Toga Holds Off Late Shen Push, Wins Round 1

November 29, 2018

Saratoga Springs 62, Shenendehowa 53

Anyone that knows me realizes that 'marquee matchups' in November are games that I usually avoid going to. That being said, Shen/Saratoga on a well-timed lighter Thursday night... how can you say no? In a game that featured stars on both sides and nearly an individual milestone, it turned into a supporting cast heavy storyline as the host Blue Streaks received timely contributions to win an early season test between two Section 2 Class AA contenders.

Bella Stuart (Shenendehowa 2020)

In the season opener for both teams, nerves were evident early as both teams sputtered offensively early as they were trying to feel each other out. The action picked up midway through the 2nd quarter when Kerry Flaherty (Saratoga Springs 2019; Holy Cross signee) knocked down a midrange jumper, the Blue Streaks' first field goal of the quarter, to give them a 13-10 edge. Shen briefly tied it at 15 on a Bella Stuart three, but Saratoga reeled off 11 quick points - the first 7 from standout 2020 Dolly Cairns - with only a three from Cat Almeida (Shenendehowa 2019; Quinnipiac signee) in response. Shen narrowed their halftime deficit to 26-20 on a Meghan Huerter basket before the break.

Though it took until then to get her first points, the basket opened up for Huerter coming out of the locker room. She knocked down a three to start the 2nd half, and after Abby Ray (Saratoga Springs 2021) answered with a basket, Huerter drilled two more threes in succession, giving Shen their first lead at 29-28 with 4:47 left in the 3rd. After relinquishing the edge, the Plainsmen momentarily regained it on an Almeida layup, but then Saratoga turned the tide. Kayla Lahart scored to give Saratoga a lead they'd never give back, and then Cairns & Flaherty had a stretch of dominance. Being faceguarded all game either against man-to-man or a triangle & 2, they were able to get loose late in the 3rd. Flaherty scored from both inside & outside the arc, then Cairns added 6 points of her own before Flaherty knocked down a three, quickly expanding Saratoga's lead to 48-34 late in the 3rd.

Kerry Flaherty (Saratoga Springs 2019; Holy Cross signee) led all scorers with 19 points.

Shen stopped the bleeding with a Simone Walker 3 point play to end the quarter, and the momentum carried into the 4th. Huerter knocked down her 4th three of the half, sparking a 10-2 spurt capped by a Jess Wagoner (Shenendehowa 2019; Caldwell signee) basket to cut their deficit to 52-47. After Saratoga extended the margin back to 9 on a Cairns floater, Shen reeled off 6 straight in a final push, with a parking lot Huerter trey making the score 56-53. With the Blue Streaks floundering offensively for a period of time, it was Abby Ray once again who delivered in response, burying an open three to give them a 59-53 lead. Shen was unable to convert on the ensuing possession, and Flaherty made three free throws over the next two Saratoga possessions to curb any ideas of a last minute push.

Flaherty led all scorers with 19 points in the victory, with 13 coming in the 2nd half. That puts the Holy Cross signee at 995 points for her varsity career. Cairns added 18 for Saratoga, with 14 coming in the middle quarters that her team was able to largely control. Ray chipped in with 9 points, none more timely than the late three. Meghan Huerter led Shen with 17 points, including the 2nd half shooting display that saw her connect on 5 threes in the final 16 minutes. Almeida joined her in double figures with 10, and Wagoner contributed 9.

Meghan Huerter (Shenendehowa 2021) hit 5 threes after halftime and led them with 17 points.

Jeff's Notes

- It's fair to say that Saratoga's supporting cast was a big question going into this winter. This isn't because of talent by any stretch, as Abby Ray is a very solid player in her own right and the Blue Streaks have 8th graders up with loads of potential in Natasha Chudy & Lauren Patnode. However, the youngsters aren't 'varsity battle tested' yet, and Abby has always been a scrappy, athletic pass/create first guard that doesn't often look to score herself. Well, Abby made strides as far as offensive confidence and gave her squad just what they needed when they needed it. It wasn't just the late three - she scored 9 points, knocking down shots when left open as the game wore on - but that three was undoubtedly the biggest individual shot of the game. Shen, opting for a triangle & 2 against Cairns & Flaherty for much of that stretch while also throwing the press on, did a good job being physical in ball denial and stalling the Blue Streaks' offense for a time. Just when you started to sense some frustration creeping in and the comeback trail nearly complete for Shen, Abby's shot gave them the breathing room and boost they needed. She'll need to continue to be a willing scoring threat and is a major key to Saratoga's success this winter, but not only was this a very good sign for her & the team, it's something that she has the ability to build off of.

Abby Ray (Saratoga Springs 2021) played an important role in their win Thursday.

- As far as combinations go, there just isn't one in Section 2 - and at this point, you could make the case for upstate NY as a whole - that are as dangerous as Dolly Cairns & Kerry Flaherty. In this game, they showed exactly why. They combined to score 37 (Flaherty 19, Cairns 18), but it wasn't necessarily about the number as they've combined for more than that on plenty of occasions. It was how quickly they were able to get going together and change the outlook of the game. They battled through the first half without much room to breathe. Cairns had 10 at the half, but only one field goal (8/9 FT), and Flaherty had 6, with two field goals coming on transition layups. Shen took a lead in the middle of the 3rd quarter... but all it takes is a minute. A Flaherty bucket turned into another Flaherty bucket, which turned into a Cairns bucket, another Cairns bucket, and Cairns free throws off a drive. That turned into a rare open look for Flaherty from behind the arc. In under half of a quarter, the game went from 31-30 Shen to 48-34 Saratoga. Suburban Council teams have been dealing with this for years now - they were no secret, and Shen was prepared. But all it takes is the slightest daylight, the confidence went up, and they were off to the races. Fun to watch.

Dolly Cairns (Saratoga Springs 2020) had another strong performance to start her 4th full varsity season.

- As a competitor, you never want to lose. That being said, if you're Shen, this certainly wasn't a 'bad' loss. None in November are. They took a major hit to graduation, with Cat Almeida the only returning starter and four 2018 graduates playing collegiate ball. At the same time, they're a squad deep with young talent, so there are many lineup options and things left to be determined as the season goes on. They'll likely have several players step up for them at different points. In this game, along with Meghan Huerter having the aforementioned big 2nd half, what stuck out to me was Bella Stuart giving them good minutes off the bench and Jess Wagoner's activity & production in the post. At any given time, it could be Almeida, Simone Walker, Anna Milham, Jill Huerter, Rylee Carpenter, you name it... and when Kaitlyn Watrobski returns from injury, that adds yet another option. They sputtered offensively early but stayed in it on the defensive end. When they absorbed the Saratoga run and fell behind by 14 late in the 3rd quarter, they showed some toughness by responding & battling back to within 3 late in the game. Tough draw for a team in the process of figuring itself out, going on the road against a true contender in Saratoga, but not only were there teaching moments throughout the game, there was growth. They have all the makings of a team that grows through the season and 'peaks at the right time'. They're good now and will win more than their share, but as this group of players continues to mesh, look for Shen to be particularly dangerous.

Simone Walker (Shenendehowa 2020)

Greenville Withstands Brantley Surge, Holds Off Catskill

November 28, 2018

Greenville 42, Catskill 35

The Patroon Conference is one that I admittedly tend to neglect in Section 2 as the rigors of trying to cover all of upstate NY & western New England wear on in the winter. Last winter, I believe I only got to one of the Patroon Conference Coaches vs. Cancer days at Columbia-Greene, along with one other league game. With that in mind, Wednesday night was dedicated to getting an early look at a couple teams gearing up to contend in the league. Thankfully for me, it was a good night to be there, as the game didn't lack any flare for the dramatic.

In the first half, the game didn't look like it'd be much of one. The first 12 minutes were a nightmare for visiting Catskill, who couldn't get anything going offensively. An early Janay Brantley (Catskill 2023) basket was all the Cats mustered until deep in the 2nd quarter, whereas Greenville saw balanced early scoring, producing both in transition and in the half-court. A Natalie Krasney basket started Greenville's run, and a Gabrielle Gardner three gave them an 11-2 cushion after 1 quarter. The run reached 13-0 on a Bella Trostle basket, and another two from her gave Greenville their largest lead in the middle of the 2nd quarter at 20-3. The well dried up for the hosts after that, though, being held scoreless for the rest of the half as Catskill went into the locker room down 20-8.

Bella Trostle (Greenville 2021)

Coming out of the locker room, it was Brantley's time to shine. She started off the 2nd half scoring with a corner three. After Greenville responded with a 7-0 run - the last 5 from Trostle - Brantley knocked down a pair of free throws, then shook a defender at the top & hit a midrange pull-up in a highlight moment. A short floater off the glass from Brantley cut their deficit to single digits momentarily in the 3rd, and she ended up with 11 in the stanza as she helped keep the Cats afloat. Greenville expanded the lead again to start the 4th, bumping it to 35-22 on a Tess Fitzmaurice basket, but Catskill quickly reeled off 6 straight, cutting their deficit to 7 on a Hannah Konsul layup. Both teams went on an extended drought in the later stages of the 4th quarter, with a pair of Brantley free throws breaking the scoreless stretch and cutting Catskill's deficit to 37-30 with 56.3 seconds remaining. Trostle answered with a pair of free throws with 51.7 ticks left, and after a Catskill turnover, Meghan Misuraca split a pair to extend Greenville's lead back to 40-30. The Cats' deficit was cut to 6 in the final seconds off a last-ditch Brantley three, which was the closest margin since late in the 1st quarter, but it was too little, too late.

