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.
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