Pretty busy day on the schedule Tuesday, with many 1st round and quarterfinal games taking place in many sections of NY. There were also league playoffs going on downstate, where I made the trip to. The full rundown... let's go!
What I Saw
Red Hook/FDR @ SUNY Ulster (MHAL Semifinals)
Red Hook snuck by FDR 42-40 in the first, and easily most entertaining, of two games at SUNY Ulster. Action heated up after a very slow 1st quarter, and it was the same three players spearheading the vast majority of it. For Red Hook, it was the same person that's been doing it for years - standout 2017 Jessica Wilkinson. There are no secrets to the lefty guard's game anymore, but she was able to get some open looks against FDR's zone as the game went on, which she made them pay for every time. She did so to the tune of 24 points and around a half-dozen threes. FDR countered with their backcourt, a pair of youngsters in 2020s Deliah Smith and Kelsea Demelis. Both are lefty guards with similar strengths - they can knock down the perimeter jumper and use the range to set up their in-between games, with both utilizing the floater over bigger defenders numerous times. Smith is the more shifty of the two; Demelis has the stronger build. The three players took their turns hitting big shots throughout, especially in the 4th quarter, where Wilkinson & Smith took turns hitting threes for an over 2 minute stretch of play. FDR has a very bright future, led by Smith & Demelis in the 2020 class, but it was the present - Red Hook and their 4 senior starters - getting the best of the future tonight. I'll be looking forward to chart the growth of Smith & Demelis in future months, two players that I'll definitely be looking to get involved in EST.
Pine Plains/Spackenkill @ SUNY Ulster (MHAL Semifinals)
It was a dominating performance by the visitors on the scoreboard in the nightcap, with an anticipated matchup turning into a rout as Pine Plains dominated on every front en route to a 59-29 victory. They caught Spackenkill on a night where Maya-K Johnson, a 2019 that's perhaps their most skilled frontcourt player, played very minimally due to what appeared to be an ankle injury. Pine Plains, in turn, did a great job limiting the offensive output of Spackenkill 2019 G Issy Herrera, their leading scorer throughout the year. It was a balanced offensive effort from Pine Plains, as they scored in the half-court & fast break; in the paint & beyond the arc; and from their posts & perimeter players. It wasn't the biggest scoring nights from standout sisters Ashley Starzyk (2017) and Bella Starzyk (2019), but they didn't need the big numbers from them as players like Frances Snyder (2017), Tia Fumasoli (2017), and Haley Strang (2019) took their turns knocking down shots. An all-around dominant showing from Pine Plains, a good sign as they go into MHAL finals and the Section IX Class C tournament.
What Happened Today
- Stockbridge Valley 2017 Olivia Marshall kept her squad, the top seed in Section III Class D play, alive with a huge performance in a 49-45 quarterfinal W over darkhorse West Canada Valley. Marshall dropped a game high 29 points including nearly all of her team's 2nd half points, 11 rebounds, 2 steals, and 5 blocks. She's been a force at her high school for half a decade now, and she helped extend her high school career at least one more game.
- Where one Section III Class D standout put forth the huge performance in a victory, one ended her illustrious high school career with a trademark big game. Poland 2017 Shiane Irwin, the leader of her squad for years now, finished with a game high 26 points in a 68-52 setback to Sackets Harbor. This was the 7th game of the season which she had 25 or more. She ends this season averaging 21.4 PPG (4th in Section III currently) and with 454 points. She finished her career with 1,571 points (I think? Maybe 1,572) at Poland, which makes her the school's all-time leading scorer by over 100 points on the girls' end. Time will tell if she plays college ball, as she's also a standout on the soccer field and has been actively recruited by numerous Division III programs for both sports. If she does play college ball, whatever school gets her will be happy to have her on their side for 4 years. If this is her last basketball game, she went out the same way she's played for the entirety of her high school career - with a bang.
- It was also the last game of the season for Allison Moreau, although far from the last for her career as a 2019 at Sauquoit Valley, but she ended her season with another milestone in hand in one of her biggest performances of the year. Moreau dropped a game high 28 points, singlehandedly keeping her 13th seeded Indians in it after already scoring one upset, in a 60-50 defeat to Cooperstown. The last time she played at Cooperstown, which was just over 3 weeks ago, she netted her 1,000th point. This time around, she became Sauquoit's all-time leading scorer. She'll have two more years to add to the growing list of accomplishments, and she'll enter junior year at 1,148 career points. She averaged 21.4 PPG this season while consistently filling the stat sheet across the board, and she picked up the scoring load as the season went on, averaging nearly 25 per game in the back half of the season.
- It was another big showing for Hoosick Falls 2017 standout Kelly Pine - the 6 footer hung a game high 29 points on Schuylerville as the 4 seed in Section II Class B advanced with a 56-30 victory. The Pine era will live on for at least another game, thanks in part to this consistently high-level contributor's 2nd highest offensive output of the season.
- One from Monday (February 20) that I neglected to give its just mention - congratulations to Mount Abraham (VT) 2018 Emma Carter, the newest member of the 1,000 point club! Entering her game against Missisquoi with 992 career points, she went off for a game high 28 points and 10 rebounds in a blowout victory. The 5'11" wing has expanded her game as time has gone on and has turned herself into one of Vermont's most complete players. It has been a steady growth since the first time I saw her - as a freshman with her local Valley Magic AAU program at a tournament in Lake Placid - and her game, along with her college interest while playing on the circuit with Lone Wolf this year, looks to take an even bigger step forward in the coming months.
The Rest
Section II Class B (1st Round)
- Schalmont 2018 Madison Graber finished with a team high 13 points in their 76-50 defeat at Watervliet.
- Cohoes 2017 & Georgian Court signee Nerea Brajac led all scorers with 23 points in their 65-23 victory over Catskill. 2018 teammate Sam Dayter added a 19 point outing in the win. The two combined to hit 5 threes, with Dayter hitting 3 of them.
- Johnstown 2017 Claire Guzielek kept her high school career alive, contributing a game high 18 points in their 57-49 victory at Cobleskill-Richmondville.
- In Cobleskill's loss, 2018 Lauren Hill paced her squad with 17 points. They played their 1st round game without the services of fellow 2018 Allie Pacatte.
- Fonda-Fultonville 2017 & SUNY Brockport commit Julianna Taylor finished with 15 points in their 65-64 victory over Voorheesville.
Section II Class C (1st Round)
- Middleburgh 2017 & Alfred commit Lyndsey McCoy led all scorers with 21 points and added 7 rebounds & 5 assists in their 56-46 victory over Chatham. 2018 teammate Bre Palmatier added 14 points in the win.
- Mekeel Christian Academy 2018 Rebekkah Dean finished with 15 points in their 61-37 victory over Cambridge.
Section III Class B (Quarterfinals)
- South Jefferson 2018 Jenna Zimmerman finished with a game high 18 points and added 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals, and 3 blocks in their 43-32 victory over Cazenovia.
Section III Class C (Quarterfinals)
- Cooperstown 2018 Julie Ford fought through foul trouble to contribute 10 points in their 60-50 victory over Sauquoit Valley.
- Waterville 2018 Sophie Wittenbeck finished with 15 points to lead all scorers in their 60-48 loss at Syracuse Academy of Science.
Section IV Class D (1st Round)
- Delaware Academy 2018 Logan Bruce had a big outing, finishing with team/game highs of 15 points and 10 assists in their 69-27 victory over Morris. 2017 teammate and SUNY Plattsburgh commit Addy Sackett added 12 points and 4 steals in the win.
- Stamford 2018 Haley Steenland finished with 17 points (tying for the team high) and 7 assists in their 55-46 victory over Newfield to advance to the quarterfinals.
Section IX (Regular Season)
- Highland 2019 Brianna Rozzi led all scorers with 16 points in their 62-41 victory over Rondout Valley.
Vermont (Regular Season)
- Mount Anthony Union (VT) 2018 Anna Iannotti led all scorers with 12 points in a runaway 47-15 W over Burr & Burton. 2017 teammate Madison Little, who hit the 1,000 point mark in their last game, added 10 points.
Where You'll See Me Next
For the first time in a while, I won't be taking a road trip. Staying in Section II Wednesday night, with the plan being to head to Shenendehowa HS for Class AA quarterfinals for the bottom half of the bracket. The 3/6 game of Columbia/Catholic Central gets the fun started, with the 2/7 of Shen/Bethlehem takes the nightcap. They're two games of major interest for me with many 2016 (and hopefully future) ESTers on the court. 13 players between the four programs participated in 2016 EST events, with my eye on a whopping 16 players between these schools going forward.
Tuesday, February 21, 2017
Monday, February 20, 2017
EST Cheat Sheet: February 17
As the season starts to wind down a little, with teams getting
knocked out by the day, the rundowns will start to get grouped together
with some different formats. It was still a very busy weekend for me,
with a game in Delhi Friday, two in Syracuse Saturday, and four in
Potsdam Sunday. Friday's recap - instead of a game rundown, a handful of
short player writeups of note - below.
South Kortright vs. Stamford @ SUNY Delhi
Melanie Hoyt (6'0" F, Stamford 2021) - Despite Stamford's loss, the younger of the two Hoyt sisters may have been the game's shining star looking back at it. I knew she was going to be a major factor at first watch in their high school's summer league, but even I couldn't have guessed her improvement from that point to now. She has legitimate physical tools with her current height, length, and athleticism. She rebounds and protects the rim like a post, but can also run the floor like a guard. She has an unteachable feel for the game at both ends, and it's even more noticeable on the defensive end, where she does a great job of blocking shots without fouling. Offensively, she has a legitimate stretch 4 skill set, and she showed the ability to finish through contact against a tough SK team. The 8th grader had 14 points, a handful of rebounds, and several blocks over the course of the game. Extremely bright future ahead.
Brianna Laing (5'4" G, South Kortright 2017; Hartwick commit) - Stamford's defense was geared to stop Laing, as it looked like they went diamond & 1 for a good portion of the game. It often didn't matter, as many times it ended up being Laing who got a bucket when it was needed most while SK's offense was stagnant. She has consistent deep range to make a defender play tight within 25 feet, and the handle and quickness to get by the crowding defender. She finished with 17 points, nearly all of them hard-fought.
Haley Steenland (5'2" G, Stamford 2018) - Speaking of a defense being geared to stop someone, South Kortright didn't allow Stamford standout Steenland to get any daylight ever. Sometimes, she decided to make her own. The Rams dogged her on the press for 32 minutes, trying to wear down not only Stamford's leading scorer this season, but their only legitimate ballhandler. She only sat for about 1:30 in the 2nd quarter - Stamford had 5 offensive possessions in that frame and didn't attempt a shot. A few times, Steenland was able to knife through all 5 SK defenders with the handle, and she went in to finish a couple of those instances. She's also a very pesky defender, with the quickness to stay in front and quick & active hands that allow her to dig in and get steals. She had 10 points, 4 assists, and 5 steals on the night.
Alexa DuBois (5'8" G, South Kortright 2017; Hartwick commit (soccer)) - Extremely well-rounded game for longtime standout DuBois, who, like Laing, is a 1,000 point scorer. She had more room to work than any other time I've seen her play with SK with the defense often working against Laing, and she took full advantage of it by knocking down open jumpers and getting to the rim to use her strength. If there was a high school girls' fantasy basketball league, you would've won money if you had her on your team for her statistical performance - 16 points, 13 rebounds, 7 steals.
Madison Hoyt (6'0" F, Stamford 2019) - Madison, like younger sis, also seems to be making strides. She has a stronger build and is more of a true post player than Melanie, and she used that to man the glass for her squad, finishing with a team high 9 rebounds to go with her 8 points. Offensively, despite being given very little room to operate by the SK defense, she also showed her ability to step out and hit the 15 footer. What stood out most was perhaps her passing ability - she became a legitimate playmaker when catching the ball in the high post area, finding Melanie in high-low situations or hitting a cutter.
Jordan Finch (6'1" F, South Kortright 2019) - Finch is, without question, the most intriguing prospect on the SK team. I'm calling her 6'1", but that may be a stingy listing as you could say she's 6'2" and I wouldn't bat an eye at it. At this stage, she's a little on the raw end offensively, but she looked smoother in this game than any previous time I've seen her. She turned over each shoulder in this game to make post moves and finish. Finch didn't see the ball too much, but when she did, good things happened. Defensively, she could be a high-level rim protector. Her length and athletic ability are noticeable within seconds. With her long & lanky body type, an improved face-up game will make a world of difference for her. I'm particularly interested in seeing her development over the next few months - after Laing this year, Finch should be SK's next college basketball player.
2016 ESTers - How They Did
- Brianna Laing (South Kortright 2017, Hartwick commit) finished with a game high 17 points in their 54-43 Delaware League championship win over Stamford.
- In defeat, Haley Steenland (Stamford 2018) finished with 10 points, 4 assists, and 5 steals.
- Emily Frodyma (Catholic Central 2018) was one of three in double figures, finishing with 10 points in the Crusaders' 54-30 win over Guilderland in the 1st round of Section II Class AA playoffs.
- In defeat, Olivia Baumann (Guilderland 2017, St. John Fisher commit) paced her squad with 11 points.
- Mikyla Mitchell (Scotia-Glenville 2020) and Caitlin Estes (Scotia-Glenville 2017, Adelphi commit) were two of three in double figures, as they romped Bishop Maginn 72-24 in the 1st round of Section II Class A playoffs. Mitchell scored 12 points, and Estes added 11.
- Allison Moreau (Sauquoit Valley 2019) led all scorers with 26 points and led her 13th seeded group to a 66-56 victory at 4th seeded Weedsport in the 1st round of Section III Class C playoffs.
- Danielle Caivana (Frankfort-Schuyler 2017) finished with 13 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists in their loss to Beaver River in the 1st round of Section III Class C playoffs.
- Meaghan Perrino (Cooperstown 2018) led all scorers with 15 points and Julie Ford (Cooperstown 2018) finished with 11 points, 12 rebounds, 5 steals, and 7 blocks in their squad's blowout W over Port Byron in the 1st round of Section III Class C playoffs.
- Sophie Wittenbeck (Waterville 2018) finished with 15 points and 6 rebounds in her team's 65-53 victory over Cato-Meridian in the 1st round of Section III Class C playoffs.
- Chloe Chaffin (Kingston 2018, Fordham commit) finished with a game high 22 points in their 65-39 victory over Newburgh.
- Brianna Rozzi (Highland 2019) dropped 23 points, a team high, in their 58-44 victory at Saugerties.
- In defeat, Grace VanRoy (Saugerties 2019) led all scorers with 27 points against Highland.
