) - local product with 11 offers & counting went into distributor mode with a supremely talented 5v5 team - great court vision, created for everyone else on the court
Aurora DeShaies (6'1" F, Bishop Ludden 2019) - Pure size was just about unmatched by everyone in the late session, was able to control the game at times in the post and showed good touch from 12' & in
Maggie Malone (5'9" G/F, Cornwall 2019) - showed 2-way versatility, able to score from the wing and the post, good multi-position defender and great rebounder, played as hard as anyone in the gym
Abby Wilkinson (5'4" G, Bishop Grimes 2019) - turned it on as the night got going, hard-nosed high intensity PG got to rim & finished around taller players and was able to stop on a dime and hit midrange Js
Stef Gera (5'2" G, Auburn 2019) - electric G was one of the surprises of the night - took a game over for a few minute stretch by scoring 13 quick points. Knockdown shooter with range & the ability to create her own, and also was a willing distributor off the drive.
Lexi Mercier (5'9" G, Hoosac Valley (MA) 2019) - ultimate 3 & D kid, started to get hot in the 2nd 5v5 session with a couple threes from NBA range and carried into final session, where she hit 5 threes and locked down on the defensive end
Makayla Blake (6'0" F, Colonie 2020) - better than expected - soft touch & ability to finish around the rim, and very solid footwork in the post
Belle Kranbuhl (6'1" F, Adirondack 2020) - has size, length, and strength that most can't match - looks taller than listing. Intriguing mix of skills as she can step out and put the ball on the floor, and she runs the floor better than most forwards - beat everyone up the court after a rebound, caught & finished on a few occasions
Erin Fox (5'10" F, Millbrook 2020) - another 4 with an intriguing skill set, great footwork, quick first step in face-up game and finishes with either hand. Very tough matchup for most teams. Active on the glass.
Teaghan Flaherty (5'10" G/F, Rye 2020) - has an old-school game, using elite footwork to get by defenders, has numerous ways to finish around the rim. Will get into the mid-post & create, and can pass very well out of the area. Was 1 of 142 players to try out for USA U16 national team.
Erin Smith (5'2" G, Goshen 2020) - skilled, electric PG that showed the ability to call her own number or create for others, was comfortable in P&R situations and in the open court
Ally Shoemaker (5'6" G, Chittenango 2020) - tough guard that causes problems with her athleticism, frustrating ballhandlers or getting into the lane herself. Showed range, stepping out & hitting several Js
Melanie Hoyt (6'1" F, Stamford 2021) - ultimate stretch 4 skill set, can hit jumpers with consistency and finishes well at the rim. Great length, runs floor well, blocks shots - major impact player as she gets stronger
Lilly Phillips (5'9" G, Cambridge 2021) - improving seemingly by the day, looked comfortable against older, stronger players - explosive getting to the rim & finishing - knocked down threes off the catch & off the dribble
Lexie Roe (5'4" G, Fayetteville-Manlius 2021) - guard skill set is as advanced as any younger player in the building, knockdown shooter with range and has the kind of handle to create her own. Showed the ability to hit from as far as 25' during the late session.
Sophie Phillips (5'9" G, Cambridge 2021) - played the steady style I've come to expect from Sophie - great decision maker in P&R game, knowing when to score & when to give it up - finished through contact at the rim with either hand, and started connecting from long range in the final game
Sarah Mattfeld (5'9" G, Catholic Central 2021) - perhaps the physically strongest guard in upstate NY in the 2021 class - was in attack mode early and looked confident in midrange & long range game, even showing a great step-through move in the post
Abbie Grace (6'0" F, Ichabod Crane 2022) - her exploits are already well-documented as one of the more highly touted rising 8th graders perhaps in America - controlled the post playing the 4 in one of her games in the early session against players 4 years older, showed willingness to bang in the blocks or face up 15'-18' away, very active on the boards
Callie Chevalier (5'6" G, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake 2022) - another pleasant surprise in the early session with how she competed against older players. Knockdown shooter, was comfortable putting the ball on the floor against pressure, and a great shot fake to raise defenders up.

1ST ANNUAL SUMMER KICKOFF SHOWCASE - Friday, June 16 - Registration Links & More

It came to my attention yesterday afternoon that the website (www.empirestatetakeover.org) was down. This, I've learned, is due to a major server error at the level of the hosting service. Nothing to do with my individual website, but mine - along with many others - are down with no real timetable of recovery.

Technology can't stop me though, even when it wants to. The flyer for the 1st Annual Summer Kickoff Showcase, taking place at the Pat Riley Sports Center at Schenectady High School on the evening of Friday, June 16, is below. If planning on signing up, the links for both REGISTRATION (coaches' packet form) and PAYMENT are directly below:

COACHES' PACKET FORM:  https://jeffmlinar.wufoo.com/forms/z1pgsde61fr4oek/

PAYPAL LINK: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=UUS3KJFBNU2RJ

If there are any questions about the event, since the website is currently down, reach out through Twitter (@NYSTakeover), Facebook (Empire State Takeover), or e-mail (jeffmlinar@yahoo.com). Thank you for your patience - hopefully the site will be back up soon!

