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.