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.