Bella Trostle, a sophomore and notable returner from Greenville's Section 2 Class C semifinalist squad last winter, paced them with 12 points in the win. Krasney, also a returner, chipped in with 8. Brantley, an 8th grader already with a year of varsity experience under her belt, dropped 16 of her game high 18 points in the 2nd half. Konsul was next in line for Catskill, finishing with 6.


Jeff's Notes

- I think you can tell where I'm going with this one. Catskill may have lost, but I think the main topic of discussion leaving the gym was Janay Brantley. She had a quiet, more passive 1st half, but showed why she should currently be regarded as one of the 518's brightest talents in the 2023 class coming right out of the locker room. She canned a corner three off the catch to start the half, then hit a pair of free throws after getting into the lane & drawing contact. After that, it was a quick behind-the-back change of direction to leave a Greenville defender skidding and right into a midrange pull-up jumper. Then it was a short floater over an outstretched defender that she kissed off the glass. Then it was a finish with the left hand after a steal. In an eight minute magnum opus of sorts, she showed the ability to score at all three levels and in a variety of ways, doing so efficiently. It wasn't just about buckets, though. Several times, it was a quick move to get a paint touch or a baseline drive to draw the help defense, and she'd make the right read and hit a teammate on time & on target. She looks to be around 5'6", but with noticeably above-average length, she plays taller than her height. It will be interesting to see Janay's development over time - plenty of work to be done, as is the case for anyone that young - but one thing I know is that I'll be paying attention.

Janay Brantley (Catskill 2023) showed why there's excitement about her future in the 2nd half of Wednesday's game.

- Greenville is a group that naturally is trying to figure out its way now - for the first time since I started doing this in the 2014-15 season, they don't have Ava Fitzmaurice donning a jersey, who was such a focal point in their offense the last three seasons. That will certainly come with time - it's still November. One thing that jumps off the map at you, though, is how hard they play. It's a smaller, ultra-scrappy group whose edge & physicality seemingly was something Catskill wasn't prepared for early. They had success getting up & making life uncomfortable for their opponents, all five on the court ran and tried to push tempo, and it was often a Greenville jersey that was first on the floor. It'll likely be a winter that sees Bella Trostle expand her role quite a bit - she finished with 12 at the PG spot while often setting teammates up and seemed to score when Greenville was in most need of offense - but almost certainly a team that has a more balanced attack offensively. It'll be interesting to see how things shape up for them in a Patroon Conference that seems to not have a clear-cut favorite.

Mechanicville Overcomes Sputtering Offense, Holds Off Cobleskill On The Road

November 27, 2018

Mechanicville 37, Cobleskill-Richmondville 34

This Class B nonleague matchup had the makings of being an interesting one heading into Tuesday night. Both teams won their season openers in nonleague tilts, and they each had a returning standout go off for a huge scoring game. Both teams are respectable Class B programs that although they haven't experienced great postseason success - Mechanicville advanced to Section 2 semifinals last year - they certainly aren't teams that opponents look past on the schedule.

In the first four minutes, it looked like the visitors were primed to run Cobleskill away early. Their press forced the Bulldogs into several turnovers and more rushed decisions, and after 2020 standout Charli Goverski had consecutive layups, Mechanicville was up 9-0. Cobleskill was able to settle in after a timeout, getting back to back baskets from 2021 standout Sabrina Pressley to start what became an 11-0 run reaching into the 2nd quarter. Another Pressley basket late in the quarter, a layup coming off a broken play, gave Cobleskill its largest lead at 20-16.

Sabrina Pressley (Cobleskill-Richmondville 2021) defended by Taylor Grayson

The Bulldogs were able to keep their lead for the last few minutes of the 2nd quarter and deep into the 3rd, despite never pulling beyond a 4 point edge. After Goverski made four consecutive free throws - two off a called intentional foul in transition and another two a minute later - 2021 Amy DiSiena knocked down a stepback jumper and Goverski scored again & added another free throw, completing a 7-0 run and giving Mechanicville a 28-25 edge after three quarters. Cobleskill battled back, scoring the first four of the 4th quarter to take the lead. After Goverski scored off a DiSiena feed to take a 31-29 lead with two minutes left, a Lindsay Becker three gave Cobleskill the lead one more time with 1:38 left. On the ensuing possession, Taylor Grayson (Mechanicville 2019) scored and added a free throw - her first points since the 2nd quarter - to account for the game's 10th and final lead change and give Mechanicville a 34-32 lead with 1:17 left. After Cobleskill turned it over on the ensuing possession, Jada Brown (Mechanicville 2019) split a pair at the line. She then grabbed a defensive rebound and split another pair with 20.1 seconds left. After Pressley scored again to cut the deficit to 36-34 with :07.5 left, Brown split a pair once again, but DiSiena grabbed the offensive rebound and Mechanicville was able to play keep-away for the last few seconds to secure the victory.

Charli Goverski, after scoring 29 in their season opener, led all scorers with 16 points in the victory. She shot 8/10 from the line. DiSiena added 8 in the win. Cobleskill saw balanced scoring with nobody cracking double digits. Sabrina Pressley - who dropped 33 in their season opener - paced the Bulldogs with 8.

Chloe Goverski (Mechanicville 2022) with Emma Osterhoudt in the play

Jeff's Notes

- Two teams/coaches that I thought were pretty well gameplanned for each other. Both teams did leave plenty of scoring opportunities on the table, but easy buckets were hard to come by to begin with. Mechanicville, who exclusively went zone, did a nice job pinching the middle and keeping an athletic Sabrina Pressley from getting quality touches. They also got back and limited her transition scoring opportunities, something she killed Middleburgh with last week. Cobleskill did a nice job keeping Charli Goverski, known as a knockdown shooter, from getting any sort of daylight on the perimeter. She did finish with 16, but it wasn't a comfortable 16 and she had to work for all of them.

Charli Goverski (Mechanicville 2020) finished with a game high 16 points in the victory.

- Now, about Charli. If you told me a year ago she would be pushing 20 points in a game without a single three, not sure I would believe you. The 5'9" guard can play on or off the ball, but has a good shooting stroke with deep range on the jumper and is a real perimeter shooting threat. Besides an early stretch with a couple transition layups, she was quiet & largely held in check in the 1st half. In the 3rd quarter, she did what good scorers do after that happens - she moved without the ball, got herself some easy ones, and got to the line. Charli was instrumental in Mechanicville regaining a 2nd half lead, getting out in transition twice and getting herself to the line in a game where points were hard to come by. She had 7 in the 3rd, shooting 5/6 from the stripe. A well-timed basket cut got her a layup with 2 minutes left off a nice feed from Amy DiSiena - that was their first field goal of the 4th quarter and couldn't come at a more important time. Mechanicville is at a point where they need Charli to be a legitimate scoring option every time on the court, and the fact that she showed she can be that in different ways even with the defense keying on her is a good sign.

- Despite the loss, Cobleskill still strikes me as an interesting team this winter. They took a pretty tough hit to graduation with the loss of Allie Pacatte and Lauren Hill, so they have newer faces figuring out their way in increased roles right now. I saw them last week at Middleburgh, where they were able to play the uptempo style they want and put up 82. Mechanicville was able to get back and make Cobleskill have to score in the half-court with very few exceptions, and although it was a game on the offensive end that I'm sure the Bulldogs would like to have back, they worked themselves into having a real shot to win - holding a lead with a minute & a half left - because of their own defensive effort. Showing that they're a team that's all for the track meet but can also battle & play that game in the 30s-40s bodes well for them, and I think this was a good game for them to get early in the season before league play tips off.

Johnstown Makes Plays Late to Hold Off Fonda-Fultonville in Opener

November 26, 2018

Johnstown 52, Fonda-Fultonville 44

In a back & forth battle whose largest margin was the final score, host Johnstown was able to string together a series of consecutive stops and hit free throws in the final minutes to score the game's final 7 points and come out with a season-opening win.

It didn't take long to see that the game would be a battle. Fonda started off strong, with 2022 PG Carly Atty converting a three-point play and knocking down a three directly after to spark an 8-0 start for the Braves. Johnstown responded with a 9-0 run of their own, including all 5 of standout 2021 Anna Lee's 1st half points, and the back & forth contest was on. A foul-riddled 1st half saw 4 ties, 7 lead changes, and 30 combined free throw attempts. In a 16 minute stretch that lacked flow because of the accruing fouls, Atty was the exception, showing more assertiveness offensively at the point guard spot. Her final basket of the 2nd quarter gave her 11 at the half and tied the game at 23.

