RFA Turns Up Pressure to Hold Off Proctor

December 17, 2019

Rome Free Academy 44, Proctor 32

Tuesday's schedule featured absolutely nothing in Section 2, where the inclement weather caused a complete wipeout in a slate of over 30 games, so that called for a trip 'back home' to the Mohawk Valley, where several local schools toughed it out and played. This included RFA & Proctor, who kept the always-fun Rome vs. Utica battle on. In a game that featured particularly young rosters for both sides, RFA seized control with a 2nd quarter run and maintained breathing room to the finish line, holding off a host Proctor squad that continued to compete.

The 1st quarter featured three ties & four lead changes, as both teams traded buckets & stops in a jagged start. RFA was the beneficiary at the free throw line early, scoring their last five points of the quarter from there thanks to Proctor committing seven team fouls at the start. After Lleneila Rodriguez (Proctor 2023) scored twice to give Proctor an edge, Amya McLeod (RFA 2023) went 4/4 from the line late in the quarter, the second pair giving the Knights a 10-8 lead going into the 2nd. RFA extended a run deep into the 2nd, scoring the first eight points of the frame while holding Proctor scoreless for nearly eight minutes in all. A pair of Areyona Davis FTs capped RFA's run at 12-0 - including 8/8 from the line, six from McLeod. Proctor made a push late in the half, with Rodriguez scoring at the rim to start a 6-0 spurt that included two free throws and a basket from Tamia Brown (Proctor 2022). RFA went into the locker room up 20-14 after a Tailyn Frost (RFA 2022) basket.

Amya McLeod spent plenty of time in the paint for RFA, finishing with a game high 16 pts (8/8 FT) in their win.

Proctor went 2-3 out of the locker room, and Frost started the 2nd half by banging a corner three to get RFA going. Proctor cut the deficit back to six, but a 6-0 spurt featuring a pair of McLeod baskets put the Knights up double digits again. The hosts only cut the deficit to single digits once more in the game, when a pair of Rodriguez free throws in the final seconds of the 3rd made the score 31-22 in favor of RFA. The 4th quarter started the same way the 3rd did, with Frost canning a three, and another McLeod driving basket gave RFA their largest lead of 14 at 36-22. They hit that margin once more after a pair of McLeod free throws in the final minute, but Proctor couldn't get any closer than 10 in the 4th as the teams traded baskets at the end like they did at the start.

The youngsters ruled the roost in this contest. Amya McLeod finished with a game high 16 points for RFA, shooting 8/8 from the line in the process. Tailyn Frost added 9 for the visitors, including a pair of 2nd half threes. Lleneila Rodriguez paced the Raiders with 13 points, and Tamia Brown added 8 for Proctor. In all, freshmen/sophomores produced 49 of the game's 76 points, including all of the aforementioned four.

Lleneila Rodriguez led the way for Proctor, finishing with 13 points.

#ThoughtsFromTheBaseline

- RFA got one on a night that probably was far from their best offensive showing. Outside of the two Frost threes to start the 3rd & 4th quarters, they were 0-for-whatever from deep, and they missed a ton at/around the rim. They were still able to take care of business after establishing control with the 2nd quarter run though, thanks in part to a steady defensive performance. They kept Proctor in single digits each quarter besides the 4th, where a Raider hit a jumper just before the buzzer to give them 10 in the frame. Also, one place the visitors didn't miss much Tuesday was the free throw line, going 16/20 on the night. As mentioned above, that included 8/8 from Amya McLeod, which is big considering the amount of time she can spend there with her explosive, downhill style.

Tailyn Frost hit a pair of threes and chipped in with 9 points in RFA's win Tuesday.

- To be honest, especially without Ari Staton in uniform, Proctor competed better than I thought they would. They played from behind most of the way, but they competed basically every possession from start to finish. This has been an issue with some Proctor teams I've seen in the past, but this group battled last night, which was good to see. I mentioned that RFA struggled to finish around the rim, and part of that is on them, but part of it is also that athletic help was generally there or in the area at the rim. Imani Penny, their tallest/longest starter, was having a little block party for the first few minutes before she started to get into some foul trouble. They battled on the glass, and although they struggled offensively, they stayed in it with a pretty solid half-court defensive effort on their end. All good signs for a team with a couple freshmen & a sophomore in the starting lineup.

