Jeff's Notes: Section III Semifinals

Spent the weekend - Feb 24-25 - either posted in the corner of the gym at Onondaga Community College's Allyn Hall or downstairs, just off the court at the SRC Arena. The annual semifinal weekend, a form of heaven for CNY basketball enthusiasts, was in full swing. In a break from the norm, girls' semifinals were split over both days, with Class A & B on Saturday and AA, C, & D finishing off the weekend. I was able to catch every game - with my attention split Sunday evening, as AA played downstairs and C upstairs simultaneously - and numerous players caught my eye. Some notes, by class:

Class AA

 There aren't many in upstate NY that can score as purely as Amani Free, and she showed a lot of what's in the bag in her Cicero-North Syracuse squad's 66-53 W over Liverpool. The star 2018 and Quinnipiac signee pumped in a game high 27 points. Instead of relying on the perimeter jumper - one of her strong suits - she spent a lot of the night getting to the rim. Free is a strong, physical guard that although right-handed, loves to get to her left - and she did so seemingly at will. She also moved well without the ball to get a couple easy ones, and on top of that, she brought the physical edge that's so important in a rivalry game like CNS/Liverpool.

I've been singing the praises of Cicero-North Syracuse 2021 Jess Cook for well over a year now, and the strides she's made came to the forefront at the SRC on Sunday evening. She dropped 20 points in CNS' win. Her sheer size and strength was too much for Liverpool to handle, even if she was getting doubled, but her improved mobility is what caught my eye the most. I saw this start to come to fruition during the fall, and her ability to run the floor has only improved since. She now can grab a defensive rebound, make a rim run after an outlet and beat her defender up the court to get a layup or deep post position. Jess is already receiving early D1 interest, and continued improvements could see her recruitment quickly hit the next level with a good spring/summer on the circuit with I-90 Elite.

Not sure if anyone made a bigger statement than Madison Smith this weekend. The standout 2019 had a monster game for West Genesee, going off for a game high 27 points in 3 quarters of action. The 5'11" G/F has the ability to score at all 3 levels, and she showed it off time & time again. The perimeter stroke has improved drastically - she knocked down 4 of the Wildcats' 9 treys. Her biggest one was worth more, as a 4-point play just before the 1st half buzzer gave her team the lead heading into the locker room after what wasn't the best 16 minutes for them. She had 12 points in the 3rd quarter, one that WG won 27-7 to bring their lead up to 23. What I still love most about her game is the ability to move without the ball. The ability and IQ to know when & where to make cuts along with knowing when to cut to score & when to cut for spacing makes her a point guard's dream. Thankfully, her sister is a very good PG that creates, and they play off each other very well. To me, Madison has been a bit underrecruited to this stage, but I don't think that'll last much longer.

Speaking of sis... it's always worth the price of admission to watch Mackenzie Smith in action. Mix arguably the deadliest crossover in upstate NY, shifty change of speed, elite court vision, a package around the rim from NBA 2K, quick hands & feet on D, and a little Brooklyn swagger, and you have a dynamite point guard. Baldwinsville had a little success early in their attempt to bottle her up with their zone, but it didn't last long, as she came out of the locker room and sparked the huge 3rd quarter that put this one to bed. Expect more D1 programs to come calling in the near future on top of what's already piled up.

The Finals - West Genny/CNS is what the vast majority of people have been anticipating since word spread that Amani Free was back in town. Both teams took care of business, and here we are. Interesting matchup, as both teams have real firepower but contrasting styles. Amani Free, Jess Cook, Mackenzie Smith, Madison Smith, Catie Cunningham all on the court - I think that's enough firepower to go around. Get your popcorn ready!

Class A

Meg Hair is one of the smoothest players in upstate NY for one of the best teams in upstate NY. It was a light night for the Jamesville-DeWitt star 2018 & Penn signee, as many of them end up being, because of the score. Their 61-24 semifinal W on Saturday was the most lopsided result of the weekend. She still was able to score an efficient 22 points though, even with the early exit. Meg has been on a different level for years now, able to make things happen in transition or in the half-court, but the play that intrigued me most was the final play of the 2nd quarter. With the shot clock off, J-D went to a 1-4 low set and isolated Meg with the ball. She was able to make a quick dribble move, get to the elbow, use the defender's body to propel her stepback, quickly rise up and knock it down before the buzzer. Perimeter isos have never been her bread & butter; if she's adding that to her bag, look out.

The most underrated player in Section 3 might be Kasey Vaughan. She has battled injuries for over a year at this point, but it finally looks like the Jamesville-DeWitt 2018 G has a longstanding ankle issue under control. With her being closer to 100% and having the conditioning needed to give good minutes at a high level, it changes their team. That showed in spades on Saturday; they'd play close to even with Vaughan out of the game, and as soon as she entered, they'd go on a run to break it open more. A coach's dream with an extremely high basketball IQ and desire to guard the other team's best player. She had the assignment of CBA standout Brooke Jarvis whenever she was in, and Kasey did as good of a job as you could ask for. Great to see her back on the court.

This could be said about the last few months in general as well, but Jamesville-DeWitt 2020 Gabby Stickle is getting better, and she's getting better fast. She's especially important on her Red Rams team - they're arguably the best team in the state in Class A, but most of the players tend to play it safe by nature, and Stickle is the one that will make things happen. That made her stick out in a positive way a couple weeks ago against St. John Vianney in New Jersey, and it continues to do so. She'll attack and finish, and she's also a deadly perimeter shooter when she catches in rhythm and lets it fly quickly. I love the improvements in Gabby's game.

I don't think Momo LaClair is a secret to anyone in upstate NY anymore. Jamesville-DeWitt standout 2021 PG is a high profile player, and she always backs it up. On top of the skill and IQ, she brings intangibles and 'the little things' that make a team great. She's one of the better rebounding guards I've evaluated, and she skied for a few in traffic in this game. Her 1v1 package is extensive, and although very unselfish by nature, she's starting to show signs of looking to be more aggressive on offense. With her consistent pull-up jumper, she can score at all 3 levels. It'll just make J-D even more dangerous as she asserts herself more.