Abby Lombardoni (Fonda-Fultonville 2020) defended by Anna Lee

Atty continued where she left off, knocking down a corner three to start the 3rd quarter, and Fonda extended their 3rd quarter lead to as much as 4 at 33-29 on a basket from Alyssa Duval. However, that was when the tide turned. Johnstown 2022 Jaden Wilson scored on the Bills' next possession, and Lee took it from there. After being hampered with three fouls in the 1st half, she got loose late in the 3rd. After jumping a passing lane and getting a steal & layup to give Johnstown the lead - a lead they'd never relinquish - she got another steal on the press, pulled up, and knocked down a left elbow three to extend their run to 9-0. Fonda didn't go away quietly though, making one more push deep into the 4th quarter. Braves 2020 Abby Lombardoni - also riddled with some early foul trouble - knocked down a three to end the 3rd quarter, got into the lane & found 2022 Marilyn Whitcavitch for a layup, and hit another three on an open look to keep it a one-possession game. With just under two minutes left, Atty hit a free throw to cut Fonda's deficit to 45-44, but Johnstown responded by finding an open Abigail VanValkenburgh against a Braves defense slow in rotation. They then turned up the heat in their half-court man, with Lee spearheading it & forcing a turnover. After an intentional foul, Lee went to the line and sank a pair to make it a two-possession game in the final minute. All-in-all, Johnstown went 5/6 from the line in the game's waning moments to allow them to score the game's final 7 points.

Despite the early foul trouble, Lee - already a local standout & 3rd year varsity player - paced a balanced Johnstown offense with 12 points. Wilson, a 2nd year varsity player as a freshman, added 11. Abby VandeWalker, another sophomore, chipped in with 9, all in the 2nd half. For Fonda, Atty led all scorers with 15 points. Lombardoni & Duval each chipped in with 7.

Abby VandeWalker (Johnstown 2021)

Jeff's Notes

- I realized that both teams were young - Lee, Atty, and Lombardoni were all in 2018 EST events, with Lee being a pretty consistent summer league face - but I don't think I realized just how young they were. Fonda starts a pair of 2022s (Atty & Whitcavitch), and not only does Johnstown start three 2021s & a 2022, but they only have one junior & no seniors on the roster. Without looking at varsity rosters, it may sound a bit alarming that neither of these Class B teams are fielding a JV squad this winter. However, once you look and see that 19 of the 26 players on these two rosters are from the 2021/2022 graduating classes, it changes perspective. There's plenty to look forward to in the future with these two programs.

Carly Atty (Fonda-Fultonville 2022) will be a player to watch for years to come.

- If you're a local basketball fan that hasn't seen Carly Atty play since last winter, hit the Fonda gym soon and get another look. You always hope for the 8th/9th grade jump to be a big one, and she's seemed to make every bit of that and then some. She's a gym rat that can be found on the court all the time between tournaments, workouts, open gyms, etc., and it's showing in her growth as a player not only with skill, but maybe even more so with confidence. Carly looked like a point guard that wasn't afraid of the moment and was willing to see pressure. She broke the press with the dribble or with the pass, almost always making the right decision. Always a capable scorer but without the scorer's mentality, she seems to have a much better understanding of when it's time to 'go get one'. With Lombardoni sitting and a handful of girls with two fouls in the 2nd quarter - her included - Fonda was able to score enough to keep it a tie game on the road at half thanks in large part to her willingness to be that true threat. Between Saturday's scrimmage against Broadalbin and Monday's game against Johnstown, I'm happy with what I'm seeing in her development.

- As a whole, it probably wasn't the type of game Anna Lee was hoping for, but the poise to respond after a first half riddled with foul trouble shows growth & maturity in the sophomore. Besides a pair of free throws and an open three consecutively in the 1st quarter, she had a quiet half, compounded with her 3rd foul in the final minute of the 2nd. Not only was she able to play a foul-free 2nd half, but I thought her individual stretch late in the 3rd quarter was the turning point of the game. Not long after getting a steal in the half-court & breaking away for a layup, she got another steal on the press and instead of attacking the rim, she came to a stop, pulled up, and buried a three. Not only did the three give Johnstown a 5 point lead and complete a 9-0 run, but it was probably the loudest the crowd was all night and definitely got the biggest reaction from the bench. It's noticeable that her court vision as a PG has improved since last year too. She was deadly in transition because of her ability & willingness to take 1 or 2 dribbles, then pitch ahead to finishers on time & on target. With the mental growth & on-court improvements, Anna is really molding herself into a well-rounded player that makes a legitimate two-way impact.

Anna Lee (Johnstown 2021) made several big plays in the 2nd half to help her team get a season opening win.

- Speaking of 8th/9th grade jumps, I think Johnstown 2022 Jaden Wilson has made one of her own. She finished with 11 points in the win, but it wasn't scoring amount that I cared about. She's starting to look smoother and more polished on the court with a better understanding of the game. Wilson was able to play at the wing, handle the ball, or play as more of an undersized 4 for a pretty small Johnstown group. Defensively, she often drew the assignment of Lombardoni - Fonda's leading scorer last year - and she did well in that matchup. Altogether, Wilson had a very solid season opener, doing a bit of everything. I was happy to see the strides she's made.

- Foul trouble has been mentioned several times in this post. Both teams experienced a ton of it in the 1st half, but learned to adjust and avoided any more serious issues after halftime. The main reasoning for the foul trouble was simple - the difference between legal & illegal contact against ballhandlers. Both referees for this contest are collegiate officials as well. Anyone that pays attention to both HS & college ball likely understands that freedom of movement for offensive players is much more heavily policed at the collegiate level. Two-hand contact, two-touch contact, and bumps that aren't necessarily called consistently in high school basketball were called in this game. It was officiated like a college game, which is completely fine with me. Thankfully, both teams were able to adjust out of the locker room, which made for a 2nd half with much better flow.

College Roundup Vol. 2: Former ESTers at the Next Level (Week of Nov 12-18)

Division I

- Frankfort-Schuyler grad and St. Bonaventure junior Danielle Migliore had another strong outing Tuesday as the Bonnies went to 2-1 in an instant classic 100-94 triple overtime victory over Little Three rival Niagara Tuesday. Migliore got the start and played 30 minutes, knocking down 4 threes & finishing with 19 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, & 2 steals in the win. She saw 27 minutes in the starting role Saturday before fouling out, finishing with 9 points and 3 rebounds in their 67-59 L to Hofstra.

- Blair Academy (NJ) grad and Columbia freshman Sydney Brown scored her first collegiate points Monday, contributing 6 points in 12 minutes as her team went to 2-0 with a 70-49 triumph over Army. She grabbed 3 rebounds in 4 minutes on Friday as they fell to Milwaukee 78-65, but saw an increased role Sunday as her squad nearly knocked off Illinois on the road. She finished with 14 points (5/8 FG) & 4 rebounds in 15 minutes in their 76-69 loss.

- Shaker grad and LIU Brooklyn freshman Shyla Sanford saw good minutes again in Week 2 of the Blackbirds' season. She finished with 5 points in 18 minutes off the bench Tuesday, but they fell to Fairfield 71-43, and contributed 3 blocks in 14 minutes in their 86-59 defeat to Saint Peter's Saturday.

- Bryant (Julia Kelner, Brooke Bjelko) dropped a pair of games to go to .500 on the young season - first on Tuesday, falling to Maine 74-57, and then dropping a decision to #25 West Virginia Thursday, 94-48. Kelner, a Jamesville-DeWitt grad and Bulldog sophomore, got the start in both games. She had 2 points & 2 rebounds in 13 minutes against Maine, then saw 23 minutes of action at WVU, contributing 3 points & 2 assists.

- Albany (Julie Ford) sputtered offensively and fell on the road at Cornell Monday, 48-34, but responded with a 60-54 triumph over Manhattan Wednesday. Ford, a Cooperstown grad & current freshman, grabbed 2 rebounds in 6 minutes off the bench Wednesday. They then fell to Rutgers 65-39 on Sunday.

- Waterville grad and Vermont freshman Sophie Wittenbeck scored her first collegiate points Thursday, knocking down a three and adding an assist as they handled Division III Norwich 78-28. They then fell to Rhode Island Sunday, 61-58, to drop back to .500.

- St. Francis Brooklyn (Alexandra Tudor) went 2-1 in a back-to-back-to-back stretch to end the week at Morehead St. in Kentucky. The Terriers beat Chicago St., 110-73, in a game that their opponents had to finish with 4 eligible players Friday. They then lost 78-76 to Valparaiso Saturday, and turned around the next day and beat host Morehead St. 101-94.

- UMass (Lauraine Joensen) defeated Central Connecticut in their only game of the week Saturday, 74-59.

- Fordham (Chloe Chaffin - out with injury) fell at home to Penn State Wednesday, 72-55, and they responded with a 71-64 victory over Charlotte Sunday.