- Tuesday's main scoring punches are varsity returners, but new to the whole high school thing - both freshmen. Amya McLeod (RFA) & Lleneila Rodriguez (Proctor) both were thrust into a great deal of action last year as 8th graders, and more is expected of each this year as they look to help lead their teams in the backcourt... it looks like both are delivering. Amya's explosive athleticism was unmatched in this game, as she used it to go downhill & get paint touches time and time again offensively, and she was a pest on the ball defensively as well. Her ability to draw help defense, keep her head up & make controlled passes to shooters or diving bigs after going full speed into the paint also gave open looks to teammates on many occasions, and it showed some of what her progression has been in 2019. Lleneila has progressed quite a bit herself over the last year, and she looks a great deal more confident. She ran the offense at the PG spot, made everyone calmer & everything run more smoothly with the ball in her hands, and she also packed the main scoring punch for the Raiders, getting to the rim & also showing the jumper when given space. Good to see both in action last night.

- Two trips back to the Utica area in a row where I haven't indulged in any Utica food. No riggies, no greens, no Utica pizza... all I've done is 'wake the hell up' with Utica Coffee Roasting Co.. Who am I? Do I lose Valley points for this? Next trip, I'm going all out. Twitter might see it too!

Northampton Turns It Up After Halftime In Win Over Pittsfield

December 12, 2019

Northampton 65, Pittsfield 45

Games have been counting on the record for nearly three weeks in New York, but December 12 served as the opening night of the MIAA regular season schedule. There was an interesting matchup in the Berkshires right off the bat, as Division 2 state finalist Northampton headed west to take on an always-competitive Pittsfield squad.

Pittsfield briefly held the lead at the outset, as they got off to a quick start with four Jordyn Lummus (Pittsfield 2020) points, but Northampton would then hold Pittsfield scoreless for over 5 minutes, going on an 8-0 run with four coming from Syd Lewandowski (Northampton 2020) to retain the lead for good. Another 9-0 run early in the 2nd quarter, capped with a three-point play from Amanda Mieczkowski (Northampton 2020; Assumption signee) and a Emily Sledzieski trey off a Mieczkowski feed, gave Northampton a double-digit lead at 22-10. Pittsfield made a push to end the half on their home court, starting with a three from Emery Sime to stop the bleeding. The Generals then scored 10 of the last 12 in the half, hitting four late free throws to go into the locker room down 25-22.

Amanda Mieczkowski was a force for Northampton; the Assumption bound PG led the way with 21 pts & had a strong all-around game.

A pair of Mieczkowski free throws to start the 2nd half was answered with another Pittsfield trey off the hand of Alexi Sandrini, but Northampton was able to start gaining separation after seeing their lead cut to 27-25. Mieczkowski had 5 more in a quick spurt, then Jill McGrath hit a pair of free throws & a three to push their edge to 38-26. The margin hovered between 8 and 13 throughout the rest of the 3rd quarter & deep into the 4th, as Pittsfield wasn't able to make a significant push into the deficit, but Northampton was also unable to deliver a knockout blow. The put-away run came predominantly at the free throw line for the visitors, a place where both teams had a great deal of success. After a Lummus and-one cut Pittsfield's deficit to 51-42 with 4:41 left, Northampton scored 7 straight - a Mieczkowski bucket & a 5/6 stretch at the line, all from McGrath - to push their edge to 16 with 2:12 left. In all, Northampton shot 10/11 from the line in the 4th quarter with the last ones coming in the closing seconds to push what was a competitive game up to a 20 point margin.

Amanda Mieczkowski had a strong game for Northampton, running the show at the PG spot and also pumping in a game high 21 points with 15 coming after halftime. Jill McGrath provided another scoring punch at the guard spot, contributing 18 points with 13 coming in the 2nd half. Syd Lewandowski joined them in double figures, contributing 13 points in the victory. Pittsfield also had three players finish in double digits, led by Jordyn Lummus' 19 point effort. Alexi Sandrini added 12 points to the cause, and Emery Sime chipped in with 10.

Jordyn Lummus was relentless for Pittsfield, leading the Generals with 19 points on Thursday.