Before the second Class A semifinal between Whitesboro and Indian River, I anticipated that Indian River standout 2018 Paige Leonard may have some issues with an always-stingy Warriors squad... nope. Her supreme athleticism was too much to handle at times, and she was able to make a new home at the free throw line. Out of her game high 30 points, 15 of them were from the charity stripe. The uncommitted senior just found ways to get it done.

Adrien LaMora grew up over the course of Indian River's semifinal game Saturday night. The promising Indian River 2022 finished with 15 big points and key contributions at both ends of the court, as IR was able to break the long streak of J-D/Whitesboro sectional final games with a 67-59 triumph over Whitesboro. With her 5'9"+ size, strength, and skill set, she's a particularly versatile prospect. I've seen her work in the post before, but her bread & butter was from 20'-21' in this game. She hit 3 threes, including a big one to beat the 1st half buzzer and extend Indian River's lead to 8 heading into the locker room. She can play at the wing or the 4, and will even get some spot minutes running the point. A lot to like about Adrien's upside.

The major growth in Whitesboro 2020 Kiley Snow's game starts with how she's adding onto her perimeter shooting ability. The 5'10" wing is a knockdown shooter that can get it going in a hurry, but she's noticeably making an effort to attack the basket more. As I told Kiley after the game, a year ago, I don't think she would've stepped if I put a $20 on the block. Now, she attempted 29 free throws in her last two games (16 in sectional quarterfinals, 13 Saturday night). Her fire & competitive edge is becoming more and more evident as she's getting older. If she improves over the next 8 months like she has in the last 8 months, it could pay serious dividends in the result of college coaches jumping on the bandwagon. She had 19 points & 4 rebounds in the 67-59 loss to Indian River.

They may not have won this game, but it's becoming more apparent that Whitesboro 2019 Hannah Scott is just a winner. The lefty true PG has made big strides over the last year and became the leader of her Warriors team. She'll pull up and knock down the 15'-18' jumper, but she likes to attack the rack and loves to get into the lane to create for others. She showed the ability to handle the ball against pressure Saturday night, including against a truly elite athlete like Paige Leonard. She had 17 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals in this one. Hannah is becoming a name to really keep tabs on in this junior class.

The Finals - The main story to me is that for the first time since I started doing this, it's not J-D/Whitesboro in the finals. Indian River - who seems to always get to the semifinals before usually getting knocked out by Whitesboro, although it has been J-D in the past too - has been playing very well of late, and it was encouraging to see the development of Adrien LaMora over the last few months. On the other side, J-D is taking it one game at a time. The 2-time defending state champions and a favorite to three-peat have weapons at every position and can dip deeper into the bench to get more weapons. The way they are playing now, it'll be a very tall task for anyone to top them. That being said, they're not looking past IR. This one will be Friday at the Carrier Dome.

ESTers in Action: Feb 19-23 (And A Look Ahead To The Weekend)

It's playoff time! The brightest stars tend to shine when it's win or go home, and I already see plenty of that happening in the earlier stages of sectional play. Take a look at how some ESTers have done over the last few days in games below!

(As usual, names in bold are players that participated in the summer league; names that are italicized are those that just participated in one-day events - either the Summer Kickoff or the Upstate Elite Showcase. If you're wondering why I'm not highlighting your daughter's performances in these rundowns and you've never done an EST event - well, there's your answer! The level of talent below speaks for itself; the EST summer league and showcases are becoming can't miss events!)

Section II, Class AA Quarterfinals

8 seed Columbia gave Shen a good battle, but the top-seeded Plainsmen controlled the middle quarters and took home a 56-41 to advance to the semis. Cameron Tooley (Shenendehowa 2018; Le Moyne signee) had herself a night, as she dropped a game & new career high 31 points in the victory. In the process, she became the newest member of the 1,000 point club. She knocked down 4 threes, which bumps her season total to 75 - she's hit 4 or more from downtown in 8 of her last 10 games. Alexandra Tudor (Shenendehowa 2018; St. Francis BK signee) added 15 points in the win. In defeat, Lexi Van Vorst (Columbia 2019) hit 4 threes and pumped in a team high 18 points. Shen advances to take on Bethlehem, winners of 14 straight games, in Monday night's semifinals at Guilderland.

Not many teams in upstate New York are as hot as the Bethlehem Eagles. This continued Wednesday, as they reeled off their 14th straight win after starting the season 2-5 with a 54-52 neutral site W over 5th seeded Saratoga Springs. Molly Kirby (Bethlehem 2018) went off for a team high 19 points in the win, and Julianna Okoniewski (Bethlehem 2018; U of Rochester commit) added 17. In defeat, Dolly Cairns (Saratoga Springs 2020) put a cap on her superlative sophomore season with a game high 21 points, and Kerry Flaherty (Saratoga Springs 2019; Holy Cross commit) joined her in double digits with 12. The two combined to hit 7 threes. Bethlehem advances to take on top-seeded Shen on Monday night at Guilderland.

The last time Colonie and Albany played, Colonie squeaked by with a 1 point win at home, so you knew it wasn't going to be a typical 2/7 game. An experienced Raiders squad broke open a game that was tied at half and after 3 quarters, winning the final 8 minutes 21-9 en route to a 64-52 triumph to advance. Aliyah Wright (Colonie 2019) had a huge 4th quarter and led all scorers with 23 points & 7 assists. Colonie 2019 Alivia Paeglow finished with 8 points, and fellow 2019 Kyara Triblet chipped in 7 and was a major key to the game on the defensive end. Colonie advances to take on their rivals to the north, Shaker, in Monday night's semis at Guilderland.

Shaker, the 3 seed, overcame a halftime deficit and some early 2nd half adversity to knock off a tough Catholic Central squad that beat them in the same gym two months prior. A 22 point 3rd quarter turned the tide, as they advanced with a 51-43 triumph in the Colonie gym. Shyla Sanford (Shaker 2018; LIU Brooklyn signee) had 13 of her game high 19 points in the 2nd half, and with a 3rd quarter layup, she reached the 1,000 point milestone. Julia DeBeatham (Shaker 2020), playing through illness, contributed 11 points before spraining her ankle on a shot attempt in the middle of the 3rd quarter. In defeat, Ahniysha Jackson (Catholic Central 2020) led the way for the Crusaders in the scoring column with 14 points. The battle of Colonie runs the bottom half of the bracket, as Shaker takes on Colonie in AA semifinals on Monday night in Guilderland.