- Siena (Hanna Strawn - out with injury) fell on the road at Sacred Heart Tuesday, 72-50, and they fell to 0-3 after dropping one to Harvard Friday, 73-54.

- Davidson (Saeeda Abdul-Aziz - out with injury) fell on the road to Gardner-Webb Wednesday, 54-49, and they lost to Appalachian St. 81-78 Sunday to fall to 2-2 on the season.


Division II

- Le Moyne (Cameron Tooley, Jenna Zimmerman, Liz Millea) started their season off on the right foot in dramatic fashion, winning 63-60 in overtime at AIC Wednesday. Tooley & Zimmerman played major roles in their collegiate debuts for the Dolphins. Tooley, a Shenendehowa grad, finished with 16 points (4/6 3PT) & 2 steals in 37 minutes of action. Zimmerman, a South Jefferson grad, played 39 minutes and contributed 5 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 blocks. Millea, a Cooperstown grad & redshirt sophomore that missed last season with a knee injury, contributed 2 points & 2 steals off the bench. They all produced on Saturday at Southern CT, but they fell 65-63. Zimmerman played all 40 minutes and finished with a team high 15 points, 3 assists, and 2 steals. Tooley started as well and finished with 11 points (5/5 FG) & 4 assists in 22 minutes, and Millea was a spark off the bench, adding 13 points (5/6 FG) in 11 minutes.

- Glens Falls grad & Queens sophomore Lucy Tougas started on Saturday and had another productive game, finishing with 13 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists in 20 minutes, but they fell to Bentley 91-64.

- Nottingham grad & Bowie State freshman Chyna Butler got 19 minutes off the bench Wednesday, producing 4 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, & 3 steals in their 80-38 W over Wilmington. She had a big game to follow that on Saturday, playing 31 minutes and contributing 10 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists in a 59-46 road W over Gannon. She followed that the next day with 3 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, & 3 blocks in 22 minutes as they beat Slippery Rock 71-53.

- St. Rose (Nina Fedullo, Becca Townes) suffered their first loss Wednesday, falling to Southern CT State 59-53 Wednesday. Fedullo, an Amsterdam grad & current sophomore, finished with 4 points & 7 rebounds in 31 minutes of play. Townes, an Our Lady of Lourdes grad & current freshman, had a pair of assists in limited action off the bench. They then fell again to AIC Saturday, 82-53. Fedullo finished with 8 points & 5 rebounds in 22 minutes of action, and Townes knocked down both of her field goal attempts - both threes - to finish with 6 points & a block in 8 minutes.

- St. Anselm (Stephanie Jankovic) ran away to a 62-33 victory at Franklin Pierce in conference play Wednesday, and in their first competitive game of the season, they outscored host Assumption by 10 in the 4th quarter to grab a 75-61 W Saturday.

- Franklin Pierce (Emma Carter) fell to visiting St. Anselm in conference play Wednesday, 62-33. Carter, a Mt. Abraham (VT) grad & current freshman, started and saw 20 minutes of action. She then finished with 7 points & 4 rebounds in 13 minutes off the bench Friday in their 77-65 W over Nyack.

- Georgian Court (Nerea Brajac) fell at home to Kutztown Wednesday, 76-59, and then on the road to LIU Post Saturday, 83-66. Brajac, a Cohoes grad & current sophomore, saw 18 & 14 minutes of action, respectively.


Division III

- Beekmantown grad and Elmira freshman Alyssa Waters added to a very strong start to her collegiate career Monday, as she went for 18 points (8/14 FG), 5 rebounds, 6 assists, & 2 steals while playing all 40 minutes in their 79-63 win over D'Youville. In their 65-47 loss to #16 Marymount Friday, she played 39 minutes and contributed 5 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, & 2 steals. To finish the week, she finished with 3 points & 2 assists in 28 minutes as they fell 62-53 to Ursinus.

- Middleburgh grad and Alfred sophomore Lyndsey McCoy helped the Saxons secure a major win for the program and 1st year coach Mike Moskowitz, defeating Buffalo State in a true road game, 73-66. McCoy played 34 minutes and finished with 13 points (6/9 FG) & 7 rebounds in the win. She added 8 points & 5 rebounds in 35 minutes the following day, but they weren't able to overcome an onslaught of 16 threes from Thiel as they fell 77-70 in the tournament championship.

- St. John Fisher (Olivia Baumann, Mallory Wood) started off its '18-'19 campaign with an impressive 54-41 W at Brockport Tuesday. Wood, a current freshman & Averill Park grad, opened her collegiate career on a high note, getting the start and finishing with 12 points, 5 rebounds, & 2 assists in 34 minutes. Baumann, a Guilderland grad & Cardinal sophomore, also started and finished with 8 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, & 3 steals in 20 minutes. They ran their record to 3-0 by the end of the week with consecutive wins at their host tournament. On Friday, it was a 66-56 W over Hilbert, where current coach Melissa Kuberka started her head coaching career. Wood played 19 minutes and finished with 13 points (6/8 FG), 2 rebounds, & 3 steals, and Baumann dropped 14 points in 15 minutes of action & 4 rebounds.

- Hartwick (Kelly Pine, Maggie Kirby, Molly Kirby, Giuliana Pritchard) continued an impressive start to the season with a 65-51 home victory over perennial SUNYAC contender Cortland Tuesday. Pine, a Hoosick Falls grad & Hawk sophomore, had 9 points, 9 rebounds, & 2 blocks in 29 minutes. The Kirby twins, current freshmen from Bethlehem, produced again for the Hawks - Maggie with 6 points & 5 rebounds in 26 minutes, Molly with 9 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, & 2 blocks in 17 minutes. Pritchard, an Amsterdam grad & also a freshman, contributed 3 points & 3 rebounds in 12 minutes.

More of the same came on Saturday as they defeated Salve Regina 67-43. Maggie Kirby had 9 points & 4 rebounds in 23 minutes, and Kelly Pine had 6 points & 5 rebounds in 22 minutes, both starting. Molly Kirby & Pritchard both saw 12 minutes off the bench, Kirby contributing 7 points and Pritchard with 2 points & 5 rebounds. They took their first loss on Sunday, falling to Smith 74-65. Pine finished with 11 points & 3 rebounds in 28 minutes, Maggie Kirby contributed 4 points & 5 rebounds in 32 minutes, Pritchard had 3 points in 10 minutes, and Molly Kirby saw 12 minutes of action.

- Sage (Megan Flynn, Kyra Oeffler, Sam Pasinella, Emily Pike) got their season started off on the right foot, going up north to Plattsburgh and winning their tipoff tournament with a pair of weekend victories. On Friday, they beat Rowan 78-69. Flynn, a Hoosick Falls grad and Gator junior, started and finished with 8 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, & 2 steals in 23 minutes, and Pike, a Ticonderoga grad & Gator freshman, had a fantastic collegiate debut back in the North Country. She saw 24 minutes off the bench and finished with 11 points & 8 rebounds. In the following game Saturday, a 78-64 triumph over host SUNY Plattsburgh, Flynn went off for game highs of 22 points & 12 rebounds in 34 minutes, and Pike added 6 points in 15 minutes off the bench. Oeffler & Pasinella, graduates of Heatly & Mechanicville and both freshmen, saw their first collegiate minutes in the Saturday victory as well. For her efforts, Flynn took home tournament MVP honors.

- Cazenovia (Lexi Tubbs, Danielle Caivana) got their season underway with a tournament at Buffalo State over the weekend. They fell in their opener Friday, 71-60, to Thiel. Caivana, a Frankfort-Schuyler grad and current sophomore, finished with a team high 19 points along with 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals in 39 minutes. Tubbs, a Madison graduate and current junior, played 31 minutes and finished with 9 points & 11 rebounds.

- Ballston Spa grad and SUNY Oneonta junior Olivia Allrich started in their season opener Tuesday and finished with 11 points, 3 rebounds, & 2 assists in 22 minutes as they ran by visiting Skidmore 60-33.

- Shenendehowa grad and Keene State sophomore Samira Sangare had her best game in her young career as an Owl Tuesday, going off for a game high 21 points, 9 rebounds, & 3 steals in 25 minutes of action in a 94-83 defeat to Westfield State. In their lone weekend game, a 67-59 loss to MCLA, she finished with 8 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists in 27 minutes.

- Bethlehem grad and Rochester freshman Julianna Okoniewski started all three games in their eventful week, contributing in all three, albeit all losses against quality opponents. She contributed 8 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, & 4 steals in 20 minutes in her collegiate debut Tuesday, but they fell to crosstown foe RIT 70-59. On Friday, she finished with 10 points & 3 rebounds in 22 minutes in their 65-52 loss to Baldwin Wallace, and on Sunday, she contributed 4 points, 10 rebounds, & 3 assists in 27 minutes in their 58-48 defeat to Babson.

- Marcellus grad and Nazareth sophomore Liz White helped her squad win a pair of games over the weekend to start their season. In a game that 16 Golden Flyers saw action in, she finished with 5 points & 2 assists in 13 minutes as they beat Westminster 78-54 Saturday. The next day, she had a pair of assists in 14 minutes in their 63-59 W over Susquehanna.