#ThoughtsFromTheBaseline

- A team with several good athletes will definitely win some games. A team with several good athletes and a true point guard is one I'll go to war with. A team with several good athletes and a true point guard that can also go get a bucket for us? That's one I'll win the war with. I felt like that's what I was looking at in Northampton. It's a pretty athletic group that plays very hard. Jill McGrath produced in transition & in the half-court, Syd Lewandowski handled the paint and also got out & scored on the run, others stepped up & hit open shots... and then there's Mitch. I've always been a sucker for a point guard with high basketball IQ, so I'm always feeling good with Amanda Mieczkowski on my team.

I was impressed with her season opener. The Assumption signee made her presence felt at both ends and along with running the show on offense, creating & setting others up, she was a little more aggressive and looked to score more. She's an unselfish player but has the ability to change games at times with her scoring, and she took the opportunity to do that when needed in this one. The usually trustworthy jumper was a little off Thursday with a few rim-outs on clean looks, so she went downhill and used her strength around the rim, finishing through contact and spending plenty of time at the line. 20+ point game, active rebounder at the defensive end, high assist/turnover ratio, a nuisance on the ball defensively... you'll take that! And perhaps the most evident mark on what Coach Messer thinks of her IQ & importance - she picked up 2 early fouls in the 1st quarter. The vast majority of the time, that's an instant sub until the end of the quarter. In a few instances this year, it's been an instant sub for the rest of the half. For Amanda? Not even a second. She was trusted to ride out the 1st half without picking up a 3rd; she did that, and she ended up going the distance & playing all 32 in this one.

- The free throw shooting in this game was excellent. Northampton shot 23/28 (82.1%) from the line, and Pittsfield wasn't far behind, going 19/25 (76%) from the charity stripe. I'll put the combined 42/53 from the line up against any HS game I get to this winter!

- Haven't ventured into WMass as much during the winter over the last couple years. A big part of that is the increased amount of time spent in the western third of New York, an area I didn't cover at all in the start. Another reason, simply put, is the general lack of success I've had in the past getting western Massachusetts talent over to the Albany area for EST events (the league, the showcases, etc.). Here's my word - going to try & make it into the 413 some more this winter. Cheaper gas & D'Angelo's (well, Angelina's in Pittsfield). Happy start to the season, Massachusetts!

Syd Lewandowski was an important piece to the Northampton puzzle, and she finished with 13 points in the win.

Lombardoni Goes Off Early, Others Make Plays Late in Fonda W Over Mekeel

December 10, 2019

Fonda-Fultonville 57, Mekeel Christian Academy 51

I always say that I don't put much stock in early-season results - and that's true, I don't - but I'm also a fan of early season measuring sticks. There was an interesting one on Tuesday a quick drive on the Thruway west to Exit 28, as two of the WAC's top teams - who both look to make a run at the Section 2 Class B crown in a couple months - met to battle.

It was a fast, but even start. Avery Mills (Mekeel 2024) banged a pull-up three off the opening tip, and Marilyn Whitcavitch (Fonda-Fultonville 2022) finished quickly at the other end, setting the tone for what to expect. It was 6-5 in favor of Mekeel when Mikyla Mitchell, a standout for them, went to the bench with her second foul. Not long after, Abby Lombardoni (Fonda-Fultonville 2020) got on the board with a three, and they were off from there. Fonda went on a 13-2 run to end the 1st quarter, 11 of them coming from Lombardoni as she went off for 14 in the opening frame, as they ran their lead to 21-12 at the end of the quarter. They continued to stretch their lead against a Mekeel squad that was stagnant in the half-court offensively, and Lombardoni kept scoring. She hit her 4th three of the half right before the halftime buzzer, giving her 21 points before intermission and giving Fonda a 32-18 cushion.

Abby Lombardoni was dominant in the early goings of Tuesday's contest, dropping 21 of her game high 25 in the 1st half.

The Braves extended their cushion to 16 twice early in the 3rd on baskets by 2022s Kyla Smith and Lyndsay Lombardoni, and a Carly Atty three-point play gave them a 41-27 lead with 3:37 left in the 3rd, but Mekeel would charge back from there. Mills hit a pair of free throws with 2:10 remaining in the quarter, and she got loose from there, going on a personal 9-0 run over the remainder of the 3rd. Her three not long before the buzzer cut Mekeel's deficit to 41-36 with eight minutes to play.