REGISTERED PLAYERS
5:00
Paige Brinkman (6'0", 2018)
Kylie Sisto (5'9", 2018)
Aubrey Halloran (6'0", 2018)
Kyra Oeffler (5'10", 2018)
Katelyn Flanagan (5'4", 2018)
Julia Ryan (5'8", 2018)
Bridget Whelan (5'7", 2018)
Lexi DeBeatham (5'6", 2018)
Mary Kate Palleschi (6'1", 2018)
Sam Pasinella (5'9", 2018)
Madison Graber (6'0", 2018)
Kayla Doody (5'3", 2018)
Giuliana Pritchard (5'9", 2018)
Stephanie Jankovic (5'7", 2018)
Emily Zeyak (5'6", 2018)
Lexi Van Vorst (5'4", 2019)
Victoria Konicki (6'3", 2019)
Madison Burke (5'4", 2019)
Emma Brophy (6'0", 2019)
Harmony Philo (5'9", 2019)
Anna VanRoy (5'11", 2019)
Grace VanRoy (5'11", 2019)
Jaclyn Murphy (5'5", 2019)
Bella Stuart (5'9", 2020)
Makayla Blake (6'0", 2020)
Julia DeBeatham (5'7", 2020)
Ahnalese Pearson (5'4", 2020)
Rhaymi Porter (6'2", 2020)
Logan Thayne (6'1", 2020)
Erin Dudzic (5'7", 2020)
Anna Jankovic (5'6", 2021)
Maddisyn Mahoney (5'10", 2021)
Aysia Pink (5'7", 2021)
Molly Brophy (5'10", 2021)
Ruth Nolan (5'3", 2021)
Sole Carrington (5'6", 2021)
Fiona Mooney (5'10", 2021)
Kayleigh Bryant (5'4", 2021)
Kaia Henderson (5'5", 2022)
Callie Chevalier (5'6", 2022)
Abbie Grace (6'0", 2022)
Stasia Epler (5'3", 2022)

7:00
Holly Manchester (5'1", 2018)
Julianna Noone (5'10", 2018)
Alana Kornaker (5'3", 2018)
Candace McCutcheon (5'4", 2018)
Sam Doupe (5'3", 2018)
Chyna Butler (5'6", 2018)
Sharifa Taylor (5'6", 2019)
Madison Hoyt (6'0", 2019)
Lexi Mercier (5'9", 2019)
Sam McKenna (5'6", 2019)
Cassidy Kotary (5'9", 2019)
Grace Heeps (5'11", 2019)
Brianna Rozzi (5'7", 2019)
Melissa Alifano (5'10", 2019)
Aniah Ingram (6'0", 2019)
Makenna Reinold (5'6", 2019)
Sophie Tougas (6'0", 2019)
Maggie Malone (5'9", 2019)
Shaniya Stancil (6'0", 2019)
Aurora Deshaies (6'1", 2019)
Stef Gera (5'2", 2019)
Jane McCauley (5'9", 2019)
Lexi Emmi (5'5", 2019)
Mackenzie Smith (5'7", 2019)
Madison Smith (5'10", 2019)
Allison Moreau (5'9", 2019)
Alyssa Stevenson (6'1", 2019)
Abby Wilkinson (5'6", 2019)
Belle Kranbuhl (6'1", 2020)
Erin Smith (5'2", 2020)
Erin Fox (5'10", 2020)
Dani Haskell (5'6", 2020)
Kelsey Wood (6'0", 2020)
Ally Shoemaker (5'6", 2020)
Teaghan Flaherty (5'10", 2020)
Kiarra Kennedy (5'10", 2020)
Jaelyn Vleer-Elliott (5'11", 2021)
Lexie Roe (5'5", 2021)
Ella Wanzer (5'8", 2021)
Arayana Young (6'1", 2021)
Jenalyse Alarcon (5'8", 2021)
Lilly Phillips (5'9", 2021)
Sophie Phillips (5'9", 2021)
Catie Cunningham (5'10", 2021)
Samantha Fischer (5'8", 2021)
Melanie Hoyt (6'1", 2021)
Sarah Mattfeld (5'9", 2021)
Jess Cook (6'2", 2021)
Reese Vaughan (5'8", 2021)
Laycee Drake (5'5", 2021)
Sophie Pelton (5'3", 2021)
Kaia Henderson (5'5", 2022)
Amelia Wood (5'10", 2022)
Alexandra Bednarczyk (5'9", 2022)

NYSSWA All-State Lists Filled With 2016 EST Participants

The 2017 NYSSWA All-State girls basketball lists were kind to players that participated in the 2nd year of Empire State Takeover. In all, 48 girls that participated in 2016 EST events earned an all-state selection. 42 of these 48 participated in the flagship EST event, the invitational summer league held at Union College, in 2016. That accounts for just under 50% of all summer league participants and nearly 55% of league participants that played high school basketball in NY this season. Congrats to all, listed below by class!