- Shenendehowa grad and Southern Vermont freshman Julia Ryan got the start Friday and played 23 minutes, finishing with 7 points & 6 rebounds in a 85-63 loss to St. Joseph's (BK).

- Scotia-Glenville grad and Skidmore freshman Mary Kate Palleschi saw her first collegiate action over the weekend. She played 11 minutes off the bench, finishing with 2 points & 3 rebounds in their 65-35 loss to Williams Friday. She saw 16 minutes the following day, grabbing 5 rebounds & adding 3 steals as they got in the win column with a 55-51 triumph over Salem State.

- SUNY New Paltz (Paige Niemeyer, Bridget Whelan) evened their record at 1-1 with a 92-81 victory over Vassar Tuesday. After missing the season opener, Niemeyer - an Ichabod Crane grad and current junior - went for 12 points (5/8 FG), 7 rebounds, & 2 assists in 15 minutes off the bench in the win.

- SUNY Brockport (Julianna Taylor, Kylee Rosbrook) fell in their season opener to a strong St. John Fisher squad Tuesday, 54-41. Taylor, a Fonda-Fultonville grad and Eagle sophomore, finished with 5 points, 2 rebounds, & a game high 6 assists. Rosbrook, a General Brown grad, had 2 points & 2 rebounds in her collegiate debut.

- SUNY Oswego (Samantha Doupe, Morgan Wolanin) started off their season on the right foot with a 62-55 W at Clarkson Wednesday. Doupe, a Phoenix grad making her collegiate debut, played 28 minutes off the bench and finished with 13 points, 7 rebounds, & 4 assists in the victory.

- Whitesboro grad and Utica freshman Petrina DeMarco got the start in her collegiate debut, finishing with 5 points & 4 rebounds in 23 minutes as they defeated SUNY Potsdam 60-43 on Tuesday. She then produced with 7 points, 2 rebounds, & 2 steals in 22 minutes as they handled Wells 65-47 Saturday.

- Suffolk (Jordan Hipwell, Lauren Hill) got in the winning column with a 68-62 triumph over Emerson Monday. Hipwell, a Ballston Spa grad & Ram sophomore, then contributed 11 points, 4 rebounds, & 2 assists in 31 minutes as they continued their winning streak with an 81-65 W over Salve Regina Wednesday.

- Clarkson (Maddie Pratt, Emily Zeyak) fell in their season opener to visiting SUNY Oswego Wednesday, 62-55. Pratt, a Bolton grad making her collegiate debut, finished with 2 points & 3 rebounds in 18 minutes of action.

- Middlebury (Emily Wander, Alana Kornaker) started their season with a pair of wins in the back end of the week in their host tournament. They handled Lasell Friday, breaking it open early and winning 81-43. Wander, a Bethlehem grad & current sophomore, played 19 minutes off the bench and finished with 6 points, 4 rebounds, & 3 steals, and Kornaker - a Wayne grad & current freshman - saw her first collegiate minutes. Wander then provided another spark off the bench Saturday in their 63-57 W over Springfield, adding 8 points in 18 minutes.

- Castleton St. (Anna Iannotti) overcame a 2nd half deficit to beat NVU-Lyndon 63-58 Wednesday. Iannotti, a Mt. Anthony (VT) grad, had 2 points & a rebound. She then added 7 points & 4 rebounds in 16 minutes of action Saturday as they knocked off NVU-Johnson 63-33.

- Western New England (Paige Brinkman) went to 2-0 with a 58-49 win over Springfield Tuesday.

- Keuka (Brianna Legacy) handled Medaille in their season opener Thursday, 72-53. Legacy, a Mt. Anthony (VT) grad and current sophomore, finished with 2 points & 2 rebounds in 12 minutes Saturday as they fell to UMass Boston 78-69. She followed it up with a big showing Sunday, leading all scorers with 21 points, 8 rebounds, & 2 steals in 23 minutes as they beat Dean College 91-45.

- Mount St. Mary (Katie Smith, Kylie Sisto) fell to Misericordia on Saturday in their only game of the week, 65-41. Smith, a Goshen grad and Knight sophomore, finished with 8 points & 3 assists in 21 minutes.

- RPI (Emily Vallee) went to 3-0 on the young season Friday with a 67-45 W over Farmingdale. Vallee, a freshman from Schuylerville, had an assist in 9 minutes. She also grabbed a pair of rebounds in 6 rebounds Sunday, but they took their first loss of their season, dropping one to Amherst - the nation's top-ranked team - 72-39.

- D'Youville (Sara Field) fell to Elmira in a nonconference tilt Monday, 79-63. She then saw 9 minutes Friday, adding a bucket to the cause in their 85-74 loss to Brockport. Field, a current sophomore from VVS, did the same in 8 minutes the following day in their 74-63 W over Morrisville.

- Skidmore (Mary Kate Palleschi) fell on the road to SUNY Oneonta Tuesday, 60-33.

- SUNY Cortland (Rylee vonWedel) fell on the road at Hartwick to start their season, losing 65-51 Tuesday.

Southern Vermont (Julia Ryan, FY, Shenendehowa) - 11/17, TBD, TBD
St. John Fisher (Olivia Baumann, so, Guilderland; Mallory Wood, FY, Averill Park) - 11/17, TBD, TBD
Suffolk (Jordan Hipwell, so, Ballston Spa; Lauren Hill, FY, Cobleskill-Richmondville) - 11/17, Endicott, 7:30; 11/18, TBD, TBD
SUNY Brockport (Julianna Taylor, so, Fonda-Fultonville; Kylee Rosbrook, FY, General Brown) - 11/16, D'Youville, 7:00; 11/17, TBD, TBD
SUNY Canton (Jasmine Gonzalez, FY, Gloversville) - 11/16, Cobleskill, 7:00; 11/18, Potsdam, 1:00
SUNY Geneseo (Natalie DiSalvo, jr, Canton; Meaghan Perrino, FY, Cooperstown; Megan Roell, FY, Valley Central) - 11/16, Lycoming, 7:30; 11/17, TBD @ York, TBD
SUNY Oneonta (Olivia Allrich, jr, Ballston Spa) - 11/16, Salem St., 8:00; 11/17, @ Williams, 3:00
SUNY Oswego (Morgan Wolanin, jr, Oriskany; Samantha Doupe, FY, Phoenix) - 11/17, @ Alfred St., 1:00
SUNY Plattsburgh (Kayla Doody, FY, Tamarac) - 11/16, New England College, 6:00; 11/17, TBD, TBD
SUNY Poly (Cassidy Albright, jr, New York Mills; Sam Dayter, FY, Cohoes) - 11/16, Anna Maria, 7:30; 11/17, TBD @ St. John Fisher, TBD
Western New England (Paige Brinkman, FY, Schalmont) - 11/17, Rutgers-Camden, 4:00; 11/18, TBD @ Neumann, TBD

Junior College

- Shaker grad and Herkimer freshman Lexi DeBeatham had the best game in her young General career Tuesday, going for a game high 22 points (9/15 FG) and adding 4 rebounds & 3 steals in 37 minutes as they defeated TC3 on the road, 70-40.

- Albany grad and Niagara CC freshman Aubrey Halloran contributed 12 points & 7 rebounds Wednesday, and her squad ran their record to 5-0 by way of an impressive 86-65 victory over Onondaga CC.

- Utica Proctor grad and Onondaga CC freshman Namir Davis finished with 13 points (6/11 FG) & 3 assists Wednesday, but the Lazers fell to visiting NJCAA D2 program Niagara CC, 86-65.

Niagara CC (Aubrey Halloran, FY, Albany) - 11/17, Howard CC, 1:00; 11/18, @ Allegany College of Maryland, 1:00
Corning CC (Bre Palmatier, FY, Middleburgh) - 11/17, @ Herkimer, 1:00
Herkimer (Lexi DeBeatham, FY, Shaker) - 11/17, Corning CC, 1:00; 11/18, Finger Lakes CC, 12:00
Hudson Valley CC (Lyndsay Miller, so, Shaker; Madison Graber, FY, Schalmont) - 11/18, @ Schenectady CC, 1:00
Jefferson CC (Ally Crosby, FY, Hammond; Katelyn Flanagan, FY, Canton) - 11/17, Schenectady CC, 1:00; 11/18, @ Fulton-Montgomery CC, 1:00
Onondaga CC (Namir Davis, FY, Utica Proctor) - 11/18, @ Columbia-Greene, 1:00

College Roundup: Former ESTers At The Next Level (Week of 11/5-11/11)

The beginning of November brings some things that aren't desirable - colder weather, too-early Christmas music in stores, the thought of the dreaded four letter 'S' word (snow). However, with all of that comes perhaps the best time of year - the start of basketball season. College basketball games are now in the process of tipping off, first with NJCAA games last week and following with Division I games Tuesday. Division 2 & 3 games are next up, with select teams getting their seasons underway at the end of this week with many others getting their first game action next week.