Section II, Class A Quarterfinals

Balance. Top-seeded Averill Park is even more dangerous than usual when they're getting production across the board, and that's exactly what Hudson Falls ran into on Thursday. 5 Warriors reached double figures, and AP jumped to a 20 point lead in the 2nd quarter and coasted to a 68-31 victory to advance to the semis. EmmaLee Morgan (Averill Park 2019) paced the victors with 14 points. Mallory Wood (Averill Park 2018; St. John Fisher commit) added 13, and Amelia Wood (Averill Park 2022) - the youngest of the 4 Wood sisters and the 3 on this year's varsity team - finished with 12. Stephanie Jankovic (Averill Park 2018; Saint Anselm signee) and Kelsey Wood (Averill Park 2020) - AP's two leading scorers this winter - had 10 apiece. In defeat, Naesha Kelley (Hudson Falls 2018) led the way with 10 points. AP advances to the semifinals, where they'll take on a red-hot Gloversville squad that hasn't lost since December 28. The semis will be Tuesday night at Colonie.

4th seeded Scotia-Glenville held the lead midway through the 3rd quarter. Then, it was Harmony Philo's time to take over. The Gloversville 2019 standout scored 24 of her game high 33 points in the 2nd half and added 6 assists, as her squad outscored Scotia 35-14 in the final 1.5 quarters in a 62-47 triumph. Philo, one of Section II's leading scorers, eclipsed the 30 point mark for the 3rd time this winter, and her 5 treys made it the 5th time she's hit 5 or more from behind the arc this season. In defeat, Mary Kate Palleschi (Scotia-Glenville 2018) - a longtime steady presence for the Tartans - finished with 12 points. Gloversville advances to take on top-seeded Averill Park, which will be on Tuesday at Colonie.

Amsterdam had to withstand a strong effort by a scrappy league opponent in South Glens Falls, but the 2nd seeded Rams scored 22 points in the 4th quarter and rolled forward with a 66-50 triumph. Giuliana Pritchard (Amsterdam 2018) faced a box & 1 for much of the game, but still finished with a team high 22 points in the victory. She's now scored 500+ points on the season, which makes her the first ever in the Amsterdam girls' program to do so. Amsterdam once again advances to the Class A semifinals Tuesday at Colonie, where they'll take on Holy Names.

Section II, Class B Opening Round

Top-seeded Tamarac rolled through to the quarterfinals, jumping to a 20 point halftime lead en route to a 65-40 W over visiting Emma Willard. In a balanced effort that saw ten Bengals hit the scorebook, Kayla Doody (Tamarac 2018; SUNY Plattsburgh commit) finished with 9 points & Renna Poulin (Tamarac 2019) added 8. They host Glens Falls in the quarterfinals Saturday night.

Schalmont jumped out to a sizable early lead, absorbed the blow after giving up nearly all of the lead, and moved on with a 44-35 victory over Catskill. Payton Graber (Schalmont 2022) led all scorers with 16 points, and big sis Madison Graber (Schalmont 2018; SUNY Cortland commit) added 11. Paige Brinkman (Schalmont 2018; Western New England commit) contributed 8 in the win. They advance to take on Watervliet, which will played Saturday evening at Tamarac.

Mechanicville, the #2 seed, used a strong 2nd quarter to create separation against a young Fonda-Fultonville squad & advanced with a 63-39 victory. Sam Pasinella (Mechanicville 2018; Sage commit) pumped in a game high 20 points in the win. Mechanicville hosts quarterfinal action Saturday night, where they'll take on Hudson.

Cohoes nearly pulled off a minor seeding upset, as they overcame a double digit 2nd half deficit to hold a late lead, but they eventually fell in double overtime to 7th seeded Hudson, 58-57. Sam Dayter (Cohoes 2018; SUNY Poly commit) contributed 13 points in defeat.

#3 seed Cobleskill-Richmondville found themselves down at the break to #14 seed Schuylerville, but a 34 point 2nd half was enough to keep the Black Horses' upset bid from coming to fruition, and they advanced with a 56-48 triumph. Allie Pacatte (Cobleskill 2018) knocked down 3 threes and led all scorers with 24 points, a season high for the steady PG who has scored in double digits in nearly all of their games. Emily Vallee (Schuylerville 2018), a longtime standout for her school that recently scored her 1,000th point, had a team high 21 points in defeat - her 7th 20+ point outing of the season. Cobleskill takes on league opponent Voorheesville in the quarterfinals on Saturday evening at Mechanicville.

Section II, Class C Opening Round & Quarterfinals

The top-seeded Cambridge Indians flexed early and never let visiting Cairo-Durham have a chance, as they advanced with a 56-23 triumph. In a storyline similar to many Cambridge games this season, their defense made a difference and they received a potent scoring punch from the Phillips twins. Sophie Phillips (Cambridge 2021) finished with a game high 16 points, 12 of them coming before halftime. Lilly Phillips (Cambridge 2021) added 15, with 11 coming in the 3rd quarter. They followed it up by dominating visiting Maple Hill in Friday night's quarterfinals, jumping to a 20 point lead in the 2nd quarter and expanding it to 32 by the end of the 3rd en route to a 58-37 victory. Sophie had a particularly strong 1st half and led 3 in double figures with a game high 21 points. Lilly added 11 in a game that they got plenty of rest after intermission. Next up for Cambridge is league opponent and neighbors to the south, Hoosick Falls. That game will be Tuesday night, 7:30, at Cohoes.

Despite a game high 15 points from Molly Brophy (Greenwich 2021), the 8th seeded Witches fell at home to visiting Maple Hill, 49-42.

The seeding upset of the tournament happened in Berne, as 4th seeded Berne-Knox-Westerlo was held to just 6 points after halftime in a 48-30 loss to 13 seed Stillwater. Taylor Meacham (BKW 2020) provided just about half of the Bulldogs' scoring offense, contributing a team high 14 points.

5th seeded Hoosick Falls continued their recent strong play with a pair of wins. They jumped out to an early lead on visiting Duanesburg and never looked back en route to a 66-41 opening round victory. Logan Thayne (Hoosick Falls 2020) continued her superlative play, finishing with a game high 22 points & 12 rebounds - one of several 20/10 games this season. She had 16 of her 22 in the 2nd half. They followed it up by disposing of #13 Stillwater, who had previously pulled a major seeding upset, 50-29. The Panthers' lead was 16 at halftime and ballooned to 25 after 3 quarters. Thayne had another big performance, dropping a game high 21 points and adding 18 rebounds & 5 blocks. Hoosick Falls now takes on familiar opponent Cambridge in the Class C semifinals, 7:30 Tuesday at Cohoes.

