Last year's 1st annual EST girls summer showcase league featured 19
participants from the Suburban Council - 11 regular participants, along
with 8 alternates. 5 of these 19 - 4 of them regular participants - received postseason all-league honors
in the conference that offers the highest level of competition in
Section II. Of the 5, none are current seniors; along with 3 juniors, a freshman & 8th grader made this list. Congrats to these 5, listed below.
All-EST 1st Team Saeeda Abdul-Aziz (Mohonasen 2017) - All-Suburban 1st Team
Kerry Flaherty (Saratoga Springs 2019) - All-Suburban 2nd Team
Emily Wander (Bethlehem 2017) - All-Suburban 2nd Team
All-EST Honorable Mention Jordan Hipwell (Ballston Spa 2017) - All-Suburban 3rd Team
Dolly Cairns (Saratoga Springs 2020) - All-Suburban 3rd Team
Abdul-Aziz donned the green jersey for Show Stoppers. Saratoga teammates Flaherty & Cairns both played for All Day; Hipwell & Wander were ESTeammates for Havoc.
Just like everywhere else she goes, Saeeda Abdul-Aziz was one of the most potent offensive threats in EST. The 5'11" guard, who currently holds offers from 10 Division I programs, was arguably the toughest cover in the league due to a rare combination of shooting ability, quickness, size, and strength. She averaged 14.2 PPG, 2nd in EST behind St. Bonaventure bound MVP Danielle Migliore; her 7 FTA per game was also behind only Migliore. She was also 1 of only 5 in the girls' league to score 20+ points in a game - her season high was 21. She hit 9 threes on the season as well (T-6 in EST), and was 4th in threes made per game. The well-rounded scoring ability showed again for Mohonasen this winter. Abdul-Aziz averaged 21.4 PPG, 4th in Section II and 1 of just 5 girls in the section to average 20 PPG or more. She was remarkably consistent, never scoring fewer than 15 points & topping off with a season high of 35 in a win over Troy. She also stuffed the stat sheet in other ways, often collecting 10 or more rebounds along with numerous steals & blocks. Her assist numbers also trended upward as the season went on, showcasing an improved ability to create. She saved her best for late in the season, collecting Mohonasen girls' first-ever triple-double (with a game high 28 points) in a sectional W over Gloversville. She'll look to continue this forward progress while on the EYBL circuit with highly regarded Exodus.
Kerry Flaherty jumped in feet-first on an All Day squad last year that featured high level talent such as Danielle Migliore (St. Bonaventure), Samira Sangare (Dominican), Liz Millea (Adelphi), Natalie DiSalvo (Geneseo), Liv Allrich, Lucy Tougas, and her own AAU teammate Sophie Tougas. Her box score numbers didn't jump off the screen - averaging a touch over 3 PPG with plenty of potent offense at every turn - but her confidence, feel for the game, and ability to impact the game with & without the ball grew into late summer. She took a massive step forward this winter in her freshman campaign, where she averaged 13.6 PPG (season high 26) and hit 39 threes for a Blue Streak team that enjoyed more success than at any other point in recent memory. Her 20 points led the way in their 1st home sectional victory since - well, no one was able to tell me that answer - over Niskayuna. Still just a neophyte in the grand scheme of things, look for her game to continue to expand from now to this point next year.
Emily Wander is one of the more electrifying guards this region has to offer. Usually smaller than her matchup, her game is centered around her shiftiness, change of speed, and crafty handle. She was constantly getting into the teeth of the defense in EST, creating havoc for Havoc. She averaged 7 PPG on a very balanced team that didn't have anyone averaging double digits, and was consistent with her box score contributions with a season high of 9. She certainly showcased more of her scoring ability this winter as the most potent option behind Dayton-bound Jenna Giacone for Bethlehem. She averaged 14.6 PPG, offering a season high of 25 in an early season W over Kingston. Wander hit 22 threes on the season and led Bethlehem in FTM (53) and FTA (79). She was also able to make teammates around her better, hitting them with passes at the right time after getting into the defense.
Jordan Hipwell showed a slithery scoring ability in EST last summer. Although she never was the fastest, quickest, or the highest jumper on the court, she was able to work her way toward the rim to get buckets time and time again. Her 8.82 PPG was 11th in EST & 2nd on Havoc by .01 PPG, and her 97 total points were good for 6th in the league. She was the only member of her team to have a 20 point game, and was 1 of 5 in the league to do so (the others being the aforementioned Abdul-Aziz, Chloe Chaffin, Madison Little, and Danielle Migliore). Hipwell's 27 FTM was 3rd in EST, and her 71.1% mark was 5th among qualifying EST participants. The 5'10" junior averaged 16.6 PPG for Ballston Spa this year, which included a 75.2% mark from the free throw line and a pair of 36 point performances 2 weeks apart. Bigtime scoring performances from Jordan, who will be looking to build off that on the AAU circuit this year & going forward.
Last but not least, the youngest - Dolly Cairns had as much of a breakout season as you could ask for out of a junior high kid. She came through and ran the show for All Day in a mid-July week. Only had 2 points to show for it in the box score, but she played with confidence & an all-around game that no one else her age could possess at that level. 2 points is often what she had in the 1st minute of the game this winter. Dolly welcomed herself to Suburban Council hoops with a 30 point season opening performance against Mohonasen, which proved to be her season high. She topped 20 four more times, including an impressive 24 point performance in their sectional quarterfinal loss to Albany. She averaged 15.1 PPG in all, featuring 36 threes and a 79.6% mark from the free throw line - 6th in Section II. She also showed the ability to break defenders down off the dribble, get into the lane, and create opportunities for others. Extremely bright future ahead for the youngest person to throw on an EST jersey last year.
Congrats to all 5, all with time left to go, and hopefully we get to see them all back at Union College this summer!
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