The visitors continued their charge back in the 4th. A Whitcavitch bucket extended Fonda's lead to 8, but five straight Mitchell points - who was still bogged down with foul trouble - cut the deficit to 45-42 with 3:58 left. Smith responded with a three for Fonda, and Jill Ballard (Mekeel 2020) answered with a trey of her own at the 3:20 mark. After getting a stop, Mitchell was whistled for her 5th in transition, a major blow to their comeback efforts. Fonda was able to hold Mekeel scoreless for a big three minute stretch after the Ballard three, extending their lead to 51-45 on a Whitcavitch bucket in the process. Mekeel finally scored again on a pair of Mills free throws with :27.2 left, but at that point, it was a free throw shooting contest & Fonda came prepared. They hit six straight to close it out, with Atty & both Lombardonis hitting a pair each.

Abby Lombardoni finished with a game high 25 points, 21 coming in the 1st half, for Fonda-Fultonville. Kyla Smith added 10 points for the Braves, and Lyndsay Lombardoni added 9. For Mekeel, Avery Mills finished with a team high 22 points, producing a scoring punch for the Lions throughout the night. Jill Ballard chipped in with 11, and Mikyla Mitchell scored all 10 of her points in the 2nd half.

Avery Mills went for a team high 22 pts for Mekeel, including a personal 9-0 run to end the 3rd quarter that gave the Lions life.

#ThoughtsFromTheBaseline

- Two things about Fonda offensively. First, they're showing early in the season that other people besides Abby Lombardoni can provide a scoring punch for them. She was held to one field goal against Johnstown, and they scored 60. She was held without a field goal in the 2nd half against Mekeel, and they won. Carly Atty is a known commodity with the ability to shoot it with range & put it on the floor and finish going toward the rim. Kyla Smith & Lyndsay Lombardoni have both really improved, providing serious productive guard depth for the Braves, and 6'1" Marilyn Whitcavitch continues to show progression. Best for Fonda, they're all sophomores! But second... defenses better not let Abby get it going, because she changes games with her ability to fill it up & create for others if you sell out on stopping her. Range to the coaches' box and once the first one falls, she might end up hitting seven. Once she gets a head of steam downhill, she can finish in various ways with either hand, and she can do it through contact. Put her on the free throw line, she'll usually make them count. I only watched 32 minutes of basketball in that game, but I felt like I learned more than usual for a single game.

Kyla Smith made big plays for Fonda & provided some offensive help, producing 10 points in the win.

- Along with Mekeel having to play from behind most of the way, foul trouble played a major role in this one. Both teams dealt with it, but the difference was Mekeel's foul issues severely plagued a couple key players whereas Fonda's foul count didn't really impact individuals until the closing minutes. Three Mekeel starters - Mikyla Mitchell, Jill Ballard, and Maraya Davis - all felt it. Mitchell's was likely felt the most because it kept her off the court. Her 2nd foul at the 4:12 mark of the 1st quarter sent her to the bench for the rest of the half. She eventually fouled out with 2:56 left in the game. In the 17 minutes she played, Mekeel outscored Fonda 33-21. In the 15 minutes she was out, Fonda outscored Mekeel 36-18. Of course, you can't point at just one factor attributing to that, but it certainly played its part.

- I guess I'll keep this one simple. Say what you want about her going to a smaller school (always a popular way of saying that someone isn't 'that' good). Bring up that she's just a young kid. Bring up whatever you want, but while you're doing it, make sure you put respect on Avery Mills' name. Anyone that saw her over the last three nights of the EST summer league - going up against some of the premier guards in the region - doesn't need any convincing. Avery can go. As skilled as you'll find at that age, confidence & moxie well beyond her years, very hard worker, and she made a lot of winning plays in this game. The 22 point night is just a part of it, as she created for teammates on many occasions and showed quick hands defensively. Get your dollar bills together, because Avery is worth the price of admission.