Greenville, the 6 seed, has used the strength of a pair of big 4th quarters to earn a spot in the Class C semifinals. They got a game high 33 points from Section II leading scorer Ava Fitzmaurice (2015-2016 ESTer; Greenville 2018, New Haven softball commit) as they exploded from a 3rd quarter deficit to beat visiting Warrensburg 59-46 in their opening round game. They trailed by 2 heading into the 4th. They were in a familiar spot in Friday's quarterfinals, and they outscored #3 Lake George 21-9 in the final 8 minutes to advance with a 49-41 W. Fitzmaurice pumped in a team high 21 points in the victory. They've earned a date with Mekeel Christian Academy in the Class C semifinals, which will be at 6:00 Tuesday at Cohoes.

Section II, Class D Quarterfinals

Kyra Oeffler (Heatly 2018; Sage commit) pumped in a game high 21 points, but it proved to be in defeat as the 2nd seeded Hornets fell to Fort Edward on Thursday, 53-47. The longtime small school standout finished her high school career with over 1,500 points and has been a multi-year all-star in the CHVL. She'll continue her basketball career at the collegiate level, staying close to home at Division III Sage.

Section I, Class A Quarterfinals

3rd seeded Rye marched on to the semis with a 47-29 triumph over Hendrick Hudson. Teaghan Flaherty (Rye 2020), who's had a stellar sophomore campaign to date, had a team high 14 points in the victory. Next up for them is a date with #2 Somers, who made the state semifinals last year, on Tuesday.

Section I, Class B Quarterfinals

Putnam Valley keeps on winning, and in convincing fashion nonetheless. Kelli Venezia (Putnam Valley 2020) is a major piece of their success, and she showed her capability again on Wednesday, as she went off for a game high 27 points - including 8 threes - in their blowout quarterfinal W. Next up for Coach Dini and the crew is a date at the County Center for Class B semis.

Section III, Class AA Quarterfinals

Top-seeded Cicero-North Syracuse jumped out to a big halftime lead and rolled to a 62-34 victory over visiting Fayetteville-Manlius. Jess Cook (CNS 2021) was one of four in double figures for the Northstars, finishing with 11 points. In defeat, Lexie Roe (F-M 2021) pumped in a team high 17 points, hitting 5 threes in the process. CNS advances to take on rival Liverpool at OCC Sunday evening.

In the other game on the top half of the bracket, 5th seeded Liverpool rolled on the road at #4 Auburn, 79-50. Lexi Emmi (Liverpool 2019) was one of four in double figures for the winners, dropping 16 points. Stef Gera (Auburn 2019), her AAU teammate, knocked down 4 threes and finished with a team high 14 in defeat. Liverpool/CNS is one of the big games of the weekend, Sunday evening at OCC.

#2 seed West Genesee flexed early in their quarterfinal game, jumping to a 32 point halftime lead and cruising home to a 75-34 triumph over visiting Rome Free Academy. Mackenzie Smith (West Genesee 2019) dropped 18 points, which tied for the game high. Madison Smith (West Genesee 2019) knocked down 3 threes and added 15 points in the victory. They advance to take on Baldwinsville in the AA semis at OCC on Sunday evening.

Section III, Class A Quarterfinals

CBA, the 5 seed, exploded after a slow 1st quarter and soundly beat 4th seeded Oswego - at their place - 65-42. Brooke Jarvis (CBA 2020) went off for a game high 27 points in the victory. They have a tall task next, as they take on back-to-back Class A state champion Jamesville-DeWitt in the semifinals. The game will be at 5:15 Saturday in Onondaga CC's Allyn Hall.

In a league matchup and one of the Utica area's fiercest rivalries, 6th seeded Whitesboro was able to overcome a 15 point 1st half deficit to take down the 3rd seeded New Hartford Spartans, 68-60. Beana DeMarco (2016 ESTer; Whitesboro 2018) knocked down 4 threes and was one of three in double figures for the Warriors, finishing with 16. In defeat, Kaia Henderson (New Hartford 2022) pumped in a game high 24 points. Whitesboro advances to the semifinals at OCC's Allyn Hall, where they play Indian River at 7:00 Saturday.

Section III, Class B Quarterfinals

The top-seeded Bishop Ludden Gaelic Knights jumped to a sizable lead over a General Brown squad that's better than their 8 seed indicated, and they rode on to a 64-43 W. Aurora DeShaies (Bishop Ludden 2019) finished with 18 points, which was a team high. In defeat, Kylee Rosbrook (General Brown 2018) had a game high 19 points & added 6 rebounds. Ludden rolls onto the semifinals, where they take on familiar foe Westhill at OCC's Allyn Hall. The game will be at 1:30 on Saturday.

One of Oneida's most successful seasons in recent memory came to a close on Tuesday night, as they dug themselves a hole in the 1st half and fell to 5th seeded Westhill, 64-54. Sydney Lusher (Oneida 2021) had a strong game for the Indians, finishing with 15 points & 4 assists. The team's resident facilitator finished the season averaging 8.3 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 5.4 APG, and 1.3 SPG.

A big 1st quarter gave a strong South Jefferson squad all the cushion they needed, as they scored 20 in the first 8 minutes and advanced with a 51-38 W over Utica Notre Dame. Jenna Zimmerman (South Jefferson 2018; Le Moyne signee) knocked down 4 threes and went for a Jenna-esque stat line, finishing with 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 11 blocks. Jackie Piddock (South Jefferson 2022) also contributed 16 points and added 3 rebounds & 5 assists. Alyssa Stevenson (South Jefferson 2019) finished with 7 points, 10 rebounds, 3 steals, and 3 blocks in the W. South Jeff advances to the Class B semifinals, where they'll take on Bishop Grimes at 3:00 Saturday at OCC.