Class AA
CeCe Mayo (Shaker 2017; Army West Point signee) - 3rd Team
Cameron Tooley (Shenendehowa 2018) - 8th Team
Dolly Cairns (Saratoga Springs 2020) - 10th Team
Alexandra Tudor (Shenendehowa 2018) - 11th Team
Kerry Flaherty (Saratoga Springs 2019) - Honorable Mention
Shyla Sanford (Shaker 2018) - Honorable Mention
Emily Wander (Bethlehem 2017; Middlebury 2021) - Honorable Mention

Class A
Saeeda Abdul-Aziz (Mohonasen 2017; Davidson signee) - 1st Team
Julia Kelner (Jamesville-DeWitt 2017; Bryant signee) - 2nd Team
Nina Fedullo (Amsterdam 2017; Saint Rose signee) - 3rd Team
Maggie Malone (Cornwall 2019) - 5th Team
Stephanie Jankovic (Averill Park 2018) - 7th Team
Harmony Philo (Gloversville 2019) - 7th Team
Caitlin Estes (Scotia-Glenville 2017; Adelphi signee) - 12th Team
Katie Smith (Goshen 2017; Mount Saint Mary's 2021) - 12th Team
Giuliana Pritchard (Amsterdam 2018) - 13th Team
Kaia Henderson (New Hartford 2022) - 15th Team
Grace VanRoy (Saugerties 2019) - Honorable Mention

Class B
Sophie Tougas (Glens Falls 2019) - 1st Team
Brooke Bjelko (Beekmantown 2017; Bryant signee) - 2nd Team
Kenna Guynup (Beekmantown 2017; Sage 2021) - 2nd Team
Hanna Strawn (Seton Catholic 2018; Brown commit) - 2nd Team
Kelly Pine (Hoosick Falls 2017) - 4th Team
Lucy Tougas (Glens Falls 2017; Queens signee) - 4th Team
Jenna Zimmerman (South Jefferson 2018) - 6th Team
Holly Manchester (Susquehanna Valley 2018) - 8th Team
Nerea Brajac (Cohoes 2017; Georgian Court signee) - 9th Team
Brianna Rozzi (Highland 2019) - 10th Team
Julianna Taylor (Fonda-Fultonville 2017; SUNY Brockport 2021) - 11th Team
Kylee Rosbrook (General Brown 2018) - 13th Team

Class C
Julie Ford (Cooperstown 2018) - 1st Team
Abigail Selfridge (Bainbridge-Guilford 2019) - 3rd Team
Rebekkah Dean (Mekeel Christian Academy 2018) - 4th Team
Madison McCabe (AuSable Valley 2017) - 4th Team
Allison Moreau (Sauquoit Valley 2019) - 5th Team
Ashley Starzyk (Pine Plains 2017) - 5th Team
Ava Fitzmaurice (Greenville 2018) - 7th Team
Danielle Caivana (Frankfort-Schuyler 2017; Cazenovia 2021) - 9th Team
Lyndsey McCoy (Middleburgh 2017; Alfred 2021) - Honorable Mention

Class D
Shiane Irwin (Poland 2017; St. John Fisher 2021) - 1st Team
Ally Crosby (Hammond 2018) - 3rd Team
Logan Bruce (Delaware Academy 2018) - 4th Team
Brianna Laing (South Kortright 2017; Hartwick 2021) - 4th Team
Kyra Oeffler (Heatly 2018) - 6th Team
Olivia Marshall (Stockbridge Valley 2017) - 7th Team
Addy Sackett (Delaware Academy 2017; SUNY Plattsburgh 2021) - 7th Team
Kaitlynn Finch (Delaware Academy 2018) - 9th Team
Haley Steenland (Stamford 2018) - 9th Team

Large School (Classes AA, A) Link: http://www.newyorksportswriters.org/reference/girls_hoops_stars_2017-large.shtml
Small School (Classes B, C, D) Link:  http://www.newyorksportswriters.org/reference/girls_hoops_stars_2017-small.shtml

New Faces Making a Difference for Upstate NY AAU Programs

In the world of AAU basketball, the one constant is change. Individuals playing with programs are essentially one-year deals, and teams can quickly rise from fledgling to a true contender in a short amount of time. While out at the Hidden Gems Spring Showcase in Foxboro, MA on Friday & Saturday and New Jersey Sparks tournament in Paterson, NJ Sunday, many of the players that caught my eye from teams in upstate NY were making their live period debuts for those particular programs. Some were new to the national AAU scene; others were in front of the coaches wearing different colors last year. A list of those new program additions that made major differences for their team in front of me, in order of graduating class:

Alexandra Tudor (Shenendehowa 2018/I-90 Elite Wright) - Tudor, an uber-athletic 5'11" wing that an extensive list of Division I programs are intrigued by, is the pure 3 that Randy Wright's team needed; a player that can guard multiple positions, score in a variety of ways, and above all, the fastest player in the gym just about every time she walks in the building. Tudor went a long way to answer questions & concerns that coaches have had about her, as she did a good job scoring in half-court sets, creating her own shot and hitting teammates on feeds off the drive, and knocking down mid-range & perimeter jumpers off the catch and off the dribble. Look for her recruitment to hit the next level in the very near future.