Drake Leads Deposit/Hancock To Tournament Championship; Downsville Downs Worcester In Consolation

*** As always, check EST social media accounts for even more coverage. In-game updates are on Twitter (@NYSTakeover), more pictures & some video is up on Instagram (empirestatetakeover), and all of the pictures are up on Facebook (Empire State Takeover)! ***


December 5, 2019

Deposit/Hancock 49, Walton 32

In a rare championship-first setup at the Walton tournament - Deposit/Hancock had to take the early time slot due to a winter concert - it didn't take long for the visitors to make their presence felt. The Eagles jumped out to an early lead, pushed it 20 before halftime, and were able to maintain a double-digit lead to the finish en route to a 3rd straight Walton tournament championship.

From the start, Laycee Drake (Deposit/Hancock 2021) was in attack mode. The standout guard had 7 early points & dished out a couple assists in the opening minutes, helping them jump to a 15-6 lead after 1, with all of Walton's points coming from a pair of Makara MacGibbon (Walton 2023) treys. Once Ariel Kellam (Deposit/Hancock 2020) scored to start the 2nd quarter, the margin remained in double digits for the rest of the game. A McKenzie Mead basket pushed their lead to twenty at 28-8, and they held a 30-11 lead going into the locker room.

Laycee Drake made it happen for Deposit/Hancock - the standout 2021 went for 19 pts, 15 rebs, 6 asts, & 3 stls in a victory.

Walton, who looked a bit shell-shocked after D/H went on their early run, responded with a stronger showing out of the locker room, although it took some time to show on the scoreboard. Two straight difficult Drake buckets put D/H up 36-15, which proved to match their largest lead of the night. The host Warriors went on a 10-2 run from there, spanning into the 4th quarter when a McKenzie Clough (Walton 2020) jumper cut their deficit to 38-25 early in the 4th. They would get no closer though, as Drake responded with another basket to spurt a put-away run. They were able to hold Walton without a field goal for the next 6 minutes, pushing their lead back up to 21 on two more occasions before Walton scored twice in the waning moments.

Laycee Drake finished with a game high 19 points, and she added 15 rebounds, 6 assists, & 3 steals in a strong all-around showing. Ariel Kellam added 11 in the Eagles' victory. For Walton, Makara MacGibbon led the way with 16 points.

Makara MacGibbon (Walton 2023) had a nice showing in defeat, leading the way with 16 points.

Downsville 44, Worcester 37

Those who stuck around for the consolation game, which was pushed to the nightcap, were treated to a pretty entertaining game. A back-and-forth start went Downsville's way out of the locker room after a strong 3rd quarter, and they were able to make enough plays late to hold off a Worcester charge to walk away with a win.

The Brunner & Young show started from the jump for Downsville. Kailee Young (Downsville 2020) and Olivia Brunner (Downsville 2021) were a dynamic one-two punch throughout the game, and it started as they combined for a 9-0 run in the opening minutes. Worcester responded with a 10-2 run of their own, as Delimar Vega-Haley (Worcester 2021) & Miriam Odell (Worcester 2021) joined forces themselves to score all ten in the spurt. Brunner & Young went back at it from there, with Brunner scoring twice & Young adding a bucket in a 6-0 spurt to give Downsville the lead again early in the 2nd quarter. It remained close through the 1st half, with a pair of Sophia Adams (Worcester 2023) layups cutting Worcester's deficit to 21-20 at the break.

Kailee Young had a strong start for Downsville and finished with 13 points in their consolation game victory.

Vega-Haley scored to start the 2nd half, briefly giving Worcester the lead, but Brunner answered with a bucket that gave Downsville the lead for good. She went on a personal 6-0 spurt, and the run extended to 14-2 - Brunner with 9, Young with 5 - with a Brunner three-point play giving Downsville a double-digit lead at 35-24. The margin hit double digits twice more shortly after - Brunner & Vega-Haley traded baskets for a stretch into the 4th quarter - but another Delimar bucket early in the 4th quarter set up Worcester's last push. She connected twice in a row, cutting their deficit to 39-32, and the run extended to 7-0 after Iriyah Haley hit a three - her only field goal on the night - getting Worcester as close as 4. With Brunner & Young scoring 37 of Downsville's 39 points to that point, it was someone else who provided the big bucket to stop the bleeding, as Mckenzy Brown connected on a corner three to stretch their lead to 42-35. Vega-Haley scored again not long after, but Worcester wasn't able to make any more headway in the waning moments.