Nearly 100 girls that have participated in EST events are now playing at the collegiate level, with a record 52 making the jump in the Class of 2018 alone. As the season goes on, there will be weekly blog posts featuring updates on those ESTers and their schedules. The list for the week of November 5-11 - Division 1, 2, 3, and NJCAA - is below.


Division I

- Frankfort-Schuyler grad and St. Bonaventure junior Danielle Migliore was regarded as one of the Atlantic 10's most improved players last winter, and she looks to continue to play an important role for what appears to be an improving Bonnies team. She played 18 minutes in their season opener, a 76-48 W over Niagara, and finished with 4 points & 4 rebounds. She then started Friday night and played 25 minutes, finishing with 5 points & 3 rebounds in their 67-40 defeat at #14 Georgia.

- Shaker grad and LIU Brooklyn freshman Shyla Sanford had a solid debut in a Blackbird jersey, coming off the bench and finishing with 4 points & 3 rebounds in 19 minutes of play in their 61-46 L to Manhattan. She then saw 25 minutes off the bench Friday and had 4 points & 2 steals in their 57-42 defeat to Army.

- Shenendehowa grad and St. Francis (BK) freshman Alexandra Tudor had a strong debut in their season opener Tuesday. She came off the bench and finished with 11 points (5/8 FG), 6 rebounds, and 4 assists in 22 minutes of action as they defeated D2 Mercy College 102-51. They then went to 2-0 with a 73-65 victory over Manhattan Saturday.

- Jamesville-DeWitt grad and Bryant sophomore Julia Kelner made the most of her minutes Thursday night against Brown. She played 11 minutes off the bench and finished with 6 points (3/4 FG), 3 rebounds, and 2 blocks in their 75-57 victory. She also saw minutes on Tuesday in their season-opening 58-57 W over UMass Lowell.

- Cooperstown grad and Albany freshman Julie Ford saw 13 minutes in her collegiate debut and grabbed 3 rebounds - they fell on the road to #22 USF, 74-37.

- Kingston grad and Fordham freshman Chloe Chaffin saw 11 minutes off the bench in her collegiate debut and grabbed 3 rebounds as they handled Wagner 80-59 Friday. They fell to 1-1 on Sunday, losing 58-54 at Northeastern.

- UMass (Lauraine Joensen) started its '18-'19 campaign with a 78-61 victory over Sacred Heart Tuesday. They fell to .500 on Sunday, losing 78-53 at Towson.

- Davidson (Saeeda Abdul-Aziz) took home a season-opening 80-47 triumph over D2 Queens (Charlotte) on Wednesday night, and they ran their record to 2-0 with a convincing 72-34 victory at Charleston Southern Sunday.

- Columbia (Sydney Brown) went over to Long Island to take home a season opening win on the road, 65-63 over Hofstra, on Friday night.

- Vermont (Sophie Wittenbeck) started off their season on the right foot, taking home a 54-49 victory over Rider on Friday. The Waterville grad saw her first collegiate minutes Sunday in a 66-42 loss to Dartmouth.

- Siena (Hanna Strawn - out with injury) went down to the final minute in their season opener Saturday, but fell to Penn, 58-51.


Division II

- Cohoes grad and Georgian Court sophomore Nerea Brajac had a very productive freshman year for the Lions, and she had a strong individual performance in her opener to Year 2. She finished with 14 points (7/9 FG), 5 rebounds, and 3 steals in 30 minutes of play in their 94-64 loss to Merrimack Friday. She added 4 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals in 24 minutes Saturday in their 97-63 defeat to Bentley.

- Glens Falls grad and Queens sophomore Lucy Tougas started off her 2nd collegiate campaign with a solid showing in a victory. She played 29 minutes off the bench and finished with 8 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists in their 87-77 W over Chestnut Hill Saturday. The next day, she got the starting nod and put up her first collegiate double-double, finishing with 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists in a 90-62 loss to Jefferson.

- Mt. Abraham (VT) grad and Franklin Pierce freshman Emma Carter had an eye-opening collegiate debut. Franklin Pierce nearly overcame a 14 point halftime deficit, falling to Goldey-Beacom 69-67 Friday, and Emma came off the bench to put up 14 points (5/8 FG), 6 rebounds, & 2 steals in 25 minutes. She then got the starting nod Saturday and finished with 4 points, 4 rebounds, & steals in 23 minutes in their 56-48 loss to USciences.

- Averill Park grad and St. Anselm freshman Stephanie Jankovic made noise in the latter of the Hawks' two wins over the weekend. After playing 10 minutes in her collegiate debut Friday, a 88-51 decision over Dominican, she knocked down 3 threes and had 11 points (4/6 FG) in just 9 minutes of action in their 89-47 W over Bloomfield Saturday.

- Saint Rose (Nina Fedullo, Becca Townes) started off their season with a pair of narrow victories away from home, beating Daemen 69-66 Friday and Roberts Wesleyan 58-57 in a true away game Saturday. Fedullo saw solid minutes off the bench in both games, grabbing 4 rebounds in 17 minutes against Daemen and chipping in 2 points & 3 rebounds in 20 minutes against Roberts Wesleyan.

- Syracuse Nottingham grad and Bowie State freshman Chyna Butler had a strong collegiate debut Saturday, coming off the bench to contribute 8 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals in 18 minutes in their 60-52 W over Shippensburg. She then saw 22 minutes the next day, finishing with 7 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals in their 74-67 loss to East Stroudsburg.

- Florida Southern (Tara Sager) came out with two wins to start their '18-'19 season, defeating Lee 70-64 Friday and blowing out Shorter 81-45 Saturday.



Division III

- Middleburgh grad and Alfred sophomore Lyndsey McCoy saw 25 minutes of action off the bench in the Saxons' season opener, and she finished with 8 points & 2 rebounds in their 75-63 defeat to SUNY Cobleskill Saturday.

- Tamarac grad and SUNY Plattsburgh freshman Kayla Doody made the most of her opportunity in her collegiate debut, getting 26 minutes off the bench and contributing 5 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists in their 59-52 Saturday win over visiting Norwich.

- Beekmantown grad and Elmira freshman Alyssa Waters got the start in her collegiate debut and saw 35 minutes of action, finishing with 6 points, 2 rebounds, & 2 steals in a 53-49 loss to Hilbert.

- Shenendehowa grad and Southern Vermont freshman Julia Ryan saw big minutes off the bench in her collegiate debut and contributed 5 points, 2 rebounds, 3 steals, and 3 blocks in their 65-58 setback at SUNY Cobleskill. In their Saturday game at Mt. Holyoke, she got the start and finished with 7 points, 2 steals, and 2 blocks in 35 minutes of action in a 65-56 victory.

- Hartwick (Maggie Kirby, Molly Kirby, Kelly Pine, Giuliana Pritchard) had an impressive victory in their season opener, knocking off Liberty League opponent Union 60-49. Maggie Kirby, a Bethlehem grad & current freshman, saw 35 minutes in her first collegiate game. She finished with 12 points (4/6 from beyond the arc) and 6 rebounds. Twin sister Molly had a productive 15 minutes off the bench, finishing with 7 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists. Giuliana Pritchard, an Amsterdam grad and another freshman, finished with 4 points & 2 rebounds in 9 minutes of play. Kelly Pine, a Hoosick Falls grad and the lone sophomore of the four, played 33 minutes in a starting role and grabbed 8 rebounds & dished out a pair of assists.

- Shenendehowa grad and Keene State sophomore Samira Sangare, a transfer from Division II Dominican, saw a large role in her debut with the Owls. In Friday's opener, a 62-48 triumph over Anna Maria, Samira started and finished with 12 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, & 2 steals in 25 minutes. The next day, she finished with 8 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists in 34 minutes in their 49-46 defeat to Maine Maritime.

- Mount St. Mary (Katie Smith, Kylie Sisto) ran their lead to 28 by the end of the 3rd quarter and coasted to a 59-39 victory at Univ. of St. Joseph Saturday. Smith, a Goshen grad and current sophomore, hit 4 threes and led all scorers with 16 points, along with adding 2 rebounds & 2 assists in 23 minutes of play.

- SUNY Geneseo (Natalie DiSalvo, Meaghan Perrino, Megan Roell) started off its season with a blowout victory on the road, beating Hilbert 78-51 Thursday. They picked up their second win of the week Saturday, holding off visiting William Smith 67-63 Saturday.

- RPI (Emily Vallee) took home a season-opening 84-50 W over Albany College of Pharmacy on Thursday evening, and they ran their record to 2-0 with a 77-62 triumph over Gordon Saturday.

- D'Youville (Sara Field) started off their season with a road win, holding off Wells 74-69 on Saturday.

- Western New England (Paige Brinkman) started off their season with a road win, breaking open a tie game after 3 quarters to beat Suffolk 66-58 Saturday.

- Suffolk (Jordan Hipwell, Lauren Hill) held a 7 point halftime lead, but fell 66-58 to Western New England in their season opener Saturday. Hipwell, a Ballston Spa grad and current sophomore, started for the Rams and grabbed 5 rebounds in 28 minutes of play.