- Lauraine Joensen (Northampton (MA) 2017, Canisius commit) finished with 10 points, which tied for a team high, in their 54-43 defeat to West Springfield. Her first point of the game was her 1,000th in her 3 year varsity career; congratulations to Lauraine on surpassing the 1,000 point mark!
- Molly Kirby (Bethlehem 2018) finished with a team high 18 points in their 49-42 victory over Niskayuna in the 1st round of Section II Class AA playoffs.
- Abby Kienzle (Notre Dame Bishop Gibbons 2019) finished with 13 points, which tied for a team high, in their 47-42 setback to Rensselaer in the first round of Section II Class C playoffs.
- Kylee Rosbrook (General Brown 2018) contributed 11 points in their 50-37 defeat to Westhill in the 1st round of Section III Class B playoffs.
- Jenna Zimmerman (South Jefferson 2018) only scored 6 points, but added 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, and 5 blocks in their victory over league rival Lowville in the 1st round of Section III Class B playoffs.
South Kortright vs. Stamford @ SUNY Delhi
Melanie Hoyt (6'0" F, Stamford 2021) - Despite Stamford's loss, the younger of the two Hoyt sisters may have been the game's shining star looking back at it. I knew she was going to be a major factor at first watch in their high school's summer league, but even I couldn't have guessed her improvement from that point to now. She has legitimate physical tools with her current height, length, and athleticism. She rebounds and protects the rim like a post, but can also run the floor like a guard. She has an unteachable feel for the game at both ends, and it's even more noticeable on the defensive end, where she does a great job of blocking shots without fouling. Offensively, she has a legitimate stretch 4 skill set, and she showed the ability to finish through contact against a tough SK team. The 8th grader had 14 points, a handful of rebounds, and several blocks over the course of the game. Extremely bright future ahead.
Brianna Laing (5'4" G, South Kortright 2017; Hartwick commit) - Stamford's defense was geared to stop Laing, as it looked like they went diamond & 1 for a good portion of the game. It often didn't matter, as many times it ended up being Laing who got a bucket when it was needed most while SK's offense was stagnant. She has consistent deep range to make a defender play tight within 25 feet, and the handle and quickness to get by the crowding defender. She finished with 17 points, nearly all of them hard-fought.
Haley Steenland (5'2" G, Stamford 2018) - Speaking of a defense being geared to stop someone, South Kortright didn't allow Stamford standout Steenland to get any daylight ever. Sometimes, she decided to make her own. The Rams dogged her on the press for 32 minutes, trying to wear down not only Stamford's leading scorer this season, but their only legitimate ballhandler. She only sat for about 1:30 in the 2nd quarter - Stamford had 5 offensive possessions in that frame and didn't attempt a shot. A few times, Steenland was able to knife through all 5 SK defenders with the handle, and she went in to finish a couple of those instances. She's also a very pesky defender, with the quickness to stay in front and quick & active hands that allow her to dig in and get steals. She had 10 points, 4 assists, and 5 steals on the night.
Alexa DuBois (5'8" G, South Kortright 2017; Hartwick commit (soccer)) - Extremely well-rounded game for longtime standout DuBois, who, like Laing, is a 1,000 point scorer. She had more room to work than any other time I've seen her play with SK with the defense often working against Laing, and she took full advantage of it by knocking down open jumpers and getting to the rim to use her strength. If there was a high school girls' fantasy basketball league, you would've won money if you had her on your team for her statistical performance - 16 points, 13 rebounds, 7 steals.
Madison Hoyt (6'0" F, Stamford 2019) - Madison, like younger sis, also seems to be making strides. She has a stronger build and is more of a true post player than Melanie, and she used that to man the glass for her squad, finishing with a team high 9 rebounds to go with her 8 points. Offensively, despite being given very little room to operate by the SK defense, she also showed her ability to step out and hit the 15 footer. What stood out most was perhaps her passing ability - she became a legitimate playmaker when catching the ball in the high post area, finding Melanie in high-low situations or hitting a cutter.
Jordan Finch (6'1" F, South Kortright 2019) - Finch is, without question, the most intriguing prospect on the SK team. I'm calling her 6'1", but that may be a stingy listing as you could say she's 6'2" and I wouldn't bat an eye at it. At this stage, she's a little on the raw end offensively, but she looked smoother in this game than any previous time I've seen her. She turned over each shoulder in this game to make post moves and finish. Finch didn't see the ball too much, but when she did, good things happened. Defensively, she could be a high-level rim protector. Her length and athletic ability are noticeable within seconds. With her long & lanky body type, an improved face-up game will make a world of difference for her. I'm particularly interested in seeing her development over the next few months - after Laing this year, Finch should be SK's next college basketball player.
2016 ESTers - How They Did
- Brianna Laing (South Kortright 2017, Hartwick commit) finished with a game high 17 points in their 54-43 Delaware League championship win over Stamford.
- In defeat, Haley Steenland (Stamford 2018) finished with 10 points, 4 assists, and 5 steals.
- Emily Frodyma (Catholic Central 2018) was one of three in double figures, finishing with 10 points in the Crusaders' 54-30 win over Guilderland in the 1st round of Section II Class AA playoffs.
- In defeat, Olivia Baumann (Guilderland 2017, St. John Fisher commit) paced her squad with 11 points.
- Mikyla Mitchell (Scotia-Glenville 2020) and Caitlin Estes (Scotia-Glenville 2017, Adelphi commit) were two of three in double figures, as they romped Bishop Maginn 72-24 in the 1st round of Section II Class A playoffs. Mitchell scored 12 points, and Estes added 11.
- Allison Moreau (Sauquoit Valley 2019) led all scorers with 26 points and led her 13th seeded group to a 66-56 victory at 4th seeded Weedsport in the 1st round of Section III Class C playoffs.
- Danielle Caivana (Frankfort-Schuyler 2017) finished with 13 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists in their loss to Beaver River in the 1st round of Section III Class C playoffs.
- Meaghan Perrino (Cooperstown 2018) led all scorers with 15 points and Julie Ford (Cooperstown 2018) finished with 11 points, 12 rebounds, 5 steals, and 7 blocks in their squad's blowout W over Port Byron in the 1st round of Section III Class C playoffs.
- Sophie Wittenbeck (Waterville 2018) finished with 15 points and 6 rebounds in her team's 65-53 victory over Cato-Meridian in the 1st round of Section III Class C playoffs.
- Chloe Chaffin (Kingston 2018, Fordham commit) finished with a game high 22 points in their 65-39 victory over Newburgh.
- Brianna Rozzi (Highland 2019) dropped 23 points, a team high, in their 58-44 victory at Saugerties.
- In defeat, Grace VanRoy (Saugerties 2019) led all scorers with 27 points against Highland.
- Lauraine Joensen (Northampton (MA) 2017, Canisius commit) finished with 10 points, which tied for a team high, in their 54-43 defeat to West Springfield. Her first point of the game was her 1,000th in her 3 year varsity career; congratulations to Lauraine on surpassing the 1,000 point mark!
- Molly Kirby (Bethlehem 2018) finished with a team high 18 points in their 49-42 victory over Niskayuna in the 1st round of Section II Class AA playoffs.
- Abby Kienzle (Notre Dame Bishop Gibbons 2019) finished with 13 points, which tied for a team high, in their 47-42 setback to Rensselaer in the first round of Section II Class C playoffs.
- Kylee Rosbrook (General Brown 2018) contributed 11 points in their 50-37 defeat to Westhill in the 1st round of Section III Class B playoffs.
- Jenna Zimmerman (South Jefferson 2018) only scored 6 points, but added 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, and 5 blocks in their victory over league rival Lowville in the 1st round of Section III Class B playoffs.
Thursday, February 16, 2017
EST Cheat Sheet & More: February 16
Tonight is a modified version of the regular rundown, as the last couple nights have been very light with sectional seeding taking the forefront in much of New York. Check everything I have to say below!
What I Saw
Brattleboro @ Mount Anthony
Thursday night's venture brought me across the state border for the 2nd consecutive evening, this time just into Bennington, VT. It was my first look at both teams this season - and actually my first ever look at Brattleboro. It was quite the interesting game which included a milestone, a near comeback for the ages, and the first time I was pushed over the edge and had a little verbal exchange with a member of the peanut gallery. An adventurous time, indeed!
A big 2nd quarter was the difference, as the hosting MAU group took a 17 point lead into the locker room and held off a 2nd half rally by the visitors. The night culminated in a milestone for Mount Anthony 2017 standout guard Madison Little, whose layup with .9 seconds remaining gave her 25 for the night and 1,000 for her career. She's been a main scorer for them in all of the three years I've been working on the girls' hoops end, and has added to her repertoire through time. The uncommitted senior showed more willingness to use the in-between game, going to numerous short pull-up jumpers and a couple floaters. This adds a big part to her ability to score, as she's already known as a microwave shooter with deep range & the strength to get to the rim. She was also able to create for the posts, with a few good feeds to others on drives to the rack. A good amount of her points came in the open court, with 2017 teammate and Keuka commit Brianna Legacy getting a handful of assists on good advance passes. Legacy also showed off the range at one point in the game, hitting a three from around 23' against Brattleboro's zone.
The future of Mount Anthony was on display by way of a strong performance by 2020 Grace Mahar. She currently has a bit of a tweener's skill set at around 5'10", with the ability to post up and score, step out and shoot with range to the 3 point line, and the court vision to find teammates. She sucked the defense in and kicked to an open teammate on several occasions, with Little being the recipient a few times. She's also a strong rebounder and puts forth effort on the glass at both ends. With continued skill development, she could be a force in Vermont basketball through the 2019-2020 season, and Mount Anthony can make a serious state run this year with Mahar being in attack mode and giving them consistent production.
Brattleboro made a nice push in the 2nd half to get it to within 3 after trailing by 17 at the break. Much of that came from scrappiness, with the team getting plenty of 2nd half points off second chance opportunities. I'll have to get a second look at 2019 Hailey Derosia - a long & athletic wing that made a few plays tonight. It was one of her quietest games of the season, as she's been putting up some strong numbers so far.
The Rest of The Night
- Mount Abraham Union (VT) 2018 Emma Carter had another strong game, finishing with a game high 21 points in her team's blowout W over Missisquoi. This production puts Carter, a 5'11" wing with a well-rounded offensive game, over 980 career points. Her next game against the same Missisquoi team, at home this time, early next week.
- Sectionals officially started Thursday in Section III, with 3 play-in games from a 19 team field in Class B now in the books. 2017 PG Liz White and her Marcellus crew knocked off Adirondack (who also has an ESTer in 2020 Belle Kranbuhl) 58-36. White finished with 11 points, 7 assists, and 4 steals on the evening. They get top seeded Bishop Ludden next, with tip slated for 1:00 Saturday. On the bottom end of the bracket, 6'3" 2017 F Sara Field and VVS were on the winning end of a 55-27 decision over Canastota. She finished with a double-double of 11 points (tied for team high) and 10 rebounds, along with 3 assists. They next play at Bishop Grimes, with tip time at 3:00 Saturday.
Two Things I Didn't Mention Yesterday
- Northampton (MA) 2017 and Canisius signee Lauraine Joensen is as close as you can get to reaching the 1,000 point mark. Her 19 points - in a losing effort to Central - put her at 999 career points. She was an instant high-level contributor upon her arrival at Northampton from her native Denmark, and the skilled 6'2" F has increased her scoring production to just under 20 points per game. She isn't one to put importance on individual accomplishments, but this will be a great one for a quality player and person.
- Stockbridge Valley 2017 Olivia Marshall made the most of her last regular season game Wednesday. The longtime standout 5'11" F pumped in 20 points and added 11 rebounds, 2 assists, and 6 blocks in a victory over Westmoreland. This is her 18th double-double of the season and 9th 20-10 game of their 19 regular season contests. She's had a remarkable career for Stockbridge Valley to date, and is currently approaching 1,700 career varsity points with a much bigger goal in mind - winning the Section III Class D title, where they enter as the top seed.
2016 ESTers in Sectionals & League Championships Friday
Section II Class AA
11-Guilderland (Olivia Baumann) @ 6-Catholic Central (Emily Frodyma)
10-Niskayuna @ 7-Bethlehem (Emily Wander, Rylee vonWedel, Maggie Kirby (injured), Molly Kirby)
9-Troy (Alaina Holmes, Jenalyse Alarcon (fall)) @ 8-Colonie (Kyara Triblet, Madison Dunlap)
Section II Class A
12-Bishop Maginn @ 5-Scotia-Glenville (Caitlin Estes, Mary Kate Palleschi, Mikyla Mitchell, Asia Winney)
Section II Class C
18-Rensselaer @ 15-Notre Dame Bishop Gibbons (Abby Kienzle (fall), Sarah Malinowski (fall))
Section III Class B
11-General Brown (Kylee Rosbrook (fall)) @ 6-Westhill
13-Lowville @ 4-South Jefferson (Jenna Zimmerman)
9-Oneida @ 8-Utica Notre Dame (Carli Brenon)
Section III Class C
9-Beaver River @ 8-Frankfort-Schuyler (Danielle Caivana)
12-Port Byron @ 5-Cooperstown (Julie Ford, Maggie Schuermann)
13-Sauquoit Valley (Allison Moreau) @ 4-Weedsport
11-Cato-Meridian @ 6-Waterville (Sophie Wittenbeck)
Section IV - Delaware League Final
3-Stamford (Haley Steenland) vs. 1-South Kortright (Brianna Laing) @ SUNY Delhi
What I Saw
Brattleboro @ Mount Anthony
Thursday night's venture brought me across the state border for the 2nd consecutive evening, this time just into Bennington, VT. It was my first look at both teams this season - and actually my first ever look at Brattleboro. It was quite the interesting game which included a milestone, a near comeback for the ages, and the first time I was pushed over the edge and had a little verbal exchange with a member of the peanut gallery. An adventurous time, indeed!
A big 2nd quarter was the difference, as the hosting MAU group took a 17 point lead into the locker room and held off a 2nd half rally by the visitors. The night culminated in a milestone for Mount Anthony 2017 standout guard Madison Little, whose layup with .9 seconds remaining gave her 25 for the night and 1,000 for her career. She's been a main scorer for them in all of the three years I've been working on the girls' hoops end, and has added to her repertoire through time. The uncommitted senior showed more willingness to use the in-between game, going to numerous short pull-up jumpers and a couple floaters. This adds a big part to her ability to score, as she's already known as a microwave shooter with deep range & the strength to get to the rim. She was also able to create for the posts, with a few good feeds to others on drives to the rack. A good amount of her points came in the open court, with 2017 teammate and Keuka commit Brianna Legacy getting a handful of assists on good advance passes. Legacy also showed off the range at one point in the game, hitting a three from around 23' against Brattleboro's zone.