Olivia Brunner had a big game for Downsville, going off for a game high 24 points, with 11 coming in a 3rd quarter that Downsville won 16-8 to create separation. Kailee Young added 13 in the win while dealing with foul trouble much of the way. For Worcester, Delimar Vega-Haley had a strong showing, especially in the 2nd half, where she scored 12 of her team high 18 points.

Delimar Vega-Haley helped lead the Worcester 4th quarter push, scoring 12 of the team's 17 pts after halftime. She had a team high 18.

#ThoughtsFromTheBaseline

- Put a potential D1 kid in a small-school game, and you get what Laycee Drake did not just on Thursday, but in many of D/H's games. It's not often that you see a 5'6" guard making the sort of all-around impact that she makes. From scoring from the perimeter to finishing over the top in the post, then using 'true PG' abilities to handle against pressure and create for others while also being the most dominant force on the glass. The athletic feats speak for themselves - she's already well-known as a walking highlight reel with nearly unmatched bounce in the region - but I'm impressed with her mindset at this stage. You never know how it'll go when someone becomes a standout at their school and in their league & area at a young age. The first time I saw Laycee - against Walton in 8th grade, to be exact - they went box & 1 on her after she had a big 1st quarter. The word was already out by then. Sometimes, those kids turn into 35 shot per game kids that look to score & let other factors of their game lag. This hasn't been the case for Laycee, who really looks to get her teammates involved at all times. If anything, her unselfishness may make you wish she looked to create for herself a little more at times. Not a bad problem to have if you're a D/H coach or supporter. I was able to hear a Walton fan (parent, grandparent, relative, something) yell 'shut her down' early in the game. To that, I say this: easier said than done.

Jacqlyn Gransbury, another 2023 in Walton's backcourt, will be a key piece for them over the next few years.

- I credit Walton - a team that has a couple freshman that play in prominent roles - for battling in the 2nd half. For lack of a better term, they got punched in the mouth in the first 16 minutes. You never know how any high school team responds to that, let alone a young squad. They dug in & got after it, which is something to build on. It showed on the scoreboard a little bit, cutting the deficit to 13 early in the 4th, and it would've shown more had they not struggled mightily at the charity stripe over that time (5/16 FT in the 2nd half). Going off my first viewing, Makara MacGibbon - one of those Walton freshmen - could be a player to watch with continued work & development. She showed the ability to shoot it, the willingness to attack the rim and the athleticism & ability to finish in traffic. The other freshman, Jacqlyn Gransbury, was held to two points in this one - but she had a big game in their opening round, and you could tell she had a pretty good feel for the game on Thursday despite not being able to get off like earlier in the week. Again, the 2nd half definitely showed something to build on as they go deeper into their seasons.

- I've been familiar with Kailee Young for a while now, but not as much with Olivia Brunner besides what I've been told (thanks, Nate!). As usual, I can say that he wasn't wrong. I left pretty impressed with what I saw from Brunner in this game, as she showed some things that translate well to higher levels of play. She probably is best at the 4 if playing at a higher level, but at 5'10", she certainly showed more than enough guard skill to make an impact however she wanted in this setting. She looked most comfortable in the post or attacking the rim from the perimeter, and she had the strength & athleticism to finish through people and enough quickness & handle to get to her spots. However, she also showed the ability to hit the midrange J off the dribble, which she did on a couple occasions including one off a ball screen. Olivia also played with a noticeable tenacity & toughness, and she made an impact at both ends on the glass and also on the defensive end. Definitely one of those small school under-the-radar kids that could potentially find a home and make an impact at the D3 level in a couple years.

Olivia Brunner (2021) had a big game for Downsville, scoring 24 points, and showed translatable skills that make her someone to watch going forward.

- Worcester also had their chances in this one. They're a young team, cycling in two freshmen and an 8th grader with their core of juniors, and the youth showed at times. It was more so with composure and 'little' things, such as a missed defensive rotation or lack of communication, than anything else. Early in the season - that'll happen and is always to be expected. In my eyes, they played a solid 26 minutes, but unfortunately, the majority of the 3rd quarter - a period where they were a bit out of sorts, seemed to lack focus, maybe let some issues with officiating get to them a bit - was enough to do them in. Again, early season stuff that you anticipate works itself out over time. Delimar Vega-Haley really picked it up in the final 10 minutes - she's changed her game a bit since the last time I've seen her, more willing to put it on the deck and initiate contact at the rim - and after the rough 3rd quarter, they were able to come back & give themselves a reasonable shot. As is often the case in games like this, they'll learn & grow from it.