- New Paltz (Paige Niemeyer, Bridget Whelan) fell in their season opener in an early season matchup between contending D3 programs, losing 79-71 in overtime to visiting RIT Friday.

- Skidmore (Mary Kate Palleschi) fell in their season opener at home Saturday, a 49-46 overtime loss to Muhlenberg.

- Union (Maggie Schuermann) lost their season opener Friday, a 60-49 decision at Hartwick.


Junior College

- Albany grad Aubrey Halloran has started and performed well in four blowout victories for D2 Niagara CCC to start the year. She finished with 10 points (5/7 FG), 6 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks in a victory over Lehigh Carbon CC, and she added a 14 point (7/10 FG), 6 rebound, 2 assist, 2 block performance in their defeat of Northampton CC. Over the weekend in their host tournament, she went for 18 points (8/11 FG), 11 rebounds, & 5 blocks in their 91-63 victory over Jackson College and added 14 points (6/8 FG), 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, & 2 blocks in a 128-49 drubbing of Pitt-Titusville.

- Utica Proctor grad and Onondaga CC freshman Namir Davis has started all five games for the 4-1 Lazers. She's averaging 9.6 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 2.2 APG, and 3.2 SPG so far, including a 13 point/5 rebound/3 assist/5 steal performance against defending NJCAA D3 national champion Hostos. She added 10 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals in a 110-55 beatdown of Schenectady CCC, and finished the weekend off with a 7 point/4 steal game in their 59-55 W over Fulton-Montgomery.

- Shaker grad and Herkimer freshman Lexi DeBeatham has started all three games for the Generals to start, including being logged for a full 40 minutes in two of them. After finishing with 8 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, & 6 steals in a 48-43 L to Hudson Valley, she's averaging 4.7 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 4 APG, and 4.3 SPG to start the '18-'19 campaign.

- Middleburgh grad and Corning CC freshman Bre Palmatier has started all four games for the Red Barons so far. She finished with 8 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists in a 66-56 L to Genesee CC, and she had 5 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists in a 69-50 defeat to Jamestown CC. She finished with 4 points & 4 rebounds in their 77-50 loss to North Country CC Saturday, and she contributed 9 points, 7 rebounds, & 6 assists Sunday as they got their first win with an 82-42 triumph over Clinton CC.

- Jefferson CC coach Josh Woodward secured a freshman class deep in St. Lawrence County talent, including Hammond grad Ally Crosby and Canton grad Katelyn Flanagan. They made impacts in their debuts for the 2-1 Cannoneers. Crosby finished with 6 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 blocks in a defeat to powerful Baltimore City CC, and she added 7 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals in a victory over Prince George's CC. In the weekend's only game, Crosby had a monster showing, finishing with 24 points (10/19 FG), 17 rebounds (10 offensive), and 4 blocks in 35 minutes as they beat Hudson Valley 76-75. She hit the game winning free throw with :01.1 remaining to seal the win. Flanagan finished with 9 points against Baltimore City CC and added 6 points & 2 rebounds vs. Prince George's, and she's shooting 50% from behind the arc to start the season.

- Shaker grad and Hudson Valley CC sophomore Lyndsay Miller and Schalmont grad/freshman Madison Graber have helped the Vikings start their season 3-1. Miller finished with 13 points (4/7 FG), 3 rebounds, and 4 assists in a 96-13 drubbing of Rockland CC, and she added 4 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 assists in their 85-44 W over Cayuga CC. Graber, an impactful pickup in their freshman class, finished with 5 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals in their win vs. Rockland, and she went for 16 points & 6 rebounds against Cayuga. She then contributed double digits again over the weekend, finishing with 12 points & 6 rebounds in their 48-43 W over Herkimer Saturday, and then added 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 blocks in a narrow 76-75 defeat to Jefferson Sunday.

The Last of the Fall Leagues: Westmoreland Fall League Notes, Standouts, Etc.

On Sundays in October & early November, the center of Utica area girls’ basketball happened to be in Westmoreland for a new area fall league. Adirondack, Brookfield, Clinton, Mt. Markham, Notre Dame, Oriskany, Poland, South Lewis, Westmoreland, and Whitesboro met in the Westmoreland HS gym over the last five weeks as the programs, all in very different stages of development, prepare for the upcoming winter. It was more in the format of an instructional league than a true play-to-win format – one referee, 1-point/1-shot free throw format on shooting fouls, etc. – but the compete level was up on the league’s final night, as players on all ten teams will officially be in basketball season Monday morning.

Game of Note #1

Whitesboro 34, Adirondack 27

The middle of five Sunday night games was the one that looked to be the marquee matchup, and although both teams weren’t at full strength, it still was the game of the night. Whitesboro, playing without standout PG Hannah Scott, struggled offensively to start, but they were able to pick it up on the defensive end and limit a bigger Adirondack team from the jump. What Adirondack did get in the first half came from standout 2020 Belle Kranbuhl. The 6’3” forward, who received another Division I offer from La Salle and also visited Temple and Bucknell over the weekend, dominated in the post while also stepping out and facilitating the offense at times. Unfortunately for her and Adirondack, after scoring 9 of their 12 points to that stage, an awkward fall on a drive late in the half turned into an ankle injury that she would be unable to return from.

Belle Kranbuhl (Adirondack 2020) had a strong showing before going down with an injury before halftime.

Whitesboro kept its defensive edge coming off the back end of Kranbuhl’s injury, and also received major contributions from 2020 Kiley Snow and 2019 Kelsey Wands as they stretched their 2^nd half lead to as much as 14. Snow provided a major scoring punch that the Warriors desperately needed, converting in different ways en route to a game high 19 points. Wands added 10 points for the Warriors while making an impact on the glass with her trademark high motor, and she looked more comfortable than ever as she looks to now be completely behind a serious knee injury suffered in 2017. Adirondack made one last late push, as 2020 Camille Roberts got it going in the final moments knocking down a pair of threes, but it came up short as Whitesboro ended the league with a victory.

Kelsey Wands (Whitesboro 2019) will be a major key to the Warriors' success on the court this winter.

  

Game of Note #2

Utica Notre Dame 45, Brookfield 38

The opener of the evening’s five games became more interesting than I had perhaps anticipated. In a game of major runs, Notre Dame was the beneficiary of the last one and was able to deliver the knockout blow to last year’s Section 3 Class D finalist in the final moments.

Notre Dame was able to quickly jump out to an 11-0 lead, pressuring the Beavers and turning them over several times. The tide turned when Brookfield 2021 Jaelyn Vleer-Elliott arrived, though. The 5’11” standout forward, upon arrival, jumped in and played a different role than usual. With Vleer-Elliott essentially playing the role of point forward, Brookfield was able to settle down on the offensive end while gaining their main rebounding & shot blocking presence defensively. The Beavers were able to cut their deficit to 2 by halftime, and with Vleer-Elliott using good court vision up top to create for others, they forged a 2^nd half lead. A three from Jaelyn gave them their largest lead of 5 with just over 7 minutes left. 

That was when Notre Dame buckled down and made their push. 2020 PG Caitlin Snyder was able to put pressure on Brookfield’s zone defense, finding the gaps & getting into the lane. She attacked the rim, got to the line, and converted. She then was able to get to the basket again, this time finishing while getting fouled & adding the free throw. On another late possession, she got into the lane, drew extra defenders, and kicked to the wing for an open three to effectively put the game on ice. A 16-1 Notre Dame run gave the Jugglers a 10 point lead with under a minute remaining, and they were able to coast in for the victory.

Final Scores (alternate scoring format – all shooting fouls 1 point, 1 FT attempt instead of 2 FTAs) (two 20-minute running time halves)

Utica Notre Dame 45, Brookfield 38

Poland 32, Westmoreland 16
Whitesboro 34, Adirondack 27
Clinton 43, South Lewis 16
Mt. Markham 30, Oriskany 16

Evaluator Notes – Individual Standouts

Belle Kranbuhl (6’3” F; Adirondack 2020) – I know I wasn’t alone in feeling that seeing Kranbuhl go down in obvious pain – on the same day that she picked up her first Atlantic 10 offer and the day before the start of basketball season – made my heart sink. Certainly hoping for the best for Belle in the upcoming recovery process – a fantastic person with an extremely bright future. Before the injury, she was a force at both ends, effectively keeping the Wildcats competitive. She did some of everything – back-to-basket scoring, mid-post face-up drives to either score or draw extra defenders & kick, and even was called upon to bring it up & facilitate the offense a few times. Kranbuhl has become one of upstate NY’s most actively recruited players in the 2020 class, with her number of Division I offers quickly approaching double digits, and she made it very apparent why that’s so in limited action.