Cameron Tooley (Shenendehowa 2018/I-90 Elite Wright) - Tooley's presence also makes a major difference and will likely lead to more wins in close games for I-90. Currently holding a Division II offer from Le Moyne and Division I interest from UMass Lowell and St. Francis (Brooklyn) among others, her steady presence at the PG spot not only provides a change of pace, but it provides a ballhandler & decision maker that can be trusted at any point of any game. She seemingly always makes the right play, can knock down the perimeter J at a high clip, gets to the rim off screens, and has consistently been an 85%+ free throw shooter in HS and AAU ball over the last two years. The calming presence & basketball IQ she brings while running the show for I-90, who often plays at a frenetic pace, was easily noticed.

Jenna Zimmerman (South Jefferson 2018/NY Havoc Blue) - Whenever a coach asks me what Zimmerman can do on the court, I instantly respond by telling them to ask me what she can't do because that list will be much, much shorter. On Sunday, perhaps no one in the gym aided their stock more than her. In a short stretch in the 1st half of a Sunday afternoon game against Exodus EYBL, she scored 12 points by hitting two threes, two free throws after getting fouled on a putback attempt, getting a layup rolling off a screen she set, and getting by a defender off a perimeter shot fake & finishing at backboard level. She defended all 5 positions in multiple games, going from guard standouts Jenna Annecchiarico, Aziah Hudson, Dara Mabrey, and Erica Martinsen (Virginia commit) to 6'9" post & Oregon State commit Andrea Aquino & 6'3" Tennessee commit Amira Collins. She shot it well, handled it, rebounded well, and averaged close to a handful of blocks per game against elite competition. The scary thing? She's still growing. From 6'1" last year to 6'3" now, along with a 6'8" wingspan, and a young 2018 at that (having turned 16 in the fall) - this is a player that coaches will have to keep both eyes on as this spring progresses.

Haille Hart (Albany 2018/I-90 Elite Wright) - Activity, ability to defend the post, and rebound the ball to spark the break provided a major lift off the bench for their team. Her ability to play strong post defense, rebound at a high rate, and slide to the right spot on guard penetration, catch, & finish was needed throughout the weekend, especially against a bigger & stronger City Rocks team in the morning featuring 6'4" high major recruit Olivia Owens. Hart did a great job playing within herself and doing what was needed, which was the work that many players don't want to do. In doing so, she certainly caught my eye.

Traiva Breedlove (Our Lady of Mercy 2018/City Rocks) - On a team with 7 out of the 9 players being new to the program, Breedlove's (along with others mentioned below) contributions were desperately needed and easily noticed. Traiva, a wing that can seemingly score from anywhere on the court, kept her group in it for a long stretch because of her ability to put it in the basket at will. Her mix of skill, strength, and deception with jabs and ball/head fakes makes her a tough cover for any one person. When the going gets tough, every team needs a player that can be trusted to go and get a bucket - Breedlove, along with her vocal leadership, can flat out do that in bunches. She's already been on the radar of Division I programs, but her performance Saturday opened eyes of numerous other D1s that I spoke with at the event.
  
Stephanie Jankovic (Averill Park 2018/NY Havoc Blue) - Jankovic made her presence felt especially in their first game on Sunday, as they battled DC-based EYBL squad Team Takeover to a 9 point loss. Jankovic can be aptly described as a pitbull with a jump shot, and both of those sides came in handy. Her pressure on Takeover's guards turned into a handful of steals throughout the game, leading to layups or open shots on the break for teammates. She also worked hard on the glass, proving to be a sound rebounding guard by grabbing numerous offensive boards. When it was time for her number to be called, she had success knocking down the three or beating a closing-out defender off the dribble.

Makaila Wilson (Penfield 2018/City Rocks) - As players on this team get used to each other and start fitting into roles, Wilson's versatility will prove to be very important. While most players here have a true primary position, the athletic 6'0" swing player can seamlessly transition from the wing to the 4. If a coach is feeling really adventurous, she could even slide to the 5 in a Golden State Warriors 'death lineup' setup. Her athleticism & ability to defend most players, regardless of position, can make her a 'glue girl' on this team. On Saturday, she flashed an improving ability to knock down the perimeter jumper. Continued improvement with that can make her an exponentially tougher cover, as she'll be able to burn defenders more easily getting to the rack.

Brianna Rozzi (Highland 2019/NY Havoc Blue) - Usually, you have to watch a team play for a little while to realize where an individual make a difference. The impact Rozzi makes for her team slaps you in the face. At her best, she's a certified game changer at the PG spot. Her ability to handle the ball - and her wanting the ball in her hands, willing to battle anyone pressuring her - provides a great deal of pressure relief for others like Grace Heeps, or allows Heeps to move to the 2 spot, depending on the lineup. She can heat up at a moment's notice, and her ability to score 8-10 points in the blink of an eye can change the momentum of a game. She really brought it in a Saturday game against the NJ Sparks EYBL team, where she broke their press several times in a row on her own and either scored or assisted a teammate's basket on every one of those occasions. A relative unknown to Division I coaches before this stage, look for her recruitment to hit another level in the near future.