The future of Mount Anthony was on display by way of a strong performance by 2020 Grace Mahar. She currently has a bit of a tweener's skill set at around 5'10", with the ability to post up and score, step out and shoot with range to the 3 point line, and the court vision to find teammates. She sucked the defense in and kicked to an open teammate on several occasions, with Little being the recipient a few times. She's also a strong rebounder and puts forth effort on the glass at both ends. With continued skill development, she could be a force in Vermont basketball through the 2019-2020 season, and Mount Anthony can make a serious state run this year with Mahar being in attack mode and giving them consistent production.
Brattleboro made a nice push in the 2nd half to get it to within 3 after trailing by 17 at the break. Much of that came from scrappiness, with the team getting plenty of 2nd half points off second chance opportunities. I'll have to get a second look at 2019 Hailey Derosia - a long & athletic wing that made a few plays tonight. It was one of her quietest games of the season, as she's been putting up some strong numbers so far.
The Rest of The Night
- Mount Abraham Union (VT) 2018 Emma Carter had another strong game, finishing with a game high 21 points in her team's blowout W over Missisquoi. This production puts Carter, a 5'11" wing with a well-rounded offensive game, over 980 career points. Her next game against the same Missisquoi team, at home this time, early next week.
- Sectionals officially started Thursday in Section III, with 3 play-in games from a 19 team field in Class B now in the books. 2017 PG Liz White and her Marcellus crew knocked off Adirondack (who also has an ESTer in 2020 Belle Kranbuhl) 58-36. White finished with 11 points, 7 assists, and 4 steals on the evening. They get top seeded Bishop Ludden next, with tip slated for 1:00 Saturday. On the bottom end of the bracket, 6'3" 2017 F Sara Field and VVS were on the winning end of a 55-27 decision over Canastota. She finished with a double-double of 11 points (tied for team high) and 10 rebounds, along with 3 assists. They next play at Bishop Grimes, with tip time at 3:00 Saturday.
Two Things I Didn't Mention Yesterday
- Northampton (MA) 2017 and Canisius signee Lauraine Joensen is as close as you can get to reaching the 1,000 point mark. Her 19 points - in a losing effort to Central - put her at 999 career points. She was an instant high-level contributor upon her arrival at Northampton from her native Denmark, and the skilled 6'2" F has increased her scoring production to just under 20 points per game. She isn't one to put importance on individual accomplishments, but this will be a great one for a quality player and person.
- Stockbridge Valley 2017 Olivia Marshall made the most of her last regular season game Wednesday. The longtime standout 5'11" F pumped in 20 points and added 11 rebounds, 2 assists, and 6 blocks in a victory over Westmoreland. This is her 18th double-double of the season and 9th 20-10 game of their 19 regular season contests. She's had a remarkable career for Stockbridge Valley to date, and is currently approaching 1,700 career varsity points with a much bigger goal in mind - winning the Section III Class D title, where they enter as the top seed.
2016 ESTers in Sectionals & League Championships Friday
Section II Class AA
11-Guilderland (Olivia Baumann) @ 6-Catholic Central (Emily Frodyma)
10-Niskayuna @ 7-Bethlehem (Emily Wander, Rylee vonWedel, Maggie Kirby (injured), Molly Kirby)
9-Troy (Alaina Holmes, Jenalyse Alarcon (fall)) @ 8-Colonie (Kyara Triblet, Madison Dunlap)
Section II Class A
12-Bishop Maginn @ 5-Scotia-Glenville (Caitlin Estes, Mary Kate Palleschi, Mikyla Mitchell, Asia Winney)
Section II Class C
18-Rensselaer @ 15-Notre Dame Bishop Gibbons (Abby Kienzle (fall), Sarah Malinowski (fall))
Section III Class B
11-General Brown (Kylee Rosbrook (fall)) @ 6-Westhill
13-Lowville @ 4-South Jefferson (Jenna Zimmerman)
9-Oneida @ 8-Utica Notre Dame (Carli Brenon)
Section III Class C
9-Beaver River @ 8-Frankfort-Schuyler (Danielle Caivana)
12-Port Byron @ 5-Cooperstown (Julie Ford, Maggie Schuermann)
13-Sauquoit Valley (Allison Moreau) @ 4-Weedsport
11-Cato-Meridian @ 6-Waterville (Sophie Wittenbeck)
Section IV - Delaware League Final
3-Stamford (Haley Steenland) vs. 1-South Kortright (Brianna Laing) @ SUNY Delhi
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
EST Cheat Sheet: February 14
Tuesday was Valentine's Day, and not only was love in the air, but plenty of basketballs as well on a very busy night. Between upcoming sectional seeding in many sections of NY, makeup games from the inclement weather the past few days, and the typical Tuesday schedules, there was plenty going on. Many girls that participated in the 2016 EST events played like they wished every day was Valentine's Day, with plenty of big performances across the region. Let's get to it!
What I Saw
Fonda-Fultonville/Middleburgh @ FMCC (4 vs 3 - WAC Cup)
It was a much more aesthetically pleasing game than your average WACtion to start Tuesday, with the battle eventually won by Middleburgh highlighted by a duel between a pair of senior longtime standouts & college-bound athletes in Middleburgh's Lyndsey McCoy and Fonda-Fultonville's Julianna Taylor. Both made things happen early & often, but a 12-2 spurt to start the 2nd for Middleburgh opened up a lead that they were able to maintain throughout. Taylor, a 5'7" guard headed to SUNY Brockport in the fall, did everything she could to give her Fonda squad a chance. She utilized a full offensive game, getting to the rim several times, hitting 10'-15' pull-up jumpers & floaters, and showing off deep range when a defender sagged off. She had 29 of her team's 50 points, and her exploits on the offensive end kept them within striking distance throughout. However, it seemed that McCoy always had an answer at the right time. The 5'5" lefty guard, headed to Alfred in the fall, attacked in much the same way. Her ability to get to the rim and draw contact opened up her mid-range game, which she seemed to connect with whenever Middleburgh needed a bucket. At the end of the day, McCoy received more help from her teammates - namely 2018 Bre Palmatier, who added 14 points and hit the dagger three to put them up 11 points late - en route to a 64-50 W.
Berne-Knox-Westerlo/Mekeel Christian Academy @ FMCC (2 vs 1 - WAC Cup Championship)
These two played recently - a game I was at - and Mekeel was able to take over in the 3rd en route to a blowout victory. BKW fought until the end tonight, making it competitive to the final minutes, but it was again a major 3rd quarter run that gave Mekeel a lead they wouldn't relinquish. BKW fought fire with fire to start the game, battling Mekeel's uptempo style with a quick-strike offense of their own, and they were able to jump up 11 in the 1st quarter. With Mekeel 2018 standout guard Liz Singleton on the bench for the last 12 minutes of the 1st half, it was mainly on the shoulders of fellow 2018 standout Rebekkah Dean to lead them back into the game - and that she did. Dean, a 5'9" multi-faceted wing, was able to use her athleticism to get to the rim nearly at will in the 2nd quarter. On numerous occasions, she caught the ball against a BKW press and handled it herself, getting all the way to the rim and finishing. After pulling even at 25 at the half, Singleton returned and helped change the game. The ultra-athletic guard helped lead a press that turned BKW over several times in the 3rd, leading to easy baskets for her team. At the end of the day, Dean flexed her muscle as one of the league's top talents as she finished with 26 points. Like the aforementioned high scorers from the first game, she did it by scoring at all three levels, and she also was able to post up smaller defenders and score that way as well. For BKW, I'm interested to see how 2020 Taylor Meacham will progress over the next 8-12 months. Tonight wasn't a big scoring game for her (7 points in 54-43 defeat), but she shows promise, especially when you consider her frame. She looks to be in the 5'8"-5'9" range with a strong build at the wing. She's able to use that strength to shake off defenders getting to the rim and going through contact. She also can shoot it with range to a couple feet outside the 3 point line. With continued skill development in the off-season, she could be a difference maker on the court at a level beyond the WAC.
What Happened Today
- Some league championship games were tonight - congrats to Glens Falls (Foothills) and the aforementioned Mekeel Christian Academy (WAC) for winning their respective league championship games. Glens Falls got theirs by way of a 61-45 W over a strong Amsterdam team. Glens Falls standout 2019 Sophie Tougas, a 6'1" wing, tied for the team high with 18 points in the victory. Lucy Tougas, a longtime standout 2017, added 9 points in a balanced effort. Amsterdam 2017 & St. Rose signee Nina Fedullo led all scorers with 22 points in defeat. Glens Falls goes into sectionals with 2 losses - both of them to Class AA Colonie. Amsterdam looks to be one of the top seeds in Class A, with their only losses in 2017 being to Glens Falls.
- Shaker girls basketball has a new all-time leading scorer. With her 19 points Tuesday evening, standout 2017 and Army West Point signee CeCe Mayo moved her name to the top of career scoring list in the record books. This is just the latest in a scribe of accomplishments for Mayo, who was Section II's first Division I commit in the Class of 2017 back at the end of her sophomore year. She was attracting heavy interest and had numerous offers already by then; even to the point that I had coaches calling me about her, just as I was getting my feet wet in girls' hoops and had only talked to her once. She scored her 1,000th last month and it hasn't stopped since, and they look primed to make a deep run in sectionals with one of the top seeds in Class AA. Congrats to CeCe on this accomplishment!
- Tuesday was a huge scoring night for 2016 EST summer invitational league participants. 14 scored 20+ points, with 6 of them surpassing 25. However, no one had it going like Gloversville 2019 Harmony Philo. Philo had it going from start to finish, hitting 4 threes and going 11/12 from the line en route to a game high 35 points in this evening's 67-62 W over Watervliet. Her recent scoring exploits - which includes 25+ point outings in 3 of her last 4 games and 4 of her last 7 - have her up to 3rd in Section II in points per game, where she sits at 21.4. Her 62 threes made are tops in the section, and her 83.2% mark from the line is good for 5th, all while also leading the section in free throws made (109). This is just a continuation of my most recent comments about her in last week's cheat sheet, but when the Class A tournament rolls around, make sure to buy your $3 ticket and get to her opening round game.
- As mentioned above, it was buckets galore for plenty of girls Tuesday. Special shoutout to the aforementioned Julianna Taylor (Fonda-Fultonville 2017; SUNY Brockport commit), Kelly Pine (Hoosick Falls 2017), Ava Fitzmaurice (Greenville 2018), Rebekkah Dean (Mekeel Christian Academy 2018), and Brianna Legacy (Mount Anthony Union (VT) 2017; Keuka commit), who all went for 26 or greater tonight. Taylor dropped 29 in defeat against Middleburgh, and Pine got her game high 27 in a victory over Spa Catholic. Fitzmaurice pumped in 26 points, a game high, in their 52-43 victory over rival Maple Hill. Dean and Legacy, who played AAU ball together in the summer, each scored 26 in victories - Dean's over Berne-Knox-Westerlo in the WAC Cup championship, and Legacy (6 rebounds, 7 steals) over Burr & Burton in their first game in a couple weeks.
- Speaking of Mount Anthony, we have to put standout 2017 Madison Little on 1,000 point watch. Little added 16 points and 4 steals in their 71-46 victory, and the scoring total bumps her up to 975 career points. It'll be a tougher number to reach in their next game, which is at home on Thursday against Brattleboro, but it's a game that I planned on being at anyway. Now I have even more motivation!
- This is almost a combo mention since I didn't get around to doing one of these for the weekend, but how about the show Jenna Zimmerman has put on the last couple games? On Saturday, she messed around & had a triple double, putting forth a ridiculous stat line of 20 points, 19 rebounds, 10 steals, 8 blocks, and 2 assists in a victory over Holland Patent. The Valentine's Day line wasn't too far off in another W over another quality opponent. Zimmerman, a 6'2" wing with arms that go on until next week and perhaps unmatched versatility among upstate NY players, had 20 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 6 blocks in their 63-45 W over Canton. This across-the-board production is nothing new to her - she's averaging around 14 PPG, 9 RPG, 3 APG, 2.5 SPG, and 4.5 BPG on the season. Over her last 5 games, she's finished with 10 or more of every statistical category in a game except assists, which she's had 5 of on a pair of occasions. Zimmerman has just recently attracted some Division I attention, but with her first spring/summer on the national AAU circuit planned ahead, she could be a major upstate NY 'stock riser' in the next 3-4 months.
- Last but not least, Julia Kelner deserves special mention for not only tonight's game, but her all-around quality play of late. The 6'2" standout 2017 at Jamesville-DeWitt has had as fantastic of a last few weeks as you could ask for. She received a scholarship offer from Division I Bryant University, which she has since made her verbal commitment to. On the court, she seemingly improves by the day. Her offensive game has become exponentially smoother and is starting to match her already-advanced ability on the defensive end and ultra high basketball IQ. She dropped 20 points, a game high, in their 63-32 W over Auburn tonight. Previously not known as much for her scoring, she's averaged 19.4 PPG over J-D's last 5 games, including 29 in their senior night W where she stepped out and hit a three. Hard work over the last couple years is really starting to pay dividends for her, and her team also gets to reap the benefits of her improvements.
Some More
- Averill Park 2018 Stephanie Jankovic (11 points) and 2020 Kelsey Wood (10 points) each contributed double digits in a balanced effort on senior night, a 68-26 W over Ballston Spa.
- In defeat, Ballston Spa 2017 & Suffolk University commit Jordan Hipwell paced her team with 10 points.
- Mohonasen 2017 and Davidson signee Saeeda Abdul-Aziz led all scorers with 24 points in their 68-39 victory over Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake.
- Shenendehowa 2018s Cameron Tooley and Alexandra Tudor again led the way in a victory, this time 53-42 at rival Saratoga Springs. Tooley led all scorers with 19 points and added 7 rebounds & 4 assists; Tudor scored 17 points, with 13 coming after halftime.
- In their 53-42 defeat, Saratoga Springs 2020 Dolly Cairns and 2019 Kerry Flaherty each finished with 13 points, a team high.
- Colonie 2019 Kyara Triblet finished with a game high 13 points in their 47-36 victory over Guilderland.
- In defeat, Guilderland 2017 & St. John Fisher commit Olivia Baumann helped lead the way with 10 points.
- Columbia 2019 Grace Heeps and Bethlehem 2017 Emily Wander (Middlebury commit) each scored 10 points for their sides Tuesday night, a 54-46 tilt in Columbia's favor. In Bethlehem's loss, 2018 Molly Kirby dropped a team high 20 points.