South Glens Falls Hangs On For W Over Broadalbin-Perth

December 4, 2019

South Glens Falls 38, Broadalbin-Perth 33

It was a rare Foothills Wednesday for these two teams, as their season opener was pushed back from Monday due to weather. South Glens Falls led for nearly all of the 2nd half, but it took a couple timely buckets and a strong defensive effort in the closing moments to be able to hold off host Broadalbin-Perth in their season opener.

The start was slow on both ends, but especially so for SGF, who fell behind 7-1 early after being held without a field goal for the first 4 minutes. B-P was able to dominate the glass early, thanks in large part to Makenzie Smith (Broadalbin-Perth 2022), who had a pair of buckets in the first few minutes. SGF finally got on the board with a Hannah Breen (South Glens Falls 2021) basket, then Sydney Hart (SGF 2023) delivered with a three to cut their deficit to 8-6 after one quarter. A 9-0 run in the 2nd quarter, five coming from Breen, gave them a 15-10 lead, but B-P responded with a 6-0 spurt to briefly regain the lead. A pair of Hart buckets in the final minute of the half sent the Bulldogs into the locker room up 20-16 - a lead that B-P wouldn't get back.

Sydney Hart helped SGF grab the lead in the 1st half, scoring 9 of her 13 points before intermission.

The 2nd half started with a deep right wing trey from Caroline Iannotti (B-P 2021), but SGF went on a run to open it up a bit as B-P's offense went a bit stagnant. A 7-1 spurt capped with a Courtney Robarge bucket gave SGF their largest lead at 31-22 late in the 3rd. After Smith scored to cut B-P's deficit to 7 going into the final stanza, Robarge opened the 4th with another basket, but the Patriots would make their final push from there. A 9-0 run, 5 points coming from Iannotti, brought B-P all the way back as another Caroline trey tied the game at 33 with 3:21 left. The SGF drought finally ended on the ensuing possession with a Zoe Lanfear layup, then a big Breen trey off an extra pass from Hart gave them a 38-33 edge with 2:01 left. B-P had chances to cut into the deficit, but a few possessions came up empty and they were unable to foul enough to put SGF on the free throw line in the waning moments.

Hannah Breen led all scorers with 14 points, including three of SGF's four threes on the night. Sydney Hart added 13 in the win. For Broadalbin-Perth, Caroline Iannotti paced them with 10 points with 8 coming in the 2nd half, and Makenzie Smith added 8.

Caroline Iannotti started & ended the B-P 2nd half scoring with threes, and she contributed 8 of her team high 10 points after halftime.

#ThoughtsFromTheBaseline

- I choose my words on Twitter, but I'm also not one to mince words. Early season basketball at its finest Wednesday. Gritty, not the most aesthetically pleasing, not the smoothest flow to a game that I've ever seen. In games like this - and they're always bound to happen - it's all about digging in, battling, playing hard, and getting enough shots to fall to pull one out. This one will most definitely be a bit more fluid later in the year, but it was the season opener for both teams - just have to grind one out sometimes. With that being said...

- Credit to SGF for doing just that - finding a way to manufacture a win on the road when they weren't at their best. B-P did a good job defensively on SGF ball screens, keeping a tough PG in Syd Hart from getting paint touches most of the night, and they made SGF work deep into the shot clock consistently. That being said, Syd found other ways to produce, Hannah Breen hit shots when she was given space, and they did a better job on the glass as the night went on. Sometimes, you'll take wins however you can get them. The Foothills is a bit up in the air behind Queensbury & Amsterdam, with SGF, B-P, and Johnstown all battling in that pile. I'll never read deeply into early season results, but a solid road W to start the season for SGF nonetheless.

Hannah Breen played a large role in SGF's victory Wednesday, providing a needed scoring punch & ability to stretch the defense with her game high 14 points & 3 threes.