It's not often that a 7 seed has a home game in the quarterfinals, but with 15 seed VVS pulling off a major seeding upset last weekend, the Cobra Pit was in use Wednesday evening. Grimes slowly gained separation and was able to advance with a 48-39 triumph over the Red Devils. Abby Wilkinson (Bishop Grimes 2019) finished with 14 points, 5 assists, and 2 blocks in the victory. Next up for the Cobras is a date with South Jefferson, which will take place at 3:15 on Saturday in OCC's Allyn Hall.

Section III, Class C Quarterfinals

A 28 point 3rd quarter outburst from Weedsport proved to be too much for 6th seeded Cooperstown to overcome, as their season ended in the quarterfinals with a 77-68 setback. Julie Ford (Cooperstown 2018; UAlbany signee) saved arguably her best performance for last, as she went off for a game high 28 points, 14 rebounds, and 8 blocks for the Hawkeyes. Meaghan Perrino (Cooperstown 2018) added 8 points and 7 rebounds, and Maggie Schuermann (Cooperstown 2018) finished with 7 points & 2 steals.

A game effort from an inspired #10 seed in Sauquoit Valley almost was enough to make a major stir in the Class C sectional field, but the 2nd seeded Little Falls Mounties were able to advance with a 60-53 triumph. Olivia Langdon (Little Falls 2019) finished with 9 points, 13 rebounds, and a pair of assists in the win. In defeat, Allison Moreau (Sauquoit Valley 2019) finished a stellar junior campaign with a game high 32 points (5 threes). She put up some of the most prolific scoring numbers in upstate NY this season, only building upon what's already been a record-breaking career at Sauquoit. She averaged 28.3 PPG this season, and her 594 total points push her career mark to 1,742 with a season remaining. With Emily Durr & Breanna Stewart's marks of 2,400+ points being the tops in Section III history, she has a shot to be one of CNY's all-time leading scorers at this point next year. Little Falls advances to the Class C semifinals, where they'll take on Weedsport in OCC's Allyn Hall Gymnasium, Sunday at 6:30.

Section III, Class D Quarterfinals

Top-seeded Brookfield, a school that's only had a girls' basketball program for 3 years, roared to a 49-12 halftime lead and rolled onto the semis with an 82-34 victory over Poland. Jaelyn Vleer-Elliott (Brookfield 2021), one of CNY's most prolific stat stuffers this winter, had an Ice Cube approved day. She messed around & had a triple-double - and she flirted with a quadruple-double. The 5'11" forward finished with 15 points, 15 rebounds, 12 assists, 8 steals, and 3 blocks. This was her 4th triple-double of the season and 2nd in a row. They open up the semifinal action on Sunday, entertaining Oriskany at 1:00 in OCC's Allyn Hall.

3rd seeded Waterville created separation with a big 2nd quarter and disposed of a historically strong Copenhagen squad, 64-37, to advance to the semifinals. Sophie Wittenbeck (Waterville 2018), who recently scored her 1,000th point, tied for the game high with 17 points. They'll take on Sackets Harbor at OCC's Allyn Hall, which is slated for a 2:45 tip on Sunday.

Section IV, Class AA Semifinal

Straight to semifinal action in the Southern Tier, a section that is small-school dominated. 2nd seeded Horseheads took control early and never let #3 Binghamton get too close, taking a double-digit lead into the locker room and coming out with a 58-49 victory. Jill Casey (Horseheads 2020) went 8/10 from the line and finished with a team high 18 points in the W. Next up, a week-long wait before the Class AA final - presumably against top-seeded Elmira. The game will be held at Corning-Painted Post HS, 6:00 next Friday.

Section IV, Class D Opening Round

The 4th seeded Stamford Indians controlled action from the tip against visiting Richfield Springs and rolled to a 70-33 victory Wednesday. The usual suspects combined for 55 of their points in the victory. Melanie Hoyt (Stamford 2021) pumped in a game high 23 points and added 3 assists & 4 steals. Haley Steenland (Stamford 2018) and Madison Hoyt (Stamford 2019) added 16 points apiece, and Steenland also had 5 assists & 4 steals. They advance to the quarterfinals, where they'll take on 5th seeded Franklin. That'll be Saturday at Stamford, slated for a 2:00 tip.

Deposit/Hancock rolled at home in Wednesday's 6/11 opening round game, jumping to a 17 point 1st quarter edge en route to a 60-29 W over Davenport. Laycee Drake (Hancock 2021) dropped a game high 20 points, continuing her strong freshman campaign. Next up is a date with #3 South Kortright - a team they beat earlier in the season at a neutral site - Saturday at 3:45. The game will be held at Stamford following the Franklin/Stamford quarterfinal, as South Kortright continues to go without a home court this season.

Section V, Class A Opening Round

A team high 16 points & 5 rebounds from Alana Kornaker (Wayne 2018; Middlebury commit) wasn't enough to bring home an opening round win, as they fell on the road to East High 71-56 in Class A2 playoffs.

Section VI, Class D Quarterfinals

Franklinville made quick work of visiting Clymer on Thursday night, and much of that had to do with a huge showing from standout 2020 Dani Haskell. She hung a game high 35 points - with an incredible 30 coming in the 1st half - in their 82-39 W.

Section VII, Class D Quarterfinals

3rd seeded Bolton had a strong regular season in the MVAC South, and a quarterfinal blowout win sets them on a crash course with their main nemesis so far this winter. Kate Van Auken (Bolton 2021) continued her recent tear by dropping a game high 25 points in their 55-34 victory over Keene on Friday night. Next up for them is Westport, the only team Bolton's bumped into this year that has had their way with them. That game will be on Tuesday night at AuSable Valley.

Section IX

For the first time in a decade, the Highland girls basketball program gets to call themselves MHAL champions. This is the latest accomplishment in a very successful regular season that they're hoping to add 'back-to-back sectional champs' to. It started with a tough 40-28 W over Class AA FDR on Tuesday night. Brianna Rozzi (Highland 2019) received the bulk of defensive attention and was held well below her scoring average, but she put her stamp on the game in many different ways, finishing with 9 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists. She did so with coaches from Colgate & NJIT in attendance for her. The Huskies secured the championship with a 51-37 victory over Millbrook Friday night - a game that was pushed back a day due to inclement weather Thursday. Rozzi fought foul trouble in the 1st half, but still finished with a game high 20 points in the W. Next up for Highland is sectionals, where they've secured the top seed in Class B. They'll entertain the winner of Rhinebeck/O'Neill in Tuesday's quarterfinal matchup.

