The Weekend Recap

Boys

- Cobleskill junior Keenan Loder battled off some undisclosed head issues for a good portion of the game, finishing with 10 points against a steady box & 1 before sitting the last 12 minutes of the game in their 51-46 W over Tamarac. The 6'4" tweener was averaging 20 per game coming in.

- Institute of Technology (Syracuse) junior James Walker led the charge with 21 points in a 64-59 road win at Mekeel that will most likely catapult them into the Class B state rankings. He impacted the game heavily at both ends, adding 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 blocks along the way. He's averaging 16.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game.

- In the same game, Mekeel junior Scott Voelker tied for the team high with 14 points in the loss. With a team full of specialists, he was arguably the most well-rounded player on his team, making an impact on the game in numerous ways.

- After managing just 10 points in the first half, Albany Academy came charging back for a 55-52 W over Cherry Hill West (NJ). Hameir Wright led that charge. The 6'7" standout sophomore has an offensive game perhaps growing by the day, catching up to his defensive impact. He scored a game high 21 points, including 4 threes, all in the 3rd quarter. This also tied a season high for him. He's averaging 14.4 points per game, and already boasts scholarship offers from James Madison and Vermont. Sal Arena, a crafty 6'3" lefty guard, added 9 points. The junior averages 8.6 per game for a very good, very balanced Cadet team. Their last guy off the bench would start at the majority of Section 2 schools.

- Mechanicville junior Evan Dunn had another big game, finishing with a game high 24 in their 59-51 W over Granville. He's averaging 19.4 points per game, and it appears he's worked his way out of a mid-season slump. After going 7 straight games without scoring 20 (they went 2-5), he's scored 20+ in 4 of the last 6 games (they've won all 4).

- Catskill sophomore standout Justyn Lacy led 4 in double digits with 18 in their 58-53 W over rival Hudson Saturday. The 6'1" guard is averaging 17.9 per game, and he's done it off the dribble around the rim, from the perimeter (28 threes), and by getting to the line and converting (76%).

- In the same game, Hudson junior Daniel Folds chipped in 13 points in the loss. He's averaging just under 9 per game, but has the skill to do much more. Sophomore guard Mike Alert was held to a season low 4 points - he's averaging 10 per game.

- New York Mills junior Terry Nichols had a game high 20 in their 71-31 thrashing of Otselic Valley. That's right at his average, which stands at 19.9 per game. As mentioned before, if not for blowouts, his average in many statistical categories could be higher.

Girls

- Greenville got double digit production from a pair of underclassmen in a blowout. 5'10" junior Kaitlyn Krasney (10.3 ppg) finished with 13, and freshman Ava Fitzmaurice (12.3 ppg, 42 threes) added 12 for the 16-0 Spartans in their 72-23 W over Berne-Knox-Westerlo.

- Catholic Central turned an ugly start into a pretty end result, beating a very tough Jamesville-Dewitt squad 45-36. Their 2nd half production was the driving force, which was powered by underclassmen. Junior Abby Fountain (9.3 ppg, 28 threes) and sophomore Taylor Engster (8.1 ppg) had 8 apiece to lead the Crusaders, and 5'11" junior guard Emilie Benton hit a pair of 2nd half threes to boost her season's total to 33.

- Mekeel freshman Rebekkah Dean had an impressive 14 points in their 54-36 W over Bishop Maginn. Many of them came while battling a bigger, stronger defender in Shayla Lyons in the blocks. Though she looks more like a natural guard, she showed a couple surprising post moves, including connecting on a pair of lefty jump hooks. Dean's averaging 11.3 per game on the season, finishing in double digits in 9 out of the last 10 games.

- Cobleskill junior Maya Nicholas finished with 10 points in their 48-37 L to Tamarac. She's averaging 10.4 on the season, and impacts the game in many ways - defense, rebounding at both ends, and court vision while playing basically a point forward at times. She's the type of player I'd like to see on a better team, as I think she'd really shine.

- Schalmont sophomore Sydnee Metzold tied her older sister with a game high 15 points in the Sabres' easy 50-23 W over Ravena. The 5'7" guard is averaging a touch over 9 points per game, and has picked it up of late, averaging 12.5 over the last 6.

- It was another cakewalk W for Mechanicville on Saturday, meaning they didn't need loads of production from Julia Amodeo. The sophomore finished with 8 points in their 60-28 victory over Granville. Her production in the scorebook has dropped significantly of late (10+ points twice in the last 8 games), but she's still averaging 11.3 points per game and has the skill set to fill it up.

- West Canada Valley was the first team in a month to limit Poland sophomore guard Shiane Irwin, and also became the team to do the best job of it all year. She was held to a season-low 10 points in a 67-46 L. She came in enjoying a stretch of 23 points per game over the previous 7 games. Still, she's one of the leading scorers in the Utica area, averaging 20.2 points per game with 41 treys and counting.

- Pittsfield (MA) sophomore standout Peyton Steinman chipped in 15 points in their 53-29 W over Auburn. This was actually her lowest scoring output since the last time she scored 15 on January 13, and she's only scored less than 15 once this season. One of the best players in western Massachusetts, she's averaging 20.1 points per game with 29 threes, along with making around 5 free throws per game. Even with the scoring average, the most impressive part of her game may be her passing ability - get her on a team with scorers, and she's a 10+ assist near-guarantee.

- Hampshire (MA) standout sophomore Katie O'Connor led her team with 17 points in a 66-51 L to South Hadley. The 3rd year varsity player is averaging over 16 per game and is an absolute animal on the boards. I didn't see rebound statistics, but she (quite literally) grabs them by the dozens. She had 25 in the game I watched.

- Monument Mountain (MA) freshman Sarah Sullivan chipped in 9 points in a balanced attack, resulting in a 49-38 W over Drury. The 6'1" post has enjoyed a solid first varsity season, averaging 10.1 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 2 steals per game. She adds a nice shooting touch extending to the 3 point line and solid 1-2 dribble moves countering the shot along with her post game.