- Along with CeCe Mayo's 19 points, Shaker 2020 Julia DeBeatham joined her in double digits with 10 in their 44-31 W over Niskayuna.
- Heatly 2018 Kyra Oeffler led all scorers with 21 points in her team's 57-12 blowout decision over Berlin.
- Stockbridge Valley 2017 Olivia Marshall led the way with 14 points and added 14 rebounds, 4 steals, and 6 blocks in their 45-34 loss to Marathon - their first loss of the year.
- Vernon-Verona-Sherrill 2017 & recent D'Youville commit Sara Field finished with 10 points, 12 rebounds, 2 steals, and 4 blocks in their 54-45 victory over Central Valley.
- Mount Abraham Union (VT) 2018 Emma Carter finds herself inching closer to 1,000 points, this time dropping a game high 22 points in their 50-38 W over Milton.
- Poland 2017 Shiane Irwin led all scorers with 22 points in their 57-50 setback to Little Falls.
- Cooperstown 2018 Julie Ford had 10 points in a balanced attack in their 59-31 victory over Frankfort-Schuyler.
- In Frankfort's defeat, 2017 Danielle Caivana had a game high 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals.
- Utica Notre Dame 2017 Carli Brenon had a solid game at the point guard spot, finishing with 9 points and 6 assists in their 47-25 W over Rome Free Academy.
- New Hartford 2022 Kaia Henderson led all scorers with 19 points in their 57-43 setback to Utica Proctor. As a 7th grader, Henderson is averaging just under 14 PPG for her Class A Spartan team.
Where You'll See Me Next
Time to make it happen in the 413, including my first prep game of the year. Starting off the evening at Deerfield Academy, where they host Wilbraham & Monson at 5:00. The plan is to make the short trip over to Montague, MA after, where Turners Falls hosts Mohawk at 7:00. If that game isn't actually happening (I see it on a couple schedules, but not on a couple others), I jet over to Hopkins Academy in Hadley for a 7:30 tip against Athol. New territory for me!
What I Saw
Fonda-Fultonville/Middleburgh @ FMCC (4 vs 3 - WAC Cup)
It was a much more aesthetically pleasing game than your average WACtion to start Tuesday, with the battle eventually won by Middleburgh highlighted by a duel between a pair of senior longtime standouts & college-bound athletes in Middleburgh's Lyndsey McCoy and Fonda-Fultonville's Julianna Taylor. Both made things happen early & often, but a 12-2 spurt to start the 2nd for Middleburgh opened up a lead that they were able to maintain throughout. Taylor, a 5'7" guard headed to SUNY Brockport in the fall, did everything she could to give her Fonda squad a chance. She utilized a full offensive game, getting to the rim several times, hitting 10'-15' pull-up jumpers & floaters, and showing off deep range when a defender sagged off. She had 29 of her team's 50 points, and her exploits on the offensive end kept them within striking distance throughout. However, it seemed that McCoy always had an answer at the right time. The 5'5" lefty guard, headed to Alfred in the fall, attacked in much the same way. Her ability to get to the rim and draw contact opened up her mid-range game, which she seemed to connect with whenever Middleburgh needed a bucket. At the end of the day, McCoy received more help from her teammates - namely 2018 Bre Palmatier, who added 14 points and hit the dagger three to put them up 11 points late - en route to a 64-50 W.
Berne-Knox-Westerlo/Mekeel Christian Academy @ FMCC (2 vs 1 - WAC Cup Championship)
These two played recently - a game I was at - and Mekeel was able to take over in the 3rd en route to a blowout victory. BKW fought until the end tonight, making it competitive to the final minutes, but it was again a major 3rd quarter run that gave Mekeel a lead they wouldn't relinquish. BKW fought fire with fire to start the game, battling Mekeel's uptempo style with a quick-strike offense of their own, and they were able to jump up 11 in the 1st quarter. With Mekeel 2018 standout guard Liz Singleton on the bench for the last 12 minutes of the 1st half, it was mainly on the shoulders of fellow 2018 standout Rebekkah Dean to lead them back into the game - and that she did. Dean, a 5'9" multi-faceted wing, was able to use her athleticism to get to the rim nearly at will in the 2nd quarter. On numerous occasions, she caught the ball against a BKW press and handled it herself, getting all the way to the rim and finishing. After pulling even at 25 at the half, Singleton returned and helped change the game. The ultra-athletic guard helped lead a press that turned BKW over several times in the 3rd, leading to easy baskets for her team. At the end of the day, Dean flexed her muscle as one of the league's top talents as she finished with 26 points. Like the aforementioned high scorers from the first game, she did it by scoring at all three levels, and she also was able to post up smaller defenders and score that way as well. For BKW, I'm interested to see how 2020 Taylor Meacham will progress over the next 8-12 months. Tonight wasn't a big scoring game for her (7 points in 54-43 defeat), but she shows promise, especially when you consider her frame. She looks to be in the 5'8"-5'9" range with a strong build at the wing. She's able to use that strength to shake off defenders getting to the rim and going through contact. She also can shoot it with range to a couple feet outside the 3 point line. With continued skill development in the off-season, she could be a difference maker on the court at a level beyond the WAC.
What Happened Today
- Some league championship games were tonight - congrats to Glens Falls (Foothills) and the aforementioned Mekeel Christian Academy (WAC) for winning their respective league championship games. Glens Falls got theirs by way of a 61-45 W over a strong Amsterdam team. Glens Falls standout 2019 Sophie Tougas, a 6'1" wing, tied for the team high with 18 points in the victory. Lucy Tougas, a longtime standout 2017, added 9 points in a balanced effort. Amsterdam 2017 & St. Rose signee Nina Fedullo led all scorers with 22 points in defeat. Glens Falls goes into sectionals with 2 losses - both of them to Class AA Colonie. Amsterdam looks to be one of the top seeds in Class A, with their only losses in 2017 being to Glens Falls.
- Shaker girls basketball has a new all-time leading scorer. With her 19 points Tuesday evening, standout 2017 and Army West Point signee CeCe Mayo moved her name to the top of career scoring list in the record books. This is just the latest in a scribe of accomplishments for Mayo, who was Section II's first Division I commit in the Class of 2017 back at the end of her sophomore year. She was attracting heavy interest and had numerous offers already by then; even to the point that I had coaches calling me about her, just as I was getting my feet wet in girls' hoops and had only talked to her once. She scored her 1,000th last month and it hasn't stopped since, and they look primed to make a deep run in sectionals with one of the top seeds in Class AA. Congrats to CeCe on this accomplishment!
- Tuesday was a huge scoring night for 2016 EST summer invitational league participants. 14 scored 20+ points, with 6 of them surpassing 25. However, no one had it going like Gloversville 2019 Harmony Philo. Philo had it going from start to finish, hitting 4 threes and going 11/12 from the line en route to a game high 35 points in this evening's 67-62 W over Watervliet. Her recent scoring exploits - which includes 25+ point outings in 3 of her last 4 games and 4 of her last 7 - have her up to 3rd in Section II in points per game, where she sits at 21.4. Her 62 threes made are tops in the section, and her 83.2% mark from the line is good for 5th, all while also leading the section in free throws made (109). This is just a continuation of my most recent comments about her in last week's cheat sheet, but when the Class A tournament rolls around, make sure to buy your $3 ticket and get to her opening round game.
- As mentioned above, it was buckets galore for plenty of girls Tuesday. Special shoutout to the aforementioned Julianna Taylor (Fonda-Fultonville 2017; SUNY Brockport commit), Kelly Pine (Hoosick Falls 2017), Ava Fitzmaurice (Greenville 2018), Rebekkah Dean (Mekeel Christian Academy 2018), and Brianna Legacy (Mount Anthony Union (VT) 2017; Keuka commit), who all went for 26 or greater tonight. Taylor dropped 29 in defeat against Middleburgh, and Pine got her game high 27 in a victory over Spa Catholic. Fitzmaurice pumped in 26 points, a game high, in their 52-43 victory over rival Maple Hill. Dean and Legacy, who played AAU ball together in the summer, each scored 26 in victories - Dean's over Berne-Knox-Westerlo in the WAC Cup championship, and Legacy (6 rebounds, 7 steals) over Burr & Burton in their first game in a couple weeks.
- Speaking of Mount Anthony, we have to put standout 2017 Madison Little on 1,000 point watch. Little added 16 points and 4 steals in their 71-46 victory, and the scoring total bumps her up to 975 career points. It'll be a tougher number to reach in their next game, which is at home on Thursday against Brattleboro, but it's a game that I planned on being at anyway. Now I have even more motivation!
- This is almost a combo mention since I didn't get around to doing one of these for the weekend, but how about the show Jenna Zimmerman has put on the last couple games? On Saturday, she messed around & had a triple double, putting forth a ridiculous stat line of 20 points, 19 rebounds, 10 steals, 8 blocks, and 2 assists in a victory over Holland Patent. The Valentine's Day line wasn't too far off in another W over another quality opponent. Zimmerman, a 6'2" wing with arms that go on until next week and perhaps unmatched versatility among upstate NY players, had 20 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 6 blocks in their 63-45 W over Canton. This across-the-board production is nothing new to her - she's averaging around 14 PPG, 9 RPG, 3 APG, 2.5 SPG, and 4.5 BPG on the season. Over her last 5 games, she's finished with 10 or more of every statistical category in a game except assists, which she's had 5 of on a pair of occasions. Zimmerman has just recently attracted some Division I attention, but with her first spring/summer on the national AAU circuit planned ahead, she could be a major upstate NY 'stock riser' in the next 3-4 months.
- Last but not least, Julia Kelner deserves special mention for not only tonight's game, but her all-around quality play of late. The 6'2" standout 2017 at Jamesville-DeWitt has had as fantastic of a last few weeks as you could ask for. She received a scholarship offer from Division I Bryant University, which she has since made her verbal commitment to. On the court, she seemingly improves by the day. Her offensive game has become exponentially smoother and is starting to match her already-advanced ability on the defensive end and ultra high basketball IQ. She dropped 20 points, a game high, in their 63-32 W over Auburn tonight. Previously not known as much for her scoring, she's averaged 19.4 PPG over J-D's last 5 games, including 29 in their senior night W where she stepped out and hit a three. Hard work over the last couple years is really starting to pay dividends for her, and her team also gets to reap the benefits of her improvements.
Some More
- Averill Park 2018 Stephanie Jankovic (11 points) and 2020 Kelsey Wood (10 points) each contributed double digits in a balanced effort on senior night, a 68-26 W over Ballston Spa.
- In defeat, Ballston Spa 2017 & Suffolk University commit Jordan Hipwell paced her team with 10 points.
- Mohonasen 2017 and Davidson signee Saeeda Abdul-Aziz led all scorers with 24 points in their 68-39 victory over Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake.
- Shenendehowa 2018s Cameron Tooley and Alexandra Tudor again led the way in a victory, this time 53-42 at rival Saratoga Springs. Tooley led all scorers with 19 points and added 7 rebounds & 4 assists; Tudor scored 17 points, with 13 coming after halftime.
- In their 53-42 defeat, Saratoga Springs 2020 Dolly Cairns and 2019 Kerry Flaherty each finished with 13 points, a team high.
- Colonie 2019 Kyara Triblet finished with a game high 13 points in their 47-36 victory over Guilderland.
- In defeat, Guilderland 2017 & St. John Fisher commit Olivia Baumann helped lead the way with 10 points.
- Columbia 2019 Grace Heeps and Bethlehem 2017 Emily Wander (Middlebury commit) each scored 10 points for their sides Tuesday night, a 54-46 tilt in Columbia's favor. In Bethlehem's loss, 2018 Molly Kirby dropped a team high 20 points.
- Along with CeCe Mayo's 19 points, Shaker 2020 Julia DeBeatham joined her in double digits with 10 in their 44-31 W over Niskayuna.
- Heatly 2018 Kyra Oeffler led all scorers with 21 points in her team's 57-12 blowout decision over Berlin.
- Stockbridge Valley 2017 Olivia Marshall led the way with 14 points and added 14 rebounds, 4 steals, and 6 blocks in their 45-34 loss to Marathon - their first loss of the year.
- Vernon-Verona-Sherrill 2017 & recent D'Youville commit Sara Field finished with 10 points, 12 rebounds, 2 steals, and 4 blocks in their 54-45 victory over Central Valley.
- Mount Abraham Union (VT) 2018 Emma Carter finds herself inching closer to 1,000 points, this time dropping a game high 22 points in their 50-38 W over Milton.
- Poland 2017 Shiane Irwin led all scorers with 22 points in their 57-50 setback to Little Falls.
- Cooperstown 2018 Julie Ford had 10 points in a balanced attack in their 59-31 victory over Frankfort-Schuyler.
- In Frankfort's defeat, 2017 Danielle Caivana had a game high 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals.
- Utica Notre Dame 2017 Carli Brenon had a solid game at the point guard spot, finishing with 9 points and 6 assists in their 47-25 W over Rome Free Academy.
- New Hartford 2022 Kaia Henderson led all scorers with 19 points in their 57-43 setback to Utica Proctor. As a 7th grader, Henderson is averaging just under 14 PPG for her Class A Spartan team.
Where You'll See Me Next
Time to make it happen in the 413, including my first prep game of the year. Starting off the evening at Deerfield Academy, where they host Wilbraham & Monson at 5:00. The plan is to make the short trip over to Montague, MA after, where Turners Falls hosts Mohawk at 7:00. If that game isn't actually happening (I see it on a couple schedules, but not on a couple others), I jet over to Hopkins Academy in Hadley for a 7:30 tip against Athol. New territory for me!
Saturday, February 11, 2017
EST Cheat Sheet: February 10
As usual, it was a busy Friday in the world of basketball, which means I was somewhere different and plenty of EST participants made noise. Here we go!
What I Saw
Cornwall @ Goshen
The only game of the night for me, but it was a dandy. EST participants headline both squads, with Cornwall 2019 Maggie Malone and Goshen 2017 Katie Smith both stealing the show in this outing.
It was a milestone night for Smith - the 5'6" senior guard, who participated in the Upstate Elite Showcase fall event, came into the game needing 5 points to eclipse 1,000. She did that, and then she did a lot more. One thing about Smith rings true; she really can score the ball. She did that to the tune of 33 points Friday night, getting it in a variety of ways. She got to the rim, the free throw line, converted inside the arc with pull-up jumpers and floaters, and knocked down threes for good measure. Despite her slighter build, she has a high release on her jumper which allows her to get shots over draped defenders with little or no impact. She's a difficult shot maker, a quality that's nice to have at the college level, especially out of your 'get a bucket' kid that you put the ball in the hands of when you need points. Mount St. Mary College was in the house for her in this game; she's received attention from them, Albertus Magnus, and Dominican College, among others. I also liked what I saw from the youngster of the family, her little sister Erin Smith. She's also small (maybe 5'4"), but is fearless and had a few very crafty finishes around the rim. The tough lefty, like her sister, can really handle it and put defenders on skates a few times. She also showed an ability to get into the lane & create for others, using good court vision to find others a handful of times.