Millbrook split a pair in the MHAL playoffs this week, getting two more tough tests heading into Class C sectionals. They started off with a 59-39 triumph over Spackenkill on Tuesday. Erin Fox (Millbrook 2020) led the way for the victors - the standout forward, recently offered by Marist, had Manhattan in the gym watching intently. They fell in the league championship Friday night to state-ranked Class B Highland, 51-37. Sam McKenna (Millbrook 2019) paced the Blazers with 14 points, and Fox added 9 in the setback. Next up for them is sectionals, where they've earned the top seed in Class C. They get a bye into Tuesday's semifinals, where they'll take on the winner of Sullivan West & Tri-Valley.

Kingston finished off their regular season schedule with a couple wins to gear up for Class AA sectionals. They started off with Tuesday's 63-35 blowout over Minisink Valley. Chloe Chaffin (Kingston 2018; Fordham signee) pumped in 17 points to lead all scorers. She added 10 more, one of three in double figures, as they blew out Newburgh 65-41 on Wednesday. They go into sectionals as the 4 seed, which gets them a home game against #5 Valley Central. That'll be on Monday at 5:30.

Cornwall ended their regular season on a high note with a pair of victories. First, it was a 46-40 victory over Burke Catholic. Maggie Malone (Cornwall 2019), one of the section's standout players, finished with a team high 17 points in the win. On Wednesday, they beat Fallsburg by nearly the same score - this one was 48-40. Malone pumped in a game high 21 points to propel them to the winner's circle. Next up for the Dragons is Class A sectionals, where they've earned the 1 seed. They'll entertain the winner of Red Hook/New Paltz next Friday.

Saugerties, who has challenged themselves whenever possible in their non-league schedule, ended the regular season with a more relaxing 61-23 W over Pine Plains. Grace VanRoy (Saugerties 2019) led all scorers with 19 points in the Sawyers' blowout victory. Next up for them is Class A sectionals; they come in as the 2 seed, but calling them an underdog in any S9 game would be foolish. They host #3 Goshen next Friday at 5:30.

Another big scoring game from Middletown 2020 Kiki Kennedy fueled her squad to a blowout victory on Monday. Her game high 33 points was enough to outscore their opponent by itself, as they beat Monticello 56-25. They were given the 7 seed in the recently released Class AA sectional brackets, and they head to Warwick for a Monday quarterfinal matchup next.

Section X, Class D Semifinals

Hammond earned another berth into the sectional finals after handling 3rd seeded Colton-Pierrepont this week, 56-41. Ally Crosby (2016 ESTer: Hammond 2018, Jefferson CC commit) dropped a game high 19 points in the victory. In a break from the norm, it won't be Heuvelton that they face in the finals, as they were knocked off by Edwards-Knox. The Hammond/E-K final will be held at SUNY Potsdam, Saturday at 1:00.

A Look At The Weekend

With Section II semifinals set in 4 out of 5 classes, it's Class B that wraps up the quarterfinal quintet on Saturday evening. The top half of the bracket plays at Tamarac, and the top-seeded Bengals (Kayla Doody, Renna Poulin) entertain #8 Glens Falls in the 7:30 nightcap. Before that is the 4/5 matchup, where #4 Schalmont (Paige Brinkman, Madison Graber, Payton Graber) takes on Watervliet. At the same time, the bottom half of the bracket will go to battle in Mechanicville. The 2nd seeded Red Raiders (Sam Pasinella) host #7 Hudson at 7:30, with #3 Cobleskill (Allie Pacatte, Lauren Hill) and #6 Voorheesville (Victoria Konicki) squaring off for the 3rd time this season to start the night off at 6:00.

By the end of the weekend, all Section III finals will be set. All ten semifinal games will take place this weekend on the Onondaga Community College campus. Classes A & B take the court Saturday, with AA, C, and D finishing off the action on Sunday. The fun tips off at 1:30 on Saturday with Class B action, where top-seeded Bishop Ludden (Aurora DeShaies) takes on rival Westhill. Following that is the other Class B semifinal, where #3 South Jefferson (Jenna Zimmerman, Abby Piddock, Jackie Piddock, Alyssa Stevenson) will entertain the Cobras of Bishop Grimes (Abby Wilkinson) at 3:15. Jamesville-DeWitt - who has no 'ESTers', but features fall league champions & Mase Madness participants like Meg Hair, Kasey Vaughan, Momo LaClair, Paige Keeler, and Andrea Sumida - takes on CBA (Brooke Jarvis) at 5:15 in the first Class A semifinal, and capping off Saturday night is #6 Whitesboro (Beana DeMarco) battling #2 Indian River at 7:00.

Six more games take place on Sunday, with Class D semifinals starting it off. Top-seeded Brookfield (Jaelyn Vleer-Elliott) plays #5 Oriskany at 1:00, and #3 Waterville (Sophie Wittenbeck, Molly Williams) plays #2 Sackets Harbor directly after. The Class AA & Class C semifinals overlap in the evening, with the Cs taking place at Allyn Hall (where all the previously mentioned games are) & the AAs playing downstairs in the SRC Arena. In the AA semifinals, top-seeded Cicero-North Syracuse (Jess Cook, Aniah Ingram) take on rival Liverpool (Lexi Emmi) at 5:00, and #2 West Genesee (Mackenzie Smith, Madison Smith, Catie Cunningham) entertain Baldwinsville in the 6:45 nightcap. Upstairs, Class C #2 Little Falls (Olivia Langdon) takes on #3 Weedsport in the latter of two C semis at 6:30.

The Section IV Class B tournament begins Saturday night with quarterfinal games. 4th seeded Norwich (Taylor Hansen, Halea Eaton, Saige Benedict, Abby Flynn) hosts 5th seeded Oneonta at 6:00. Undefeated and top-seeded Susquehanna Valley (Holly Manchester) is the lone team with a bye; they await the winner of that game for a game early next week.