Kerry Flaherty (Saratoga Springs 2019/City Rocks) - Flaherty, a 2 guard with a pure stroke, scored 5 quick points upon entry against I-90 Elite. These points were important, as they helped settle the team down and get them into the game. She did so early by getting to the rim, a part of her game that has noticeably been improving of late and is making her an even tougher cover. Flaherty's elite perimeter shooting ability, especially off the catch, still showed itself throughout the day - being able to knock shots down at a high clip from deep means defenses can't help off her, which opens up room for other players to penetrate or post.

EmmaLee Morgan (Averill Park 2019/I-90 Elite Kinch) - Morgan, a 6'1" natural wing, provides Tony Kinch's team with a versatile player that can (and did) split much of her time between the 3 & 4 spots. She can knock down the three, attack the rim from the perimeter and hit mid-range jumpers & floaters, or she can get all the way to the rim and finish higher than most girls can get up to. The versatility and ability to slide her in different spots, both offensively & defensively, man or zone, allows them to hit the opposition with a variety of different lineup looks.

Alyssa Stevenson (South Jefferson 2019/I-90 Elite Kinch) - Stevenson also showed what she brought to the table, as the 6'1" forward gave them a physical presence on the blocks that they don't get from anyone else on the roster. Her post defense & rebounding ability helps spring their high-octane fast break offense, spearheaded by returners Mackenzie & Madison Smith and Angel Parker. Look for Stevenson's role to expand as she gets more acclimated to the style of play, as this is her first year of high level AAU ball.

Dolly Cairns (Saratoga Springs 2020/City Rocks) - It was also easy to see how important Cairns, along with fellow Blue Streak teammate Flaherty, were to this group. I-90 Elite jumped out to a quick 13-0 lead with the Saratoga pair on the bench, and City Rocks had a great deal of trouble with I-90's press. Dolly's ability to control the defense with the ball in her hands, unmatched by any guard in upstate NY in the 2020 class, changed City Rocks' luck against the press instantly upon her checking in. Cairns is also getting noticeably stronger, which helped her immensely against physical pressure defense. She can score against anyone and create for others, and most importantly, knows when to do what so others are constantly involved while still making the defense respect her scoring ability.

Kelsey Wood (Averill Park 2020/NY Havoc 9 Silver) - Wood, a powerful yet versatile 6'1" F, was a highly coveted player on the AAU scene that Terrance Florence. There are very good reasons why she was wanted so badly, and she showed a lot of that in Paterson on Sunday. She's an elite rebounder at any level, and you can put her down for double-digit boards in Sharpie before the game starts. Off of those rebounds, her high motor and ability to run the floor often means layups in transition for her at the other end. Not only did she use her strength to post up & score, but she also showed the ability to step outside and knock down jumpers - the ability to step out beyond the 3 point line makes her an extremely difficult cover at her age group. Opposing teams learned this the hard way, and it raised her Havoc squad to a level they wouldn't have been at otherwise.

Dani Haskell (Franklinville 2020/I-90 Elite LaClair) - The 5'7" guard is riding high on confidence, coming off a freshman season that saw her blow past the 1,000 point mark while averaging well over 25 PPG. When she walks into a gym, she's usually the best shooter there. Most importantly, she has the handle & craftiness to get her shot off against even the toughest on-ball defenders. She uses that shooting ability to carve her way into the lane and wreak havoc. Her addition to this I-90 team turns them into a team that has the firepower to score against any team they go up against, and they had a great deal of success in the W/L column over the weekend. Players like her open the game up even more for people like...

Jess Cook (Cicero-North Syracuse 2021/I-90 Elite LaClair) - Another new addition to I-90 who adds a true dominant post presence that they - and most teams they play - wouldn't otherwise have. With a strong frame and standing every bit of 6'1", Cook also has post skill - good footwork, good hands, a go-to & counter move, and good finishing ability - that you rarely see at that age. Plus, the 8th grader is playing up a year. Look out for Jess, as her game is quickly expanding - she appears to be the next major player in a long line of high-level talent at CNS.

Skidmore College Hoop Fest Standouts

As usual, Easter weekend featured a much lighter AAU schedule than any other spring weekend. This provided a great opportunity to stay local and look for some diamonds in the rough. That being said, the land ended up not being rough at all and plenty of gems were to be had at Skidmore College. The Skidmore College Hoop Fest Girls' Basketball Classic featured a mix of teams from more prominent 518 programs like New York Havoc, Albany Capitals, and Saratoga Sparks, along with other local teams and squads from Vermont & Pennsylvania. The standouts, along with players that performed as well or better than previously seen, right here:

Alivia Paeglow (Colonie 2019) - Paeglow's skill set is an uncommon mix, as a 5'10"ish PF with the ability to put it on the deck from the perimeter and finish with layups or floaters using either hand, and she also showed the ability to pull up and hit the midrange J. When she's fully invested, and she certainly was for every minute on this day, she can be a monster on the glass with her strength and athleticism. She picked up for a Capitals team other than their top team, which is who she usually plays for, and she dominated for long stretches of all three games. Paeglow is attracting some early Division II attention, and what her potential could be was on full display throughout the day.