For Cornwall, not many people will dominate a game at both ends like I saw out of 2016 EST summer league participant Maggie Malone Friday. The 5'10" tweener matched Smith's scoring output, hanging 33 points in what turned out to be a 71-53 victory. She posted up smaller defenders, got free to knock down midrange jumpers, hit a couple threes, attacked & finished off the dribble, and got into the open court for good measure. Malone can shoot it like a 2 guard, has solid handle, and rebounds like... a Malone. Her ability to get off the floor and pursue the ball is beyond that of most others she goes up against, which allows her to rebound at a high rate against bigger players. Goshen didn't have any players bigger than her, which made her even more dominant on the glass. Maggie is turning into a player that coaches need to keep their eyes on in the Class of 2019.
What Happened Today
- You read it above, but it was the battle of the 33s in Goshen Friday - not jersey numbers, but scoring totals. Cornwall sophomore standout Maggie Malone had 33 points in their 71-53 victory over the hosts, with a huge 3rd quarter breaking her point total - and the game itself - open. In defeat, Goshen senior standout Katie Smith matched her point for point with 33 points as well, including her 1,000th with 2:53 left in the 1st quarter. Smith finished the evening with 1,028 career points.
- Gloversville 2019 Harmony Philo has been blowing up of late, and she only increased her growing hype with a huge showing against a strong Scotia team Friday. Philo dropped a game high 32 points in a 56-50 victory over the Tartans; she averaged 28.5 PPG in two victories this week for a Gloversville group that has persevered through injury to have the kind of season to put them back on the map.
- Three days after putting 25 points on Sidney, Bainbridge-Guilford 2019 standout Abi Selfridge gave an encore performance against the same squad. She finished with a game high 24 points in her team's 69-36 victory. Selfridge had a breakout season as a freshman in '15-'16, and her growth on the court from freshman to sophomore year has cemented her as one of the shining stars of the eastern half of Section IV.
- Greenville 2018 Ava Fitzmaurice, a longtime standout that's already the program's all-time leading girls' scorer, produced a game high 26 points in their 66-56 victory Friday. Formerly known as primarily a knockdown shooter, she has responded to defenders sticking tight to her by developing her skill going off the dribble. She still knocks down threes (3 tonight), but the perimeter numbers aren't as gaudy as last year. Instead, her free throw numbers have ballooned. Continued improvement in this part of her offensive game will make Fitzmaurice, also a standout on the diamond in the spring, an even tougher cover.
Some More
- Averill Park 2018 Stephanie Jankovic finished with a game high 20 points in their 74-48 victory over Mohonasen. 2020 & 2019 teammates Kelsey Wood & EmmaLee Morgan added 12 points apiece in the W.
- In Mohonasen's defeat, standout 2017 and Davidson signee Saeeda Abdul-Aziz finished with 16 points.
- Ballston Spa 2017 & recent Suffolk commit Jordan Hipwell led all scorers with 15 points in their 47-21 victory over Burnt Hills.
- Johnstown 2017 Claire Guzielek finished with a game high 14 points in their 46-24 W over Broadalbin-Perth.
- Amsterdam 2017 & St. Rose signee Nina Fedullo led all scorers with 20 points in their 80-45 W over Schuylerville. 2018 teammate Giuliana Pritchard added 16 points - 12/13 from the line - in the victory.
- Ichabod Crane 2017 & Florida Southern signee Tara Sager paced her team with 10 points in their 42-34 setback to Holy Names.
- Catholic Central 2018 Emily Frodyma led the way with 17 points in their 61-22 victory over Schalmont.
- In Schalmont's defeat, Madison Graber & Paige Brinkman, both 2018s, accounted for all of their points.
- Cohoes 2017 & Georgian Court signee Nerea Brajac pumped in a game high 20 points in their 52-34 victory over Cobleskill-Richmondville. 2018 teammate Sam Dayter added 19 points in the win.
- Colonie 2019 Kyara Triblet was 1 of 5 in double digits, finishing with 10 points in their 70-66 overtime victory over Bethlehem.
- In Bethlehem's loss, standout 2017 & Middlebury commit Emily Wander led all scorers with 23 points - 12/16 from the line. 2018 teammate Molly Kirby continued her strong week with 19 points in the game. Wander averaged 24.5 & Kirby 18.5 over two games this week.
- Columbia 2019 Grace Heeps led all scorers with 13 points in their 46-32 victory over Guilderland.
- Saratoga Springs 2020 Dolly Cairns led all scorers with 19 points, as her Blue Streaks squad knocked off Shaker 49-40. 2019 Kerry Flaherty knocked down 3 threes and added 12 points in the win.
- In Shaker's defeat, 2017 and Army West Point signee CeCe Mayo paced her team with 15 points.
- Shenendehowa 2018s Cameron Tooley & Alexandra Tudor led the way once again for their team; Tooley led all scorers with 15 points and Tudor added 13 in their 58-25 victory over Niskayuna.
- Scotia-Glenville 2017 & Adelphi signee Caitlin Estes paced her squad with 15 points in their 56-50 setback to Gloversville.
- Hoosick Falls 2017 Kelly Pine dropped a game high 18 points in their 77-34 W over Mechanicville.
- Vernon-Verona-Sherrill 2017 & D'Youville commit Sara Field finished with 18 points, a team high, in their 63-48 setback to New Hartford.
- Cooperstown 2018 standout Julie Ford contributed 11 points in their 58-53 overtime W over Little Falls, overcoming a 31-11 halftime deficit to get the win.
- Seton Catholic 2018 Hanna Strawn contributed to a balanced effort with 10 points and 5 assists in their 72-57 STAC championship victory over Elmira.
- New Hartford 2022 Kaia Henderson finished with 15 points in their 63-48 W over VVS.
Where You'll See Me Next
The plan is another Section III tour throughout Saturday, starting in the Mohawk Valley and ending around Syracuse. The tentative schedule includes:
11:30 - Mount Markham @ Frankfort-Schuyler
1:30 - Chittenango @ Bishop Grimes
3:30 - Phoenix @ Cazenovia
6:00 - Nottingham @ C-NS
It'll be my first look at 6 of the 8 schools on the above list, with Chittenango and C-NS being the teams I've seen already this year. We'll see what Mount Markham has to offer, and it'll be good to get to a game of 2 year ESTer and Frankfort-Schuyler standout Danielle Caivana. I get a second look at Chittenango 2020 Ally Shoemaker, someone I liked at first watch last month. Bishop Grimes has a strong core of talent, led by D1 talent in 2018 Azariah Wade. 2019 Abby Wilkinson has been putting up numbers of late, and it'll be good to see how she's progressed since fall. Phoenix features 2018 standout & 1,000 point scorer Samantha Doupe, and I finally get to watch 6'3" Cazenovia 2020 Lindsey Lawson with a more attentive eye. We'll see how CNS has progressed since the Amsterdam Holiday Showcase in September, and it'll be my first look at Randy Wright's Nottingham crew.
What I Saw
Cornwall @ Goshen
The only game of the night for me, but it was a dandy. EST participants headline both squads, with Cornwall 2019 Maggie Malone and Goshen 2017 Katie Smith both stealing the show in this outing.
It was a milestone night for Smith - the 5'6" senior guard, who participated in the Upstate Elite Showcase fall event, came into the game needing 5 points to eclipse 1,000. She did that, and then she did a lot more. One thing about Smith rings true; she really can score the ball. She did that to the tune of 33 points Friday night, getting it in a variety of ways. She got to the rim, the free throw line, converted inside the arc with pull-up jumpers and floaters, and knocked down threes for good measure. Despite her slighter build, she has a high release on her jumper which allows her to get shots over draped defenders with little or no impact. She's a difficult shot maker, a quality that's nice to have at the college level, especially out of your 'get a bucket' kid that you put the ball in the hands of when you need points. Mount St. Mary College was in the house for her in this game; she's received attention from them, Albertus Magnus, and Dominican College, among others. I also liked what I saw from the youngster of the family, her little sister Erin Smith. She's also small (maybe 5'4"), but is fearless and had a few very crafty finishes around the rim. The tough lefty, like her sister, can really handle it and put defenders on skates a few times. She also showed an ability to get into the lane & create for others, using good court vision to find others a handful of times.
For Cornwall, not many people will dominate a game at both ends like I saw out of 2016 EST summer league participant Maggie Malone Friday. The 5'10" tweener matched Smith's scoring output, hanging 33 points in what turned out to be a 71-53 victory. She posted up smaller defenders, got free to knock down midrange jumpers, hit a couple threes, attacked & finished off the dribble, and got into the open court for good measure. Malone can shoot it like a 2 guard, has solid handle, and rebounds like... a Malone. Her ability to get off the floor and pursue the ball is beyond that of most others she goes up against, which allows her to rebound at a high rate against bigger players. Goshen didn't have any players bigger than her, which made her even more dominant on the glass. Maggie is turning into a player that coaches need to keep their eyes on in the Class of 2019.
What Happened Today
- You read it above, but it was the battle of the 33s in Goshen Friday - not jersey numbers, but scoring totals. Cornwall sophomore standout Maggie Malone had 33 points in their 71-53 victory over the hosts, with a huge 3rd quarter breaking her point total - and the game itself - open. In defeat, Goshen senior standout Katie Smith matched her point for point with 33 points as well, including her 1,000th with 2:53 left in the 1st quarter. Smith finished the evening with 1,028 career points.
- Gloversville 2019 Harmony Philo has been blowing up of late, and she only increased her growing hype with a huge showing against a strong Scotia team Friday. Philo dropped a game high 32 points in a 56-50 victory over the Tartans; she averaged 28.5 PPG in two victories this week for a Gloversville group that has persevered through injury to have the kind of season to put them back on the map.
- Three days after putting 25 points on Sidney, Bainbridge-Guilford 2019 standout Abi Selfridge gave an encore performance against the same squad. She finished with a game high 24 points in her team's 69-36 victory. Selfridge had a breakout season as a freshman in '15-'16, and her growth on the court from freshman to sophomore year has cemented her as one of the shining stars of the eastern half of Section IV.
- Greenville 2018 Ava Fitzmaurice, a longtime standout that's already the program's all-time leading girls' scorer, produced a game high 26 points in their 66-56 victory Friday. Formerly known as primarily a knockdown shooter, she has responded to defenders sticking tight to her by developing her skill going off the dribble. She still knocks down threes (3 tonight), but the perimeter numbers aren't as gaudy as last year. Instead, her free throw numbers have ballooned. Continued improvement in this part of her offensive game will make Fitzmaurice, also a standout on the diamond in the spring, an even tougher cover.
Some More
- Averill Park 2018 Stephanie Jankovic finished with a game high 20 points in their 74-48 victory over Mohonasen. 2020 & 2019 teammates Kelsey Wood & EmmaLee Morgan added 12 points apiece in the W.
- In Mohonasen's defeat, standout 2017 and Davidson signee Saeeda Abdul-Aziz finished with 16 points.
- Ballston Spa 2017 & recent Suffolk commit Jordan Hipwell led all scorers with 15 points in their 47-21 victory over Burnt Hills.
- Johnstown 2017 Claire Guzielek finished with a game high 14 points in their 46-24 W over Broadalbin-Perth.
- Amsterdam 2017 & St. Rose signee Nina Fedullo led all scorers with 20 points in their 80-45 W over Schuylerville. 2018 teammate Giuliana Pritchard added 16 points - 12/13 from the line - in the victory.
- Ichabod Crane 2017 & Florida Southern signee Tara Sager paced her team with 10 points in their 42-34 setback to Holy Names.
- Catholic Central 2018 Emily Frodyma led the way with 17 points in their 61-22 victory over Schalmont.
- In Schalmont's defeat, Madison Graber & Paige Brinkman, both 2018s, accounted for all of their points.
- Cohoes 2017 & Georgian Court signee Nerea Brajac pumped in a game high 20 points in their 52-34 victory over Cobleskill-Richmondville. 2018 teammate Sam Dayter added 19 points in the win.
- Colonie 2019 Kyara Triblet was 1 of 5 in double digits, finishing with 10 points in their 70-66 overtime victory over Bethlehem.
- In Bethlehem's loss, standout 2017 & Middlebury commit Emily Wander led all scorers with 23 points - 12/16 from the line. 2018 teammate Molly Kirby continued her strong week with 19 points in the game. Wander averaged 24.5 & Kirby 18.5 over two games this week.
- Columbia 2019 Grace Heeps led all scorers with 13 points in their 46-32 victory over Guilderland.
- Saratoga Springs 2020 Dolly Cairns led all scorers with 19 points, as her Blue Streaks squad knocked off Shaker 49-40. 2019 Kerry Flaherty knocked down 3 threes and added 12 points in the win.
- In Shaker's defeat, 2017 and Army West Point signee CeCe Mayo paced her team with 15 points.
- Shenendehowa 2018s Cameron Tooley & Alexandra Tudor led the way once again for their team; Tooley led all scorers with 15 points and Tudor added 13 in their 58-25 victory over Niskayuna.
- Scotia-Glenville 2017 & Adelphi signee Caitlin Estes paced her squad with 15 points in their 56-50 setback to Gloversville.
- Hoosick Falls 2017 Kelly Pine dropped a game high 18 points in their 77-34 W over Mechanicville.
- Vernon-Verona-Sherrill 2017 & D'Youville commit Sara Field finished with 18 points, a team high, in their 63-48 setback to New Hartford.
- Cooperstown 2018 standout Julie Ford contributed 11 points in their 58-53 overtime W over Little Falls, overcoming a 31-11 halftime deficit to get the win.
- Seton Catholic 2018 Hanna Strawn contributed to a balanced effort with 10 points and 5 assists in their 72-57 STAC championship victory over Elmira.
- New Hartford 2022 Kaia Henderson finished with 15 points in their 63-48 W over VVS.