Section IV's loaded Class D tournament continues on Saturday, and it includes a trio of games featuring ESTers that could be a treat for Oneonta-area basketball enthusiasts. The day tips with 5th seeded Franklin playing at #4 Stamford (Madison Hoyt, Melanie Hoyt, Haley Steenland) at 2:00. Directly following that game, also in the Stamford gym, #6 Deposit/Hancock (Laycee Drake) takes on #3 South Kortright at 3:45. Not long after that, a short drive down Route 10 takes you to top-seeded Delaware Academy (Logan Bruce, Kaitlynn Finch, Sophia Wakin), where they host #8 Newfield at 6:00.

All-Star Season: EST Participants Well Represented with Postseason Accolades

Section 2 - Colonial Council

The Colonial Council all-league list, which features a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd team, included 8 2017 EST participants. 6 of the 8 played in the summer league, with 5 of them being regular participants. The league's MVP, Ahniysha Jackson, was a Summer Kickoff participant. Schalmont 8th grader Payton Graber was in the Upstate Elite fall event, and Catholic Central junior Riqiya Harris played in a week of EST in August. The full list of EST participants on the Colonial all-league teams below:

1st Team

Ahniysha Jackson (CCHS 2020) - MVP

Emily Frodyma (CCHS 2018)

2nd Team

Sam Dayter (Cohoes 2018; SUNY Poly 2022)
Allie Pacatte (Cobleskill-Richmondville 2018)

Payton Graber (Schalmont 2022)

3rd Team

Paige Brinkman (Schalmont 2018; Western New England 2022)
Madison Graber (Schalmont 2018; SUNY Cortland 2022)

Riqiya Harris (CCHS 2019)

Section 2 - Foothills Council

Section II's Foothills Council, which features Class A and B schools, moved from the former North/South division format to one large league this year. The all-league selections, which featured a 1st & 2nd team along with honorable mention, included 7 2017 EST participants. 5 of the 7 were regular participants in the summer league, including Amsterdam standout senior & Hartwick bound Giuliana Pritchard. The two second-teamers that were EST participants, Schuylerville senior Emily Vallee and Hudson Falls senior Naesha Kelley, both were in the Upstate Elite fall event. The list of ESTers below:

1st Team

Giuliana Pritchard (Amsterdam 2018) - MVP
Mary Kate Palleschi (Scotia-Glenville 2018)

Harmony Philo (Gloversville 2019)

2nd Team

Emily Vallee (Schuylerville 2018)

Naesha Kelley (Hudson Falls 2018)

Honorable Mention

Mikyla Mitchell (Scotia-Glenville 2020)

Rhaymi Porter (Scotia-Glenville 2020)

Section 2 - Suburban Council

Section II's premier league, the Suburban Council, released an all-league list that featured many EST participants. The league, which features mainly Class AA schools with a few Class A schools in the mix, had a 1st, 2nd, & 3rd team in its all-league selections. Out of the 16 selections, 14 of them were 2017 EST participants - and a 15th made a summer league appearance in July. 12 of the 14 played in the summer league, including league MVP Cameron Tooley. 5 of the 6 1st teamers (including Tooley) are seniors, with Dolly Cairns being the lone underclassman, and all of the seniors are scholarship signees. The two Suburban all-stars that just participated in one-day events - Aliyah Wright (Colonie 2019) and Valencia Fontenelle-Posson (Guilderland 2021) - were in the Upstate Elite fall event. Full list of ESTers:

1st Team

Cameron Tooley (Shenendehowa 2018; Le Moyne signee) - MVP

Dolly Cairns (Saratoga Springs 2020)

Stephanie Jankovic (Averill Park 2018; Saint Anselm signee)

Shyla Sanford (Shaker 2018; LIU Brooklyn signee)

Alexandra Tudor (Shenendehowa 2018; St. Francis (BK) signee)

Erin Fouracre (Colonie 2018; Le Moyne signee) (1 EST night in July)

2nd Team

Kerry Flaherty (Saratoga Springs 2019; Holy Cross commit)

Julianna Okoniewski (Bethlehem 2018; U of Rochester commit)

Kelsey Wood (Averill Park 2020)

Aliyah Wright (Colonie 2019)

3rd Team

Molly Kirby (Bethlehem 2018)

Maggie Kirby (Bethlehem 2018)

Cat Almeida (Shenendehowa 2019)

Lexi Van Vorst (Columbia 2019)

Valencia Fontenelle-Posson (Guilderland 2021)


Section 2 - Wasaren League

The Wasaren League - a mainly Class B & C league in Section II that fielded an eventual state semifinalist in Class C along with a sectional finalist in B and an additional sectional semifinalist in each class - released an all-league list of an MVP and 1st & 2nd teams. Of the 11 selections, 8 participated in 2017 EST events, with 7 having played in the summer league. The lone all-star that was solely a one-day participant, Fiona Mooney, was in the Summer Kickoff. 5 of the 7 summer leaguers - Kayla Doody, Renna Poulin, Logan Thayne, Sophie Phillips, and Lilly Phillips - were all on the Next Big Thing team that held the summer league's best record and made the league finals. Full list of ESTers:

1st Team
Kayla Doody (Tamarac 2018; SUNY Plattsburgh commit)
Sam Pasinella (Mechanicville 2018; Sage commit)
Renna Poulin (Tamarac 2019)
Logan Thayne (Hoosick Falls 2020)
Sophie Phillips (Cambridge 2021)

2nd Team
Molly Brophy (Greenwich 2021)
Lilly Phillips (Cambridge 2021)
Fiona Mooney (Cambridge 2021)


Section 2 - Western Athletic Conference

The WAC, a small-school conference blanketing much of the western 2/3 of Section II & featuring mainly Class C & D schools, had a 2017 ESTer on the top of the list. Last year's only WAC representative in the EST summer league, Taylor Meacham (Berne-Knox-Westerlo 2020), was named the WAC Mohawk Division MVP.


Section 2 - Adirondack League

The Adirondack League, the small-school league for the northern portion of Section II, released an all-league list that featured an MVP and 1st-2nd team selections. Hope Boland (Warrensburg 2020), the only Adirondack Leaguer that participated in a 2017 EST event (Upstate Elite fall event), earned an all-league 1st team selection.