Hailey Ballard (Queensbury 2020) - Playing with a local South Glens Falls based team, Ballard - a Queensbury varsity starter who missed a good chunk of time late in the season - was more actively involved at both ends through the two games I saw than any time I've seen since Queensbury's season opener at Holy Names in the winter. A 5'11" F that has more athleticism than most people would know what to do with, she killed the opposition by running the floor and beating her matchup down the court for buckets, along with catching and finishing in the half-court over defenders and through contact. The most intriguing part of her performance Saturday was that she attacked from a 15'-18' mid-post area and hit a variety of midrange jumpers & a couple floaters, an ability that I didn't see over the winter. Bright future for Ballard.

Dolly Cairns (Saratoga Springs 2020) - How good is Dolly, you ask? The surefire Division I talent PG was the standout of the day/night - and this was off of two night games with CD Premier after completing a four-hour practice with City Rocks, the team coaches will see her with on the circuit. Despite being younger than most that she was playing against, she looked like a woman among girls that got what she wanted when she wanted it. A true floor general running the point, she can create for herself and for others equally well, and she has the IQ to know when to do each. In the late stages of a game that became close, she took over and scored on several possessions nearly in succession, including an acrobatic finish through contact that was the best play that I saw here. Her ability to be trusted controlling the offense with the ball - and being able to keep defenses honest with her ability to score and set up teammates - will make her an extremely valuable resource for the City Rocks this year.

Ashlyn O'Neil (Galway 2019) - Ashlyn was as good and as confident as I've seen in my handful of times watching her to date on this day. The natural 2 guard played both backcourt spots in all of the games for CDNY Westside, which could help expand her game if a consistent move. She has a bit of an old-school flare to her game, which relies much more on fakes, jabs, and 1/2 dribble moves than flashier alternatives, and she certainly hasn't forgot about the use of the midrange game. She had defenders biting on a very good shot fake all day, and knocked down countless pull-up jumpers from 13'-18' off of them. Because her game relies more on deception and intelligence than just athleticism, I could see her scoring ability translating well to higher levels of play. As her handle and ability to play some more PG comes along, look out for Ashlyn making noise beyond the small-school ranks in the very near future.

Lilly Phillips/Sophie Phillips (Cambridge 2021) - Two for the price of one! Decided to group this listing together instead of separate them, but there's a lot to say. I've went from knowing very little about them three weeks ago & only hearing about Sophie, who moved up to Cambridge's varsity team at the turn of the new year and ended up being their 2nd leading scorer, to coming to the realization that both Sophie & Lilly are the real deal. I've seen them both go at some of the better players in the Capital District, many 2-3 years older, and look like they belong. Playing closer to their age group on this day, which is a rarity, the twins dominated at both ends throughout. The sisters, who look nearly identical, are 5'8"-5'9" guards with very good athleticism and length that's rarely seen at their height. They have slightly different skill sets - Sophie has a pure jumper, crisp ballhandling ability and the court vision that makes her equally successful as a PG or SG, and Lilly also has a pure shot with a great slasher's skill set and the ability to attack and finish with either hand from the wing. Their fundamental skills set them apart from most near their age, and their basketball IQs set them apart from most at any age. Their defense turned into offense for a lot of Saturday, as length and ability to anticipate turned into tipped passes, steals, and baskets - and both ate equally on this day. In a 2021 class that has an unreal amount of standout basketball players coming from small towns, these Wasaren League up-and-comers are up next.

Asia Winney (Scotia-Glenville 2019) - Saturday was an Ice Cube-approved good day for CDNY Westside. Along with the aforementioned O'Neil, Asia Winney looked as confident as I've ever seen her throughout the day, and her contributions at both ends were a major reason her team went 3-0. She was knocking down the perimeter jumper with consistency, and once defenses closed out on her, it turned into a series of layups and close-range baskets as she got by the first defender and was able to get into the lane. Defensively, her activity helped spearhead an effort that resulted in a great deal of turnovers for opposing teams. With this continued growth, she could be due for a breakout junior season at Scotia-Glenville.

Lexi Mercier (Hoosac Valley (MA) 2019) - Mercier, a 2 guard who was a cold-blooded 3 point shooter for a Hoosac Valley squad that made a Division III state final appearance for the 3rd straight year this winter, had to wear many hats for her Berkshire Blazers squad. She often ran the point and instead of using off-ball screens, catching & shooting, she had to handle the ball more often than not and create her own shot. She hit some tough shots against a lot of defensive attention throughout the day, as she accounted for over 50% of her team's offense. Her ability to handle and get into the lane was perhaps one of the most pleasant surprises of the day - in a very successful, yet tight high school system where she plays a pure 2 guard, this was previously unseen in winter watches. As she gets physically stronger and able to battle through contact throughout the game, look for Mercier's game to explode, as she already has one of the purest shooting strokes in the region.