Where You'll See Me Next
The plan is another Section III tour throughout Saturday, starting in the Mohawk Valley and ending around Syracuse. The tentative schedule includes:
11:30 - Mount Markham @ Frankfort-Schuyler
1:30 - Chittenango @ Bishop Grimes
3:30 - Phoenix @ Cazenovia
6:00 - Nottingham @ C-NS
It'll be my first look at 6 of the 8 schools on the above list, with Chittenango and C-NS being the teams I've seen already this year. We'll see what Mount Markham has to offer, and it'll be good to get to a game of 2 year ESTer and Frankfort-Schuyler standout Danielle Caivana. I get a second look at Chittenango 2020 Ally Shoemaker, someone I liked at first watch last month. Bishop Grimes has a strong core of talent, led by D1 talent in 2018 Azariah Wade. 2019 Abby Wilkinson has been putting up numbers of late, and it'll be good to see how she's progressed since fall. Phoenix features 2018 standout & 1,000 point scorer Samantha Doupe, and I finally get to watch 6'3" Cazenovia 2020 Lindsey Lawson with a more attentive eye. We'll see how CNS has progressed since the Amsterdam Holiday Showcase in September, and it'll be my first look at Randy Wright's Nottingham crew.
EST Cheat Sheet: February 8
What I Saw
Catholic Central @ Ichabod Crane
Original plans had me elsewhere, but after a game in the North Country was postponed, I had to quickly scramble for a viable replacement. The short trip to Valatie worked perfectly, as I was able to get another look of an extremely balanced CCHS squad and get a first look at ICC. Both teams feature players that participated in 2016's EST summer league, in CCHS 2018 Emily Frodyma and Ichabod Crane 2017 & Florida Southern signee Tara Sager.
A strong defensive effort, led by persistent guard pressure from CCHS, helped this one turn into a blowout early. With their balance, a different player can step up and shine on any given night. In this game, it was 2019 F Riqiya Harris. The 5'11" post got the starting nod and responded by producing every minute. This was the most active I've seen her at both ends in a couple dozen times watching her. Not only did she go to work in the post, finishing with both hands, but some perimeter skills were also on display. She hit a long jumper and attacked the rim off the dribble a handful of times, including going coast-to-coast on a couple defensive rebounds & finishing at the other end. More than any other game, I noticed how quick her feet were. She was able to hedge, help, and recover very well on several P&R situations, even getting hands on passes to the screener. More of this from Harris could help her hit the next level of progression in her game.
I also liked what I saw from Sager, especially on the offensive end. She's known as a defender and rim protector first, and she did a lot of that. The long 6'4" post swatted nearly 10 shots and altered about as many without getting a hand on them. Her progression on the offensive end from the last time I've seen her play was impressive. She's still a work in progress on the offensive end, but her footwork has made strides and she attacks the rim with more confidence. At one point, she split a double team with a stepthrough move to her left side & got to the basket - something I've never seen from her. With continued development, Sager could potentially be a real difference maker as time goes on at the D2 level.
What Happened Today
A lot. A lot happened. Big news across the board, starting with:
- Major congratulations go out to Jamesville-DeWitt 2017 standout Julia Kelner, who made her plans for the next four years public by verbally committing to Division I Bryant University. Kelner, a rapidly improving 6'2" forward that projects as a great 4 in an uptempo system going forward, received the scholarship offer from Bryant a week & a half prior. She was receiving attention from other Division I programs such as St. Bonaventure and Albany, but Bryant was able to win her services. Kelner was an All-EST 1st Team selection in 2016 that averaged 9.6 PPG, 8.7 RPG, and 1.3 BPG for a strong Show Stoppers squad that made the finals. She's been turning heads throughout the season for a very strong J-D team, including a largely dominant stretch over the last 6 weeks. Kelner marks the 5th member of the Class of 2017 in EST's 2016 summer league to commit to a Division I program, and she'll join fellow ESTer Brooke Bjelko (Beekmantown) in Bryant's recruiting class.
- Not too many times a 1,000 point scorer doesn't get the first mention, especially on a Wednesday, but here we are. Quite the accomplishment though, especially at the PG spot which this player often runs - congratulations go to Beekmantown 2017 standout Kenna Guynup, who hit the quadruple digit mark in a 61-37 victory over Saranac. Kenna, a shifty 5'6" guard that can stretch the defense with deep range, came into Wednesday's game at 980 points. She hung 17 in the first half and completed her 20 with 1:35 remaining in the 3rd quarter on a 3 point play to finish her evening at 1,000 exactly. She has grown into one of the North Country's most dynamic players and scorers over her 4 years on Beekmantown's varsity team, and it shows with the uncommitted senior still being one of NY's most sought-after talents among Division III programs.
- How many times will a 40 point game be mentioned third? Well, here we are again. Emma Carter, a 5'11" standout 2018 wing at Mount Abraham Union in Bristol, VT, had herself a game Wednesday. In the same game that AAU teammate and close friend Keagan Dunbar scored her 1,000th point for her Middlebury squad, Carter dropped a game and career high 40 piece in her team's 56-50 victory. Carter is a very versatile scorer, with the ability to put it in the basket at all three levels and take advantage of many different matchups. She's also charging toward the 1,000 point barrier, and games like this will make that number an afterthought when all is said and done.
- Not to be outdone, one of Section III's leading scorers came out to play Wednesday night. Frankfort-Schuyler 2017 G Danielle Caivana wasn't taking no for an answer, as she dropped a game high 35 points in a 55-46 victory over Herkimer. Her scoring totals have dropped slightly of late as she consistently attracts the bulk of the opposition's defensive attention, but the diminutive, but electric guard returned to making eyes pop in this one.
- It was WACtion Wednesday, and a couple D3 commits in the WAC had big scoring games for their respective teams. For Middleburgh, it was Alfred-bound senior Lyndsey McCoy that went for a game & career high 29 points in her team's 55-40 victory over Heatly. Fresh off scoring her 1,000th point last week, she put on her biggest performance to date against a pretty strong small-school opponent to improve her team's record to 16-2. For Fonda-Fultonville, Brockport-bound Julianna Taylor had a Julianna Taylor-type game, as she hung a game high 27 points in her team's 63-37 victory.
Some More
- Saratoga Springs 2019 Kerry Flaherty led all scorers with 17 points in their 47-28 victory.
- Mekeel Christian Academy 2018 Rebekkah Dean had 13 points in their 49-19 W.
- Middleburgh 2018 Bre Palmatier finished with 13 points in their 55-40 W over Heatly.
- In defeat, Heatly 2018 Kyra Oeffler paced her squad with 17 points.
- Greenville 2018 Ava Fitzmaurice dropped 17 points to lead all scorers in their 42-40 victory.
- Stockbridge Valley 2017 Olivia Marshall finished with 15 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 5 steals, and 4 blocks in their 60-33 victory.
- Beekmantown 2017 and Bryant signee Brooke Bjelko finished with 16 points in their 61-37 W over Saranac.
- General Brown 2018 Kylee Rosbrook scored a team high 14 points and added 6 rebounds & 4 steals in their 64-27 victory.
Where You'll See Me Next
Running away from the snow. Thursday, catch me in Watertown (how many times will I ever be able to say 'running away from snow' and 'going to Watertown' in the same thought?). My attention will be given to the Frontier League A & B finals. The As start it off, with Indian River and Watertown IHC taking the court at 6:30. The B nightcap of General Brown and South Jefferson is scheduled for an 8:00 tip. Both games will be held at Jefferson CC in Watertown. Strong players lead all four teams, with South Jefferson (Jenna Zimmerman) and General Brown (Kylee Rosbrook) both having players that participated in the Upstate Elite Showcase fall event.
Catholic Central @ Ichabod Crane
Original plans had me elsewhere, but after a game in the North Country was postponed, I had to quickly scramble for a viable replacement. The short trip to Valatie worked perfectly, as I was able to get another look of an extremely balanced CCHS squad and get a first look at ICC. Both teams feature players that participated in 2016's EST summer league, in CCHS 2018 Emily Frodyma and Ichabod Crane 2017 & Florida Southern signee Tara Sager.
A strong defensive effort, led by persistent guard pressure from CCHS, helped this one turn into a blowout early. With their balance, a different player can step up and shine on any given night. In this game, it was 2019 F Riqiya Harris. The 5'11" post got the starting nod and responded by producing every minute. This was the most active I've seen her at both ends in a couple dozen times watching her. Not only did she go to work in the post, finishing with both hands, but some perimeter skills were also on display. She hit a long jumper and attacked the rim off the dribble a handful of times, including going coast-to-coast on a couple defensive rebounds & finishing at the other end. More than any other game, I noticed how quick her feet were. She was able to hedge, help, and recover very well on several P&R situations, even getting hands on passes to the screener. More of this from Harris could help her hit the next level of progression in her game.
I also liked what I saw from Sager, especially on the offensive end. She's known as a defender and rim protector first, and she did a lot of that. The long 6'4" post swatted nearly 10 shots and altered about as many without getting a hand on them. Her progression on the offensive end from the last time I've seen her play was impressive. She's still a work in progress on the offensive end, but her footwork has made strides and she attacks the rim with more confidence. At one point, she split a double team with a stepthrough move to her left side & got to the basket - something I've never seen from her. With continued development, Sager could potentially be a real difference maker as time goes on at the D2 level.
What Happened Today
A lot. A lot happened. Big news across the board, starting with:
- Major congratulations go out to Jamesville-DeWitt 2017 standout Julia Kelner, who made her plans for the next four years public by verbally committing to Division I Bryant University. Kelner, a rapidly improving 6'2" forward that projects as a great 4 in an uptempo system going forward, received the scholarship offer from Bryant a week & a half prior. She was receiving attention from other Division I programs such as St. Bonaventure and Albany, but Bryant was able to win her services. Kelner was an All-EST 1st Team selection in 2016 that averaged 9.6 PPG, 8.7 RPG, and 1.3 BPG for a strong Show Stoppers squad that made the finals. She's been turning heads throughout the season for a very strong J-D team, including a largely dominant stretch over the last 6 weeks. Kelner marks the 5th member of the Class of 2017 in EST's 2016 summer league to commit to a Division I program, and she'll join fellow ESTer Brooke Bjelko (Beekmantown) in Bryant's recruiting class.
- Not too many times a 1,000 point scorer doesn't get the first mention, especially on a Wednesday, but here we are. Quite the accomplishment though, especially at the PG spot which this player often runs - congratulations go to Beekmantown 2017 standout Kenna Guynup, who hit the quadruple digit mark in a 61-37 victory over Saranac. Kenna, a shifty 5'6" guard that can stretch the defense with deep range, came into Wednesday's game at 980 points. She hung 17 in the first half and completed her 20 with 1:35 remaining in the 3rd quarter on a 3 point play to finish her evening at 1,000 exactly. She has grown into one of the North Country's most dynamic players and scorers over her 4 years on Beekmantown's varsity team, and it shows with the uncommitted senior still being one of NY's most sought-after talents among Division III programs.
- How many times will a 40 point game be mentioned third? Well, here we are again. Emma Carter, a 5'11" standout 2018 wing at Mount Abraham Union in Bristol, VT, had herself a game Wednesday. In the same game that AAU teammate and close friend Keagan Dunbar scored her 1,000th point for her Middlebury squad, Carter dropped a game and career high 40 piece in her team's 56-50 victory. Carter is a very versatile scorer, with the ability to put it in the basket at all three levels and take advantage of many different matchups. She's also charging toward the 1,000 point barrier, and games like this will make that number an afterthought when all is said and done.
- Not to be outdone, one of Section III's leading scorers came out to play Wednesday night. Frankfort-Schuyler 2017 G Danielle Caivana wasn't taking no for an answer, as she dropped a game high 35 points in a 55-46 victory over Herkimer. Her scoring totals have dropped slightly of late as she consistently attracts the bulk of the opposition's defensive attention, but the diminutive, but electric guard returned to making eyes pop in this one.
- It was WACtion Wednesday, and a couple D3 commits in the WAC had big scoring games for their respective teams. For Middleburgh, it was Alfred-bound senior Lyndsey McCoy that went for a game & career high 29 points in her team's 55-40 victory over Heatly. Fresh off scoring her 1,000th point last week, she put on her biggest performance to date against a pretty strong small-school opponent to improve her team's record to 16-2. For Fonda-Fultonville, Brockport-bound Julianna Taylor had a Julianna Taylor-type game, as she hung a game high 27 points in her team's 63-37 victory.
Some More
- Saratoga Springs 2019 Kerry Flaherty led all scorers with 17 points in their 47-28 victory.
- Mekeel Christian Academy 2018 Rebekkah Dean had 13 points in their 49-19 W.
- Middleburgh 2018 Bre Palmatier finished with 13 points in their 55-40 W over Heatly.
- In defeat, Heatly 2018 Kyra Oeffler paced her squad with 17 points.
- Greenville 2018 Ava Fitzmaurice dropped 17 points to lead all scorers in their 42-40 victory.
- Stockbridge Valley 2017 Olivia Marshall finished with 15 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 5 steals, and 4 blocks in their 60-33 victory.
- Beekmantown 2017 and Bryant signee Brooke Bjelko finished with 16 points in their 61-37 W over Saranac.
- General Brown 2018 Kylee Rosbrook scored a team high 14 points and added 6 rebounds & 4 steals in their 64-27 victory.
Where You'll See Me Next
Running away from the snow. Thursday, catch me in Watertown (how many times will I ever be able to say 'running away from snow' and 'going to Watertown' in the same thought?). My attention will be given to the Frontier League A & B finals. The As start it off, with Indian River and Watertown IHC taking the court at 6:30. The B nightcap of General Brown and South Jefferson is scheduled for an 8:00 tip. Both games will be held at Jefferson CC in Watertown. Strong players lead all four teams, with South Jefferson (Jenna Zimmerman) and General Brown (Kylee Rosbrook) both having players that participated in the Upstate Elite Showcase fall event.
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
EST Cheat Sheet: February 7
What I Saw
- Unatego @ Hancock
Spent Tuesday evening in the 607, starting off by getting a 1st look at Unatego and 2nd at Hancock. The youth movement is evident in each of these programs, with 3 8th graders dotting the starting lineup between the 2 teams, all with some generated buzz already. No one's buzz is quite as loud as Hancock standout 2021 Laycee Drake though, with good reason. The 5'5" guard flexed her muscle early and often against a Unatego zone D that was paying special attention to her. The first time she touched the ball was on a catch in a dangerous spot, just across the timeline in the corner against a zone press. She proceeded to show off the handle and split through the double, then break down a 3rd defender right after, which was a sign of things to come. She created for herself by getting to the rim, using her in-between game with floaters, and the perimeter J, while playing both as a point guard and at the high post against the zone. She also found ways to create for others, especially dumping down to 2017 Lexie Houghton after attracting multiple defenders. I hear that Houghton, a lefty 4 standing about 5'11", has garnered some late D3 interest. Her skill set, athletic ability, and length at that position would be worth a D3 still looking to fill a 4 spot in this class giving her a look, in my eyes.