Section 3 - Salt City Athletic Conference

The newly constructed Salt City Athletic Conference, a Syracuse-based league that includes the area's Class AA & A public schools, featured 6 EST one-day event participants in its all-league lists. 5 of them were in the Metro division, which was exclusively the AA schools; 4 of those 5 were 1st teamers. The list of ESTers:

Salt City Metro 1st Team
Chyna Butler (Nottingham 2018)
Mackenzie Smith (West Genesee 2019)
Madison Smith (West Genesee 2019)
Jess Cook (Cicero-North Syracuse 2021)

Salt City Metro 2nd Team
Lexie Roe (Fayetteville-Manlius 2021)

Salt City Empire 1st Team
Stef Gera (Auburn 2019)


Section 3 - OHSL Liberty League

The Onondaga High School League, a Syracuse-based league that includes the area's Class B schools along with its predominant private schools, had 5 EST participants in its all-league lists. 3 of the 5 were 1st teamers in the American division, which was where the private schools were placed. One of the all-league selections - Sam Doupe (Phoenix 2018; SUNY Oswego commit) - made a summer league appearance in July. The list of EST participants:

OHSL Liberty American 1st Team
Aurora DeShaies (Bishop Ludden 2019)
Abby Wilkinson (Bishop Grimes 2019)
Brooke Jarvis (CBA 2020)

OHSL Liberty American 2nd Team
Ally Shoemaker (Chittenango 2020)

OHSL Liberty National 1st Team
Samantha Doupe (Phoenix 2018; SUNY Oswego commit)


Section 3 - Frontier League

The Frontier League - a 4-division league that is home to all of the Watertown-area schools - had 4 2017 EST participants and an additional 2016 participant earn all-league honors. All of them were in the Frontier 'B' division, home to the Class B schools. The list of ESTers:

Frontier B
Kylee Rosbrook (General Brown 2018) (2016 one-day participant) - MVP
Jenna Zimmerman (South Jefferson 2018; Le Moyne signee) - 1st Team
Jackie Piddock (South Jefferson 2022) - 1st Team
Alyssa Stevenson (South Jefferson 2019) - 1st Team
Abby Piddock (South Jefferson 2020) - HM


Section 3 - Tri-Valley League

The TVL, which is home to the Utica area's Class AA & A schools along with a couple Bs, had 4 EST participants earn all-league honors. A pair of them - seniors Namir Davis (Utica Proctor) and Petrina DeMarco (Whitesboro) - were past summer leaguers in 2016. The list of ESTers:

TVL (Colonial)
Kaia Henderson (New Hartford 2022) - MVP
Namir Davis (Utica Proctor 2018) - HM
Petrina DeMarco (Whitesboro 2018) - HM

TVL (Pioneer)
Sydney Lusher (Oneida 2021) - 1st Team


Section 3 - Center State Conference

The CSC, a large conference encompassing nearly all of the Class B, C, & D schools in the eastern half of Section III, had a dozen ESTers earn all-league honors over its 4 divisions. 9 of the 12 were 2017 summer leaguers, with 8 of them earning 1st team honors. The list of ESTers, by division:

CSC Div I
Belle Kranbuhl (Adirondack 2020) - 1st Team
Haedyn Roberts (Holland Patent 2020) - 1st Team
Cassidy Kotary (Holland Patent 2019) - 2nd Team (Summer Kickoff)
Makenna Reinold (Holland Patent 2019) - 2nd Team (Summer Kickoff)

CSC Div II
Madison Greco (West Canada Valley 2018; Sage commit) - 1st Team
Olivia Langdon (Little Falls 2019) - 1st Team

CSC Div III
Julie Ford (Cooperstown 2018; Albany signee) - MVP
Sophie Wittenbeck (Waterville 2018) - 1st Team
Allison Moreau (Sauquoit Valley 2019) - 1st Team
Molly Williams (Waterville 2019) - 1st Team
Meaghan Perrino (Cooperstown 2018) - 1st Team (Upstate Elite)
Maggie Schuermann (Cooperstown 2018) - 2nd Team


Section 3 - Central Counties League

The CCL, a league comprised of Class D schools from the south-central portion of Section III, had one player that participated in 2017 EST events. That player, Jaelyn Vleer-Elliott (Brookfield 2021) - who participated in both one-day events - earned MVP honors.


WMass - Massachusetts All-Berkshire County

The Berkshire County all-star list, voted on by coaches in the county's North & South divisions, featured ESTers from the past two years. Gwen Carpenter (Mount Everett 2019), a 2016 summer league participant that was injured last summer, headlined the list with Berkshire MVP honors. 2017 summer leaguer Lexi Mercier (Hoosac Valley 2019) was named to the All-Berkshire team.

Vermont Senior All-Stars & Dream Dozen

The Vermont Basketball Coaches' Association has released its selections for their annual senior all-star games. These games will take place on Saturday, March 24 at Windsor High School. Two games are on tap; one featuring players from Division I & Division II, and the other featuring Division III & IV players. Two EST participants - Emma Carter (Mount Abraham 2018; Franklin Pierce signee) and Anna Iannotti (Mount Anthony 2018) - have been selected to participate in the Division I/II game.

Also, the VBCA has announced its selections for the prestigious Dream Dozen - those considered the top 12 returning players in the state. Like the senior all-star game, a Div I/II & Div III/IV Dream Dozen is selected. Two more that have participated in EST events - Grace Mahar (Mount Anthony 2020) and Harper Mead (CVU 2019) - have been selected to the Div I/II Dream Dozen. A full list of Dream Dozen names are below:

Division I & II

Grace Mahar (Mount Anthony 2020)

Harper Mead (CVU 2019)

Kelly Laggis (BFA St. Albans 2019)

Hailey Derosia (Brattleboro)

Lily Mitchell (Burlington)

Ryleigh Coloutti (Fair Haven 2021)

Isabelle Sullivan (Lamoille)

Camryn Heath (Lyndon)

Fiona Connolly (Rice 2021)

Elise Magro (Rutland)

Josie Choiniere (St. Johnsbury 2020)

Sadie Stetson (St. Johnsbury 2019)

Division III & IV

Lauren Alley (Blue Mountain)

Kiana Johnson (Chelsea)

Hannah Buffum (Green Mountain)

Paige Karl (Green Mountain)

Letty Hill (Hazen)

Hayley Goodwin (Mid-Vermont Christian)

Sydney Goodwin (Mid-Vermont Christian)

Julia Lee (Mount St. Joseph)

Allie Almond (Proctor)

Maddie Flanders (Proctor)

Jenee McGee (West Rutland)

Olivia Rockwood (Windsor)