Because I Didn't Tweet Much... Syracuse Nets NBC Spring Classic Standouts

The first weekend of April brought me to Syracuse, a place I've spending nearly as much time in as I have Albany, for good reason. Basketball is thriving in the area, with a very solid core of talent headlining the 2018 & 2019 classes and elite young standouts in 2020 & 2021 as well. The NBC Spring Classic, put on by the Syracuse Nets, was a prime example of the depth of talent in Section III.

Many of the region's big names - Danielle Rauch, Meg Hair, Azariah Wade, etc. in older classes, Momo LaClair & Jess Cook in younger classes - weren't at the tournament, although they were playing basketball in Syracuse for I-90 Elite practice (a practice I attended Saturday - as always, thanks to I-90 for their hospitality and allowing me to swing through and check it out!). Even without some of the usual headliners, the tournament had many solid players and current & future EST targets, especially as you went into the 8th & 9th grade brackets. Some players that stood out to me, by graduating class, below:

2018

Samantha Doupe (Phoenix/Lake Effect Storm) - Last year, Doupe was more of a secondary guard with the presence of Paige Leonard. With Paige off to I-90 Elite and playing a very limited schedule with LES, Doupe has the chance to step into the forefront and took full advantage of it at this tournament. Although on the short end, you'll rarely find someone anywhere that can match her speed. She was able to turn the corner on anyone here when she turned on the jets, and used the speed at both ends to wreak havoc getting into the lane and jump passing lanes. Once defenders gave her the couple steps they needed in order to stay in front, she knocked down the perimeter J. Strong weekend for Doupe, who helped LES win the 11th grade championship.

Ashlyn Eyles (Thousand Islands/Lady Vikings) - Wing with above-average height & length for her position, and her well-rounded skill set was on display over many stretches of play this weekend. Eyles' ability to shoot, handle, get out in transition and make quick moves from the perimeter allows her to score well both in the open court and in the half court. She can score at all three levels & also played unselfishly. Section III Class C champion Thousand Islands had as well-balanced of a team as any I saw in the winter, but Eyles separated herself a little over the weekend. She could make many D3 programs very happy in a couple years.

Anna Hoover (Thousand Islands/Lady Vikings) - Lefty post also had a strong showing for the Lady Vikings, a crew that was predominantly Thousand Islands players but had a couple others from other Frontier League schools. She has a little more of an unorthodox game, but it works for her and keeps defenses off balance. Hoover does good work attacking from the high post area, where a deceptively quick first step helped her beat defenders to the rim with one dribble from around 15' away. She also has a soft touch, and letting her go over her right shoulder ended up being a nearly guaranteed 2 points. Another potential quality D3 player from the jump.


2019

Olivia Dobrovosky (Skaneateles/Lake Effect Storm) - Dobrovosky, a point guard, really stood out off the bat on Saturday. She had her hand in nearly every play for a long stretch of their 1st game, a game they played shorthanded for a long stretch. She looks more comfortable attacking the rim and drawing contact, but also knocked down the perimeter jumper when given a little space. She has shown marked improvement in her game from this point last year, a welcome sign for her AAU squad, high school team that has heavily depended on her output the last couple years, and going forward, college coaches.

2020

Paige Keeler (Jamesville-DeWitt/Syracuse Nets Pascale) - Speed kills, especially if you have Paige Keeler speed. She was able to change the game throughout the weekend by going faster than anyone up against her could go. She killed teams in the open court, even getting by and around sprinting defenders that had a head start on her on numerous occasions. She was able to get to the rim often and finish against taller defenders, and like the aforementioned Sam Doupe, she made the D pay by knocking down threes when they decided to sag off and play the drive. Probably would play a starring role for many Section III high schools, but is part of the J-D machine - which is part of what makes them so good.

Abby Piddock (Watertown IHC/Lake Effect Storm) - One of a dynamite pair of sisters that is already starting to garner as heavy of attention to Watertown area basketball as there's been in a while, Abby stood out as one of the youngest players on the court. In the 5'9"-5'10" range, she has a skill set that truly blurs the lines between positions. She's like a 2 guard with her ability to knock down the long-range J with consistency, yet she can score in the post and actively rebound like a strong 4. To add to that, she moves her feet well enough to lock down perimeter players and has the strength & footwork to guard bigger posts. Abby will certainly be an intriguing player to keep an attentive eye on going forward.

Ally Shoemaker (Chittenango/Syracuse Nets Edson) - Proved to be this weekend's standout on a solid Nets-Edson team that features plenty of girls that were major contributors on their varsity teams as freshmen. Shoemaker is another guard that can change the game with her speed and anticipation, and was good for a handful of steals in each game that I saw. She did a good job leading the break, knowing when to finish herself and when to hit teammates and doing each with a high rate of success. Her game appears to be getting more refined, as her handle and shot looked smoother this tournament. Mix that with her court vision and athleticism, and it's safe to say that she has a bright future.