For Unatego, it'll be interesting to track the growth of their 8th grade twin starters as time goes on. Meghan Perry and Morgan Perry have quite an upside, and with continued skill development, they could be forces in the Oneonta area and beyond as time goes on. They're both lanky & active guards in the 5'8" range that hold down the wing spots for their squad. I was only able to see half of this game, and it's my first look at these two, so time will tell what I think of them in more detail - in these 16 minutes, Meghan in particular showed the ability to score from that position, and both showed defensive versatility and quality rebounding for position - looking forward to tracking these two going forward.
- Bainbridge-Guilford @ Sidney
2nd time catching Sidney, if you count the pre-Thanksgiving scrimmage I saw, and actually just my 1st B-G game this year. It was a high-scoring rout for B-G, ranked 5th in the state in the latest Class C state polls, ending in an 80-55 triumph. I was impressed with the growth in B-G 2019 standout Abigail Selfridge from the last time I've seen her play, which was actually back in the 2016 EST summer league. A strong & athletic 5'7" player who doesn't really have a natural position, she showed much more comfort attacking from the perimeter. She's always been tough around the rim and finishes through contact, and that hasn't changed. What has grown is her ability to hit the pull-up 12'-15' shot, along with increased range on her jumper. She went to the midrange J about a half-dozen times during the game, while also stepping out and hitting a three - something relatively new to her game. Along with Abi, the growth in the game of her younger sister, 2021 Erica Selfridge, is starting to shine through. She's a 5'6" guard with extremely long arms - perhaps a wingspan of 6' or more. While in, she was tasked with guarding Sidney's best player throughout. Her length allows her to tip passes that many others can't, and she can be pesky against a ballhandler by poking the ball away easily. Offensively, she's a knockdown shooter, finding a way to convert 3 open looks into 9 points during the game. She has a greater upside than I previously realized, and I'm becoming more & more intrigued by her growth on the basketball court. Finally, the improvement I saw in B-G 2018 post Megan Palmatier's game can't be understated. Previously just a back-to-basket big, she showed much-improved ability in the face-up game - something that opens her game up drastically. She didn't step outside the 3 point line, but she did knock down a pair of long 2s. Another time she stepped out, she got her defender in the air on a shot fake & made a strong left-handed baseline drive into an inside hand finish at the rim. B-G's numerous offensive weapons - and the multi-faceted nature of these players - makes them a tough team to defend.
What Happened Today
- As mentioned just above, Abi Selfridge (Bainbridge-Guilford 2019) had herself a night - really, a 3rd quarter - in their victory over Sidney at half. After scoring 6 points in the 1st half, having sat a few minutes with 2 fouls, she came out of the locker room on a tear. She put up 16 points in the 3rd quarter, where her team broke it open into the 20s, and a 3 point play early in the 4th before she was taken out for the remainder of the game gave her 19 points in a 9 minute stretch. She added 6 rebounds and 5 steals.
- It's late in the season, so we're in senior night mode. Mohonasen's senior night was Tuesday, which marks the last (regular season) home game for longtime standout and Davidson signee Saeeda Abdul-Aziz. She treated the home crowd with a game high 23 points, pushing her over the 1,600 point mark for her career, in a 54-41 victory.
- The high scorer of the night out of 2016 ESTers, albeit in defeat, came from the left hand of Schalmont 2018 Madison Graber. Graber dropped a game high 30 points for her squad in a 53-52 double overtime defeat to Ichabod Crane. Fellow Schalmont 2018 Paige Brinkman, along with stuffing the stat line, joined her in double digits with 11.
- The game of the night was certainly the highly anticipated matchup between Section II Class AA powers Shaker and Shenendehowa. Shaker was able to get the job done on the road, coming out with a 53-47 victory. There were 7 ESTers on the court between these two elite teams, and it looks & sounds like they all produced for their squads. Shaker received major contributions from Army West Point signee CeCe Mayo, who led all scorers with 18 points, and they also got 11 points - and a phenomenal defensive effort - from 2018 Shyla Sanford. It was another game in double digits for both Shen 2018 standouts Alexandra Tudor and Cameron Tooley - Tudor paced them with 14 points, and point guard Tooley added 10.
- Shoutout to Bethlehem 2017 standout PG and Middlebury bound Emily Wander, who's been producing at an eye-popping rate lately. She only continued that trend Tuesday, pumping in a game high 26 points in their 72-59 W over Guilderland. Backcourt mate Molly Kirby, a junior, added 18 points. Their increased contributions after losing Molly's twin sister Maggie Kirby to a knee injury has been much-needed.
Some More
- Averill Park 2018 Stephanie Jankovic led all scorers with 12 points - in limited minutes - in their 72-22 blowout W over Burnt Hills.
- Guilderland 2017 and St. John Fisher bound Olivia Baumann finished with 15 points in their 72-59 setback to Bethlehem.
- Jamesville-Dewitt 2017 and Bryant commit Julia Kelner led all scorers with 17 points in their 58-27 win over Oswego.
- Delaware Academy 2018 Logan Bruce had a double-double, finishing with 10 points and 10 assists, in their 56-25 victory over Deposit. Addy Sackett, a Delaware Academy senior and SUNY Plattsburgh commit, added 10 points in the win.
- Cobleskill-Richmondville 2018 Allie Pacatte led all scorers with 12 points in their defeat at Oneonta.
- Mount Everett (MA) 2019 Gwendolyn Carpenter led her team with 20 points in their 52-48 victory over rival Lee.
- South Jefferson 2018 standout Jenna Zimmerman filled the stat line in 3 quarters of action, finishing with 10 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals, and 6 blocks in their 64-34 victory over Lowville.
Where You'll See Me Next
Had to make a last-minute plan change on this, as where I was planning to originally go (Moriah for their contest against Northern Adirondack) was postponed. Tonight will keep me in Section II, as I head to Valatie to watch Ichabod Crane host Catholic Central. It'll be my first time seeing Ichabod Crane this year, and a good chance to see Tara Sager, their senior and 2 year ESTer headed to Division II Florida Southern in the fall. I also get a first look at 2020 Madison Graham, who has burst onto the scene of late with some big scoring games. CCHS is no secret, a dominant force in the Colonial that can legitimately go 10 deep. It'll be my 4th time seeing them this season, with 2016 ESTer Emily Frodyma and a host of strong talent across the board.
- Unatego @ Hancock
Spent Tuesday evening in the 607, starting off by getting a 1st look at Unatego and 2nd at Hancock. The youth movement is evident in each of these programs, with 3 8th graders dotting the starting lineup between the 2 teams, all with some generated buzz already. No one's buzz is quite as loud as Hancock standout 2021 Laycee Drake though, with good reason. The 5'5" guard flexed her muscle early and often against a Unatego zone D that was paying special attention to her. The first time she touched the ball was on a catch in a dangerous spot, just across the timeline in the corner against a zone press. She proceeded to show off the handle and split through the double, then break down a 3rd defender right after, which was a sign of things to come. She created for herself by getting to the rim, using her in-between game with floaters, and the perimeter J, while playing both as a point guard and at the high post against the zone. She also found ways to create for others, especially dumping down to 2017 Lexie Houghton after attracting multiple defenders. I hear that Houghton, a lefty 4 standing about 5'11", has garnered some late D3 interest. Her skill set, athletic ability, and length at that position would be worth a D3 still looking to fill a 4 spot in this class giving her a look, in my eyes.
For Unatego, it'll be interesting to track the growth of their 8th grade twin starters as time goes on. Meghan Perry and Morgan Perry have quite an upside, and with continued skill development, they could be forces in the Oneonta area and beyond as time goes on. They're both lanky & active guards in the 5'8" range that hold down the wing spots for their squad. I was only able to see half of this game, and it's my first look at these two, so time will tell what I think of them in more detail - in these 16 minutes, Meghan in particular showed the ability to score from that position, and both showed defensive versatility and quality rebounding for position - looking forward to tracking these two going forward.
- Bainbridge-Guilford @ Sidney
2nd time catching Sidney, if you count the pre-Thanksgiving scrimmage I saw, and actually just my 1st B-G game this year. It was a high-scoring rout for B-G, ranked 5th in the state in the latest Class C state polls, ending in an 80-55 triumph. I was impressed with the growth in B-G 2019 standout Abigail Selfridge from the last time I've seen her play, which was actually back in the 2016 EST summer league. A strong & athletic 5'7" player who doesn't really have a natural position, she showed much more comfort attacking from the perimeter. She's always been tough around the rim and finishes through contact, and that hasn't changed. What has grown is her ability to hit the pull-up 12'-15' shot, along with increased range on her jumper. She went to the midrange J about a half-dozen times during the game, while also stepping out and hitting a three - something relatively new to her game. Along with Abi, the growth in the game of her younger sister, 2021 Erica Selfridge, is starting to shine through. She's a 5'6" guard with extremely long arms - perhaps a wingspan of 6' or more. While in, she was tasked with guarding Sidney's best player throughout. Her length allows her to tip passes that many others can't, and she can be pesky against a ballhandler by poking the ball away easily. Offensively, she's a knockdown shooter, finding a way to convert 3 open looks into 9 points during the game. She has a greater upside than I previously realized, and I'm becoming more & more intrigued by her growth on the basketball court. Finally, the improvement I saw in B-G 2018 post Megan Palmatier's game can't be understated. Previously just a back-to-basket big, she showed much-improved ability in the face-up game - something that opens her game up drastically. She didn't step outside the 3 point line, but she did knock down a pair of long 2s. Another time she stepped out, she got her defender in the air on a shot fake & made a strong left-handed baseline drive into an inside hand finish at the rim. B-G's numerous offensive weapons - and the multi-faceted nature of these players - makes them a tough team to defend.
What Happened Today
- As mentioned just above, Abi Selfridge (Bainbridge-Guilford 2019) had herself a night - really, a 3rd quarter - in their victory over Sidney at half. After scoring 6 points in the 1st half, having sat a few minutes with 2 fouls, she came out of the locker room on a tear. She put up 16 points in the 3rd quarter, where her team broke it open into the 20s, and a 3 point play early in the 4th before she was taken out for the remainder of the game gave her 19 points in a 9 minute stretch. She added 6 rebounds and 5 steals.
- It's late in the season, so we're in senior night mode. Mohonasen's senior night was Tuesday, which marks the last (regular season) home game for longtime standout and Davidson signee Saeeda Abdul-Aziz. She treated the home crowd with a game high 23 points, pushing her over the 1,600 point mark for her career, in a 54-41 victory.
- The high scorer of the night out of 2016 ESTers, albeit in defeat, came from the left hand of Schalmont 2018 Madison Graber. Graber dropped a game high 30 points for her squad in a 53-52 double overtime defeat to Ichabod Crane. Fellow Schalmont 2018 Paige Brinkman, along with stuffing the stat line, joined her in double digits with 11.
- The game of the night was certainly the highly anticipated matchup between Section II Class AA powers Shaker and Shenendehowa. Shaker was able to get the job done on the road, coming out with a 53-47 victory. There were 7 ESTers on the court between these two elite teams, and it looks & sounds like they all produced for their squads. Shaker received major contributions from Army West Point signee CeCe Mayo, who led all scorers with 18 points, and they also got 11 points - and a phenomenal defensive effort - from 2018 Shyla Sanford. It was another game in double digits for both Shen 2018 standouts Alexandra Tudor and Cameron Tooley - Tudor paced them with 14 points, and point guard Tooley added 10.
- Shoutout to Bethlehem 2017 standout PG and Middlebury bound Emily Wander, who's been producing at an eye-popping rate lately. She only continued that trend Tuesday, pumping in a game high 26 points in their 72-59 W over Guilderland. Backcourt mate Molly Kirby, a junior, added 18 points. Their increased contributions after losing Molly's twin sister Maggie Kirby to a knee injury has been much-needed.
Some More
- Averill Park 2018 Stephanie Jankovic led all scorers with 12 points - in limited minutes - in their 72-22 blowout W over Burnt Hills.
- Guilderland 2017 and St. John Fisher bound Olivia Baumann finished with 15 points in their 72-59 setback to Bethlehem.
- Jamesville-Dewitt 2017 and Bryant commit Julia Kelner led all scorers with 17 points in their 58-27 win over Oswego.
- Delaware Academy 2018 Logan Bruce had a double-double, finishing with 10 points and 10 assists, in their 56-25 victory over Deposit. Addy Sackett, a Delaware Academy senior and SUNY Plattsburgh commit, added 10 points in the win.
- Cobleskill-Richmondville 2018 Allie Pacatte led all scorers with 12 points in their defeat at Oneonta.
- Mount Everett (MA) 2019 Gwendolyn Carpenter led her team with 20 points in their 52-48 victory over rival Lee.
- South Jefferson 2018 standout Jenna Zimmerman filled the stat line in 3 quarters of action, finishing with 10 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals, and 6 blocks in their 64-34 victory over Lowville.
Where You'll See Me Next
Had to make a last-minute plan change on this, as where I was planning to originally go (Moriah for their contest against Northern Adirondack) was postponed. Tonight will keep me in Section II, as I head to Valatie to watch Ichabod Crane host Catholic Central. It'll be my first time seeing Ichabod Crane this year, and a good chance to see Tara Sager, their senior and 2 year ESTer headed to Division II Florida Southern in the fall. I also get a first look at 2020 Madison Graham, who has burst onto the scene of late with some big scoring games. CCHS is no secret, a dominant force in the Colonial that can legitimately go 10 deep. It'll be my 4th time seeing them this season, with 2016 ESTer Emily Frodyma and a host of strong talent across the board.
Tuesday, February 7, 2017
EST Cheat Sheet: February 6
Trying a little something new for the blog in addition to the usual coverage and constant plugging of where I am & how those that played in EST do in their games. I'll do a few of these and see how it's received - enjoy!
It was a sneaky busy day on the schedule - busier than most Mondays, but that's to be expected with sectionals right around the corner in NY. There were plenty of good games, storylines, big numbers, and even a milestone accomplished. Let's get it going - what I saw, what happened, and where I'll be tomorrow!
What I Saw
SS Seward @ Millbrook
Recovering from a 1st half they'd probably like to have back, Millbrook broke the game open in the 4th quarter to hand a pesky Seward squad a 55-39 defeat. Millbrook, better known for success in other girls' sports like volleyball and lacrosse, has been starting to make noise on the hardwood of late thanks to a young core of talent. They're led by an inside/outside duo that I have my eyes on for the EST summer invitational league in guard Sam McKenna (2019) and forward Erin Fox (2020). Fox led the way in the scoring column today with 18 points, and McKenna added 15. Each tallied 8 rebounds, per reported stats.