Kiley Snow (5’11” Wing; Whitesboro 2020) – With longtime starting point guard Hannah Scott & fellow guard Alana Batson both out of the lineup for this one, it threw some players into different spots on the court. This meant that Snow, a natural wing, had to move on the ball for some of the game. Not a problem in this contest, as Kiley looked more comfortable on the ball than I’ve ever previously seen. Defensively, she effectively got up and pressured the ball both by using her length and showing the ability to slide her feet & stay in front. Offensively, she scored at all three levels en route to a game high 19 points in their win. She knocked down 3 threes from different spots on the court, attacked off the dribble and finished at the rim – twice through contact – and perhaps her biggest basket of the game was a pull-up 15 footer in transition to give them a double digit lead late in the contest. A strong last few months has put Kiley on the radar of a few NE-10 schools, as coaches are starting to see the upside that she possesses.

Kiley Snow (Whitesboro 2020)

Hayleigh Gates (5’5” G; Mt. Markham 2021) – The Mustangs had an undesirable 8:30 nightcap game on Sunday night, but Gates was able to show a little bit of everything she has to offer. The athletic combo guard didn’t do a bunch of any particular thing, but had her prints on many aspects of the game. On a night that didn’t provide her best shooting game, she responded by putting it on the floor in the half-court, getting paint touches against their opponent’s zone defense and making the right read to either attack the rim or make the defense collapse and find the right open teammate. She was also able to turn defense into offense, getting out in transition and converting. Gates has pretty solid feel for the game and as a sophomore, she looked comfortable assuming a bit of a leadership role for her team. Looking forward to seeing how she develops over time.

Hayleigh Gates (Mt. Markham 2021)

Jaelyn Vleer-Elliott (5’11” F; Brookfield 2021) – It was an unfamiliar role for JVE, but after seeing Brookfield play in this game, it may be one that she’ll be getting used to this winter. The skilled forward had to run the point for most of the game, and they experienced the most success as a team with her on the ball. Although it’s not her natural skill set, she handled the ball well enough to get to where she wanted on the court, and she showed good court vision and surprisingly good precision passing ability to hit teammates on time & on target in areas that they could score. She didn’t look to score too much, but was efficient when she did, shooting at a high percentage and doing so off post-ups, drives from the perimeter, and a top of the key three.

Jaelyn Vleer-Elliott (Brookfield 2021)

Other Notes

As a Mohawk Valley native, I’m very aware that Poland is as big of a soccer town as you’ll find. In a small school system such as that (Class D) with another sport being so dominant, half the battle is getting players in the gym. The Tornadoes have went up & down in talent over the last decade, as all small schools do, but the two things that have remained constant are that they’ll get a full roster to all basketball events and they’ll play hard. This was also true In this fall league, fielding a full roster and wearing out host Westmoreland over the course of the game. A lot of credit goes to Coach Potempa for that, who has shown active interest in keeping his girls going in offseason basketball throughout his tenure. This isn’t as easy of a feat in a small school, and it was good to see those kind of numbers at this league.

For a struggling program, the rebuild has to start somewhere. Two schools in this league are going about that process now, and they’re neighboring districts. Westmoreland, the host school, has never been known for its girls basketball program. The fact that a 10 team fall league and a summer league at approximately the same size were both hosted in Westmoreland this year is encouraging. It’s a new regime for the Bulldogs – it seems like the new varsity coach is trying to keep basketball fresh in the minds of the upcoming athletes. A few miles up Route 233, Clinton is making their return after having to drop their varsity program due to lack of numbers. Right now, they have those numbers back, and they also have youth. The school seems to always have athletes – hopefully they’ll start to experience some success on the court sooner rather than later to reinvigorate interest in basketball among the local youth. The rebuilding process can take several years, but I’m optimistic that these two schools are getting on the right path.

CNY Fall League Varsity Championship Day: Red Rams Roll (And More)

The Game

Jamesville-DeWitt 48, Norwich 32

In a championship game that featured a pair of perennially successful programs from neighboring sections, Jamesville-DeWitt came out of the gates firing on all cylinders. An early 18-1 run helped them seize control, and they were able to extend their cushion to 21 points by halftime. Red Ram returners Paige Keeler (2020), Gabby Stickle (2020), Andrea Sumida (2020), and Momo LaClair (2021) were instrumental in the hot start. They combined to score all 18 points in the early run, and when Norwich cut into the early deficit, Stickle & Keeler responded with consecutive threes – the 4^th & 5^th of the 1^st quarter for JD – to give them a 26-14 edge through 8 minutes. They turned it up defensively in the 2^nd quarter to effectively break it open, holding Norwich to 5 points in the period as LaClair scored 8 on her own to help push their lead to 40-19. With the lead at 20, the game went to running time for most of the 3^rd quarter, which drastically decreased the scoring output. Norwich responded well after halftime, turning up the pressure defensively and chipping their deficit, which was as much as 22, to 42-30 midway through the 4^th quarter. However, the early barrage was far too much for them to overcome, as they took their only loss of the fall in the league’s final game.

Keeler & LaClair led the way with 13 points apiece in the victory. Keeler scored all of hers in the first half, along with hitting 3 of Jamesville-DeWitt’s 7 first half threes, and LaClair scored 11 before intermission. Stickle joined them in double figures with 11, all in the 1^st quarter, and also hit 3 threes. Norwich 2020 Abby Flynn paced them in scoring with 8 points, and 2019 Taylor Hansen added 7 points.

Gabby Stickle knocked down 3 early threes and finished with 11 points in Jamesville-DeWitt's fall league championship game win.

The Thoughts

The fall league championship game, pitting 3-time defending NYSPHSAA Class A champion Jamesville-DeWitt against perennial Section 4 Class B contender Norwich, was a bit more lopsided than I had anticipated. However, the outcome was far less about Norwich flaws and much more an act of J-D firing on all cylinders and perhaps sending a bit of a preseason message. The Rams took a major hit from 2018 graduation, losing Meg Hair (Penn), Jamie Boeheim (Rochester), and Kasey Vaughan – all integral parts of the last three state championship teams. That being said, they return a handful of multi-year varsity players that have either been main pieces or played important minutes the last couple winters. The main four – Momo LaClair, Gabby Stickle, Paige Keeler, and Andrea Sumida – ran the show when it mattered in this game, combining to score 44 of the team’s 48 points and spearheading their defensive effort. Long story short, they’re still the real deal and will be for at least a couple years to come.

Returning 2020 Paige Keeler will likely be a major factor in Jamesville-DeWitt's success this winter.

Norwich was dominant in the fall league up to that point, being the only team that entered playoffs undefeated. As a coach, you play in a league like that to get those games. They may have run into a buzzsaw in this one, but they’ll be fine, to say the least. The Purple Tornado (singular), after years of being competitive but a step or two behind Seton Catholic & Susquehanna Valley teams that have secured 3 of the last 4 Class B state titles, has to be considered the early frontrunner in Section 4’s perennially competitive Class B field. They have plenty of the trademark Coach Bennett grit & toughness, but they also add a level of depth that most teams can’t match. They have seasoned leadership in 2019 Taylor Hansen and 2020s Halea Eaton & Abby Flynn, but they can legitimately go 8 deep without dropping off much (and possibly even beyond that). They had problems scoring in this particular game, but with their ability to get out & convert in transition, get to the line as a team, and create second-chance opportunities consistently, I don’t see that being an issue in the winter.

These two teams will be getting even more familiar with each other in coming weeks, as they have a preseason scrimmage scheduled. Look for both squads to be playing into March once again in the 2018-19 campaign.

Longtime Norwich standout Taylor Hansen will play a major key in their goals to advance out of Section 4 this winter.

The League

The CNY Fall League, based in the Syracuse area, completed its 5^th year on October 28. This year’s league featured three separate divisions. 

The varsity division included high school squads from Baldwinsville, General Brown (Watertown area), Ithaca, Jamesville-DeWitt, Norwich, and Seton Catholic (Binghamton), along with mixed/AAU squads representing the Syracuse Royals, Syracuse Nets, and CBA Syracuse/Liverpool. High school teams & mixed teams were split for playoffs; Syracuse Royals (Red) took home the mixed varsity championship.

The junior varsity division fielded teams representing Baldwinsville, General Brown, Ithaca, Jamesville-DeWitt, Sandy Creek, and Victor (Rochester area), along with mixed/AAU teams representing the Syracuse Royals, Syracuse Nets, and ‘Upstate Eat Wolf’, which featured many 7^th/8^th grade I-90 Elite players. Like the varsity division, high school & mixed teams were split for playoffs. Victor won the junior varsity school championship, and Syracuse Nets (Zona) took home the AAU team crown.

Oneida teammates Sydney Lusher (top) and Ella Rainbow, both 2021s, helped Syracuse Royals (Red) run to a varsity AAU division championship in the CNY Fall League.

The fall league also completed its second year of a ‘WNBA’ division, a separate varsity level league that consists of individual signups with teams mainly split up & constructed by the league’s directors. The WNBA division consisted of six teams with players representing the I-90 corridor east to Albany and west to Buffalo, along with the Southern Tier & Twin Tiers of NY. The ‘Atlanta Dream’, a team consisting of players mainly from the greater Buffalo region, ran the table in the division and took home the championship in a double-elimination playoff format.