Andrea Sumida (Jamesville-DeWitt/Syracuse Nets Pascale) - Along with J-D teammate Paige Keeler, they effectively led their Nets team to a 10th grade division championship with relative ease. Andrea is someone I really started to like in the winter, backing up Bryant commit Julia Kelner on J-D's Class A state champion & Federation finalist basketball team. She really flourished in this outlet, doing something I truly didn't know she could do that well - scoring the ball. Sumida is a player that produced real value coming off the bench during HS basketball season because of her exceptional post defense & rebounding ability, which she continued to do over the weekend, perhaps being the best rebounder at any division. She showed much more confidence putting the ball in the basket though, even killing teams from the wing on drives. I'm probably more on the Sumida bandwagon going forward than most, but certainly a legitimate upside for her going forward.

2021

Kennady Amo (Thousand Islands/Lady Vikings) - 'K' was the only 8th grader playing in the 11th grade division, and you wouldn't have any idea she was 'the young kid' unless you were told it or knew already. Undersized, but very solid PG that isn't afraid of anything. She'll get into the lane and beat defenders to the rim or pull up for a short floater, and she's a knockdown perimeter shooter. Amo is also a scrappy defender that can be a pest going after the ball. Height is never going to be a strength for her, but ask girls like McKayla Roberts & Hanna Strawn how much that matters. Kennady has shades of players like that in her game. Look for her to potentially take the Frontier League by storm next year.

Catie Cunningham (West Genesee/Syracuse Nets Chairmonte) - This is a player that I've been hearing a lot about lately, and at first watch, I see exactly why. Extremely bright future for a girl that I've been told is relatively new to the game of basketball. Taller guard - looks to be around 5'9" - that has game-changing speed and athleticism. Had a coast-to-coast take and full extension finish off a Euro step in the 9th grade division championship game that had the place buzzing. May have the highest upside of anyone in this tournament at any level. With continued improvement in the game, she could be a stud sooner rather than later. Will likely be an instant major contributor for West Genesee varsity next winter.

Lexie Roe (Fayetteville-Manlius/Syracuse Nets Chairmonte) - She's got the pedigree as the daughter of local legend and Syracuse/Maryland/overseas pro Matt Roe, and she's got the skill to back it up. Although she's a guard that's a little on the shorter end now, something tells me that (especially with a 6'6" father) she's far from done growing. Roe has a jumper that could already be classified as deadly, and unlike many girls, she has the true ability to create her own shot. She has the handle and ability to use change of speed to free herself up - and when she got any space, it was a death sentence over the weekend. Will likely be a game changer for Fayetteville-Manlius varsity next winter and a scoring punch that they desperately need. Looking forward to seeing her growth over the next year or two.

Reese Vaughan (Seton Catholic/Elmira Lady Fusion) - We had a Federation champ in the building at Jamesville-DeWitt with Reese. With the talent on Seton's roster, sometimes the best work they could get in was going against each other in practice, and Reese looked like someone who spent nearly every day over the last 4 months going up against Lexi Levy (GW signee) and Hanna Strawn (Brown & UVM offers). Her confidence was at another level, and her game in general just looked like it was at another level. The long guard scored at all 3 levels, and her activity on defense caused more than its share of turnovers as well. She flexed her muscle and made her case as the best player on the court in the 9th grade division championship, going off for 23 in a 55-42 W. She's ahead of the curve that I anticipated, and hopefully this is a sign of things to come.

Isabella Wilbur (Red Creek/Syracuse Nets-Waldron) - Since the first time I saw Wilbur in the Section V Class C1 semis with Red Creek, I've been calling her the next coming of Danielle Migliore. Her similarities to the former Frankfort-Schuyler standout and now St. Bonaventure basketball player are uncanny - from physical appearance to mannerisms, even her voice, they could be sisters. Her game also bears a striking resemblance, and if you remember Migliore, you know that means you better not let Wilbur get even an inch of room. Playing at age level in this tournament, she made the game look extremely easy. After her team fell behind by 16 in the 2nd half of the 8th grade championship, she completely took the game over at both ends in what turned into a 57-54 victory. She knocked down 4 threes after halftime, including on back-to-back possessions to cut their deficit to 2 and put serious pressure on their opponent. She also secured two steals late, one coming on their last defensive possession, to wrap up the game. Could've played in the 11th grade division and made noise as well. Likely to hear a lot more buzz from this player in years to come.

Other players that made noise included:
Jenna Zimmerman (South Jefferson 2018/Lake Effect Storm)
Emma Puddington (Beaver River 2018/Lady Vikings)
Brooke Jarvis (CBA 2020/Syracuse Nets Edson)
Kiley Snow (Whitesboro 2020/Syracuse Nets Edson)
Sydney Brown (Lowville 2020/Lady Vikings)
Julia Mann (Central Square 2021/Syracuse Nets Waldron)
Victoria Morgan (Liverpool 2021/Syracuse Nets Waldron)

Very good crop of talent, especially young players, in Syracuse over the weekend. I had a chance to go to the Final 4 in Dallas and passed on it to recruit for the EST summer leagues coming up. All-in-all, I wish Dallas' weather could've hit Syracuse, but I'm happy that I stayed because of how productive the weekend became. Maybe you'll catch me out this week for AAU practices, but besides that, see you next weekend!