Fox has a 4 skill set that's impressive for a freshman. She looks to be in the 6' range and has an extensive set of moves, both with back to basket and facing up. She can hit the mid-range jumper, finish equally well with right & left hand around the rim, and is able to get up and down the floor. She was a steady, consistent scorer in this game with a combination of baskets off post moves & putbacks. McKenna is a bit more of a combo guard, although perhaps a bit more comfortable at the 2 spot. She was aggressive offensively in this game and was rewarded with a big 2nd half, as she got a couple easy ones fueled by her efforts at the defensive end and was able to get in the groove. She plays hard at both ends with the ability to defend either guard spot, and has the quickness to get to the rim to go with range to 3 feet outside the line.
What Happened Today
- First, congratulations go to the newest member of the 1,000 point club - Mekeel Christian Academy 2018 Rebekkah Dean. Dean dropped a game high 28 points, 17 coming in the 2nd half, in their quality road W over Cooperstown. The multi-dimensional 5'9" G/F, a longtime varsity standout, reached the quadruple digit mark on a three late in the game - one of her three on the night. Dean becomes the 20th person that participated in the 2016 EST summer invitational league to reach the 1,000 point plateau, and the 16th to do it this season.
- Not many days will a game like this come second on the list. Stockbridge Valley senior Olivia Marshall has a high school career going that, at least statistically speaking, is rarely matched. She's one of the four that scored their 1,000th point last year and is closer to 2,000 than 1,000 now. She's had seven triple-doubles, and most games in her long varsity career have ended in double-doubles for her. With all of this, she had a new first Monday night - her first 40 point game. The 5'11" F hung a game high 40 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 steals in their victory. She plays Class D basketball, which many are quick to knock. My thoughts - you play the hand you're dealt, and you make the most of it. Liv has maximized her production, while improving many aspects of her game, along the course of her high school career. She also produced in her two years playing in EST. Putting a 40 piece up on a team that's trying to stop you, regardless of school size, is an impressive feat!
- Marshall wasn't the only Section III girl who put up big numbers. Shoutout to Marcellus 2017 PG Liz White, who continued a strong senior campaign with a 25 point outing in their win over APW Monday.
- How about Harmony Philo? The standout Gloversville sophomore keeps plugging along. Right after the release of a Daily Gazette article highlighting Harmony's exploits - the beginning of what could be a great deal of individual media coverage for her - she hits 5 more threes en route to a game high 25 points in their victory over Schuylerville. The 5'8" guard is averaging 20.5 PPG, 5th in Section II and one of six averaging 20+ PPG. Her 54 threes made lead the section, and per the Times Union, she's 2nd in the section with a free throw percentage of 85.7% (78/91). Her freshman season started to put her on the map; her sophomore season has made her a destination on your schedule.
- Looks like Scotia is starting to put it together at the right time. They doubled up Johnstown (plus 1) with a 65-32 verdict, with three that played in EST in double digits. 2017 guard and Adelphi signee Caitlin Estes pumped in a game high 23 points with 16 coming in the 2nd half. Electric 2020 PG Mikyla Mitchell added 14 points, and 2018 F Mary Kate Palleschi anchored the squad with a double-double of 11 points & 11 rebounds. If those three are producing at that rate, they'll be a team that no one really wants to match up against in a couple weeks.
- Round 3 goes to Seton Catholic, as they continue to exact revenge on an early season loss to rival Susquehanna Valley by handing them a 63-47 loss in their STAC playoff tiebreaker. Since a strong SV got the best of them on Seton's court in December, the high-powered Saints have yet to lose. Standout 2018 G Hanna Strawn, who picked up a Vermont offer in mid-January to go along with her existing Brown offer, led all scorers with 18 points. 10 came in the 2nd quarter for her. Marina Maerkl, a 6' 2019 post that was at the fall event, contributed a double-double for the 3rd straight game. She also showed her quickly budding ability to step out when she knocked down a three in the 2nd half to keep SV at bay. All five of Seton's starters finished in double digits - a very tough team to beat because of their ability to contribute at all 5 positions.
- These are a couple follow-up thoughts off something that happened last week; Glens Falls 2019 wing Sophie Tougas and 2017 PG Lucy Tougas finished with 15 & 9 points, respectively, in their 53-33 W Monday. It looks like they had the game in hand following a big 3rd quarter that put them up 24. As mentioned on Twitter (a lot), both Tougas sisters scored their 1,000th point in the 1st quarter of last Thursday's win over Queensbury, with Lucy's coming 68 seconds before Sophie's. Two things: first, if you're counting, Sophie now leads Lucy 1,023-1,022 after Monday's game. Second, I'd be curious to see if Glens Falls has archived full statistics over the last few years. If so, I truly wonder if Lucy would be a member of the extremely uncommon 1,000-500-500 club. She's long been known as a major stat stuffer, with her passing ability often on full display. I'm almost certain she's blown past 500 rebounds to date, and would be willing to bet 500 assists has either already happened or isn't far away...
Some More
- Heatly 2018 Kyra Oeffler led all scorers with 15 points in their blowout W over Doane Stuart.
- Amsterdam 2017 and St. Rose signee Nina Fedullo led the way with 16 points in their 63-21 W over Broadalbin-Perth, a game they led 29-3 at the break. She added 7 rebounds and 5 steals.
- Sauquoit Valley 2019 Allison Moreau led all scorers with 18 points in a 54-44 setback to Little Falls.
- Poland 2017 Shiane Irwin contributed 16 points on senior night in their 66-56 W over West Canada Valley, a game that clinched a league championship for them.
- Frankfort-Schuyler 2017 Danielle Caivana led all scorers with 17 points in their 63-40 W over Hamilton. Caivana added 6 assists and 4 steals.
- Cooperstown 2018 Julie Ford paced her squad with 11 points in their setback to Mekeel Christian Academy.
- Kingston 2018 Chloe Chaffin, a Fordham commit, finished with 14 points and 6 assists in their victory over Newburgh.
- Northampton (MA) 2017 and Canisius signee Lauraine Joensen finished with a team high 13 points in their 50-43 defeat to Longmeadow.
Where You'll See Me Next
The 607! As long as the weather permits, I've slotted myself into a 2nd Hancock trip this winter. They host Unatego with start time listed at 6:15. Unatego has a couple players I need to get a first look at, and Hancock is worth the price of admission due to standout 2021 G Laycee Drake, one of the top 8th graders I've seen this school year in upstate NY. I probably won't stick for the entirety, as I plan to cut out and get to a 7:15 start in nearby Sidney between them and Bainbridge-Guilford. B-G, one of the state's top ranked Class C teams, features a 2016 ESTer in Abi Selfridge that has been lighting up the stat sheet this winter. It'll be my first time watching her this season, and I'll also be able to check other players on the team, including a junior forward in Megan Palmatier and Abi's little sister, 8th grade guard Erica. This will be my 2nd time seeing the host Sidney, with the 1st being a pre-Thanksgiving scrimmage.
It was a sneaky busy day on the schedule - busier than most Mondays, but that's to be expected with sectionals right around the corner in NY. There were plenty of good games, storylines, big numbers, and even a milestone accomplished. Let's get it going - what I saw, what happened, and where I'll be tomorrow!
What I Saw
SS Seward @ Millbrook
Recovering from a 1st half they'd probably like to have back, Millbrook broke the game open in the 4th quarter to hand a pesky Seward squad a 55-39 defeat. Millbrook, better known for success in other girls' sports like volleyball and lacrosse, has been starting to make noise on the hardwood of late thanks to a young core of talent. They're led by an inside/outside duo that I have my eyes on for the EST summer invitational league in guard Sam McKenna (2019) and forward Erin Fox (2020). Fox led the way in the scoring column today with 18 points, and McKenna added 15. Each tallied 8 rebounds, per reported stats.
Fox has a 4 skill set that's impressive for a freshman. She looks to be in the 6' range and has an extensive set of moves, both with back to basket and facing up. She can hit the mid-range jumper, finish equally well with right & left hand around the rim, and is able to get up and down the floor. She was a steady, consistent scorer in this game with a combination of baskets off post moves & putbacks. McKenna is a bit more of a combo guard, although perhaps a bit more comfortable at the 2 spot. She was aggressive offensively in this game and was rewarded with a big 2nd half, as she got a couple easy ones fueled by her efforts at the defensive end and was able to get in the groove. She plays hard at both ends with the ability to defend either guard spot, and has the quickness to get to the rim to go with range to 3 feet outside the line.
What Happened Today
- First, congratulations go to the newest member of the 1,000 point club - Mekeel Christian Academy 2018 Rebekkah Dean. Dean dropped a game high 28 points, 17 coming in the 2nd half, in their quality road W over Cooperstown. The multi-dimensional 5'9" G/F, a longtime varsity standout, reached the quadruple digit mark on a three late in the game - one of her three on the night. Dean becomes the 20th person that participated in the 2016 EST summer invitational league to reach the 1,000 point plateau, and the 16th to do it this season.
- Not many days will a game like this come second on the list. Stockbridge Valley senior Olivia Marshall has a high school career going that, at least statistically speaking, is rarely matched. She's one of the four that scored their 1,000th point last year and is closer to 2,000 than 1,000 now. She's had seven triple-doubles, and most games in her long varsity career have ended in double-doubles for her. With all of this, she had a new first Monday night - her first 40 point game. The 5'11" F hung a game high 40 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 steals in their victory. She plays Class D basketball, which many are quick to knock. My thoughts - you play the hand you're dealt, and you make the most of it. Liv has maximized her production, while improving many aspects of her game, along the course of her high school career. She also produced in her two years playing in EST. Putting a 40 piece up on a team that's trying to stop you, regardless of school size, is an impressive feat!
- Marshall wasn't the only Section III girl who put up big numbers. Shoutout to Marcellus 2017 PG Liz White, who continued a strong senior campaign with a 25 point outing in their win over APW Monday.
- How about Harmony Philo? The standout Gloversville sophomore keeps plugging along. Right after the release of a Daily Gazette article highlighting Harmony's exploits - the beginning of what could be a great deal of individual media coverage for her - she hits 5 more threes en route to a game high 25 points in their victory over Schuylerville. The 5'8" guard is averaging 20.5 PPG, 5th in Section II and one of six averaging 20+ PPG. Her 54 threes made lead the section, and per the Times Union, she's 2nd in the section with a free throw percentage of 85.7% (78/91). Her freshman season started to put her on the map; her sophomore season has made her a destination on your schedule.
- Looks like Scotia is starting to put it together at the right time. They doubled up Johnstown (plus 1) with a 65-32 verdict, with three that played in EST in double digits. 2017 guard and Adelphi signee Caitlin Estes pumped in a game high 23 points with 16 coming in the 2nd half. Electric 2020 PG Mikyla Mitchell added 14 points, and 2018 F Mary Kate Palleschi anchored the squad with a double-double of 11 points & 11 rebounds. If those three are producing at that rate, they'll be a team that no one really wants to match up against in a couple weeks.
- Round 3 goes to Seton Catholic, as they continue to exact revenge on an early season loss to rival Susquehanna Valley by handing them a 63-47 loss in their STAC playoff tiebreaker. Since a strong SV got the best of them on Seton's court in December, the high-powered Saints have yet to lose. Standout 2018 G Hanna Strawn, who picked up a Vermont offer in mid-January to go along with her existing Brown offer, led all scorers with 18 points. 10 came in the 2nd quarter for her. Marina Maerkl, a 6' 2019 post that was at the fall event, contributed a double-double for the 3rd straight game. She also showed her quickly budding ability to step out when she knocked down a three in the 2nd half to keep SV at bay. All five of Seton's starters finished in double digits - a very tough team to beat because of their ability to contribute at all 5 positions.
- These are a couple follow-up thoughts off something that happened last week; Glens Falls 2019 wing Sophie Tougas and 2017 PG Lucy Tougas finished with 15 & 9 points, respectively, in their 53-33 W Monday. It looks like they had the game in hand following a big 3rd quarter that put them up 24. As mentioned on Twitter (a lot), both Tougas sisters scored their 1,000th point in the 1st quarter of last Thursday's win over Queensbury, with Lucy's coming 68 seconds before Sophie's. Two things: first, if you're counting, Sophie now leads Lucy 1,023-1,022 after Monday's game. Second, I'd be curious to see if Glens Falls has archived full statistics over the last few years. If so, I truly wonder if Lucy would be a member of the extremely uncommon 1,000-500-500 club. She's long been known as a major stat stuffer, with her passing ability often on full display. I'm almost certain she's blown past 500 rebounds to date, and would be willing to bet 500 assists has either already happened or isn't far away...
Some More
- Heatly 2018 Kyra Oeffler led all scorers with 15 points in their blowout W over Doane Stuart.
- Amsterdam 2017 and St. Rose signee Nina Fedullo led the way with 16 points in their 63-21 W over Broadalbin-Perth, a game they led 29-3 at the break. She added 7 rebounds and 5 steals.
- Sauquoit Valley 2019 Allison Moreau led all scorers with 18 points in a 54-44 setback to Little Falls.
- Poland 2017 Shiane Irwin contributed 16 points on senior night in their 66-56 W over West Canada Valley, a game that clinched a league championship for them.
- Frankfort-Schuyler 2017 Danielle Caivana led all scorers with 17 points in their 63-40 W over Hamilton. Caivana added 6 assists and 4 steals.
- Cooperstown 2018 Julie Ford paced her squad with 11 points in their setback to Mekeel Christian Academy.
- Kingston 2018 Chloe Chaffin, a Fordham commit, finished with 14 points and 6 assists in their victory over Newburgh.
- Northampton (MA) 2017 and Canisius signee Lauraine Joensen finished with a team high 13 points in their 50-43 defeat to Longmeadow.
Where You'll See Me Next
The 607! As long as the weather permits, I've slotted myself into a 2nd Hancock trip this winter. They host Unatego with start time listed at 6:15. Unatego has a couple players I need to get a first look at, and Hancock is worth the price of admission due to standout 2021 G Laycee Drake, one of the top 8th graders I've seen this school year in upstate NY. I probably won't stick for the entirety, as I plan to cut out and get to a 7:15 start in nearby Sidney between them and Bainbridge-Guilford. B-G, one of the state's top ranked Class C teams, features a 2016 ESTer in Abi Selfridge that has been lighting up the stat sheet this winter. It'll be my first time watching her this season, and I'll also be able to check other players on the team, including a junior forward in Megan Palmatier and Abi's little sister, 8th grade guard Erica. This will be my 2nd time seeing the host Sidney, with the 1st being a pre-Thanksgiving scrimmage.
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