- B-P certainly had their chances. On a night where it certainly wasn't fluid for them either, they had it all square with 3 minutes left at their place. They had difficulty getting Makenzie Smith, one of Section 2's better post players, post touches at times. SGF's pressure bothered them throughout the night, and they got smacked with a couple 5 second & 10 second violation calls in some important moments late. Again, chalk some of that up to season opener problems. With a post/perimeter duo like Smith/Caroline Iannotti, this is probably the best Broadalbin-Perth team in the six years I've been doing this (I know, it hasn't been that long, but still). Tough one for them tonight as they have to go back-to-back with a game at Amsterdam, but they should be in the thick of it in the Foothills as the season wears on.

Olsen Hangs 41, Nisky Holds Off Guilderland

December 3, 2019

Niskayuna 78, Guilderland 66

After a couple forced days off with a couple feet of snow getting dropped across the Capital District, it was back to business on Tuesday night, as the Suburban Council schedule began with a light slate of games. Those that walked into the Guilderland gym saw a game that would've made a D'Antoni smile. In an uptempo, shot clock optional battle that saw ten lead changes, a pair of 2nd half runs gave Niskayuna the lead and then put it away for good as they ran to a victory to go 2-0 on the young season.

The game featured a player on each side with Division I offers in hand, and they didn't disappoint. It started with a short ceremony for Valencia Fontenelle-Posson (Guilderland 2021) in recognition for her scoring her 1,000th point in their final game last winter, and she started the game on a tear, scoring 12 points in the opening quarter. It was matched by Niskayuna standout 2021 Olivia Olsen, who had 10 in the first 8 minutes, helping them get out to a 20-17 lead. Guilderland took the lead back in the 2nd quarter, going on a 16-3 run dating back to the end of the 1st - 12 coming from Graycen Dubin (Guilderland 2020) - to grab their largest lead of the night at 30-23. An 8-0 run in response from Nisky capped with a pair of Ryleigh Endres (Niskayuna 2022) free throws gave them the lead again briefly, but another 7-1 Guilderland spurt - ending with a Fontenelle-Posson trey, her 19th point of the half - gave them a 37-34 lead going into intermission.

Olivia Olsen went off for 41 points in Niskayuna's victory Tuesday.

The 3rd quarter continued with the same back & forth action as the 1st half displayed, but the visitors quickly made their mark. After a Dubin bucket gave Guilderland a 41-38 lead, Nisky went on an 11-0 run over 2 minutes of action, with an Olsen three-point play capping it to give them a 49-41 lead. Compounding Guilderland's problems, Dubin picked up her 4th & 5th fouls in the later stages of the 3rd quarter, fouling out with 1:43 left in the stanza. Nisky stretched their 9 point lead after 3 quarters up to 14 twice early in the 4th, on a Natalie Prian (Niskayuna 2020) three and then again after another Olsen bucket, but Guilderland had one more push. A 10-2 push in the middle of the 4th, 5 coming from Fontenelle-Posson, cut their deficit to 68-63, but they would get no closer. A 10-0 Nisky run - the first 9 coming once again from Olsen - gave the visitors a 15 point lead in the final minute, putting it away for good.

Olivia Olsen had a monster night, going off for a game high 41 points in the victory for Niskayuna. Natalie Prian joined her in double digits, finishing with 14. On Guilderland's end, Valencia Fontenelle-Posson went off for 33 points, 19 in the 1st half & another 12 that came in the 4th quarter. Graycen Dubin added 14 points, including 12 in the 1st half run that gave her squad their largest lead.

Valencia Fontenelle-Posson dropped 33, 19 coming in an electric 1st half, on Tuesday.

#ThoughtsFromTheBaseline

- It's always nice to see a Division I prospect on each side of the court. On this occasion, they both put forth a great effort leading to an entertaining battle. Olivia Olsen was athletically dominant & controlled the game from 15 feet & in. Valencia Fontenelle-Posson was electric in the 1st half, showing the ability to score at all three levels, and brought her trademark high motor. 41 for Liv, 33 for VFP. They helped make this one worth the price of admission, and at the end of the day, their performances are what I'll remember about this game.

- Speaking of Liv Olsen, it's amazing to see her development over the last couple years. She's went from an athletic youngster with upside to one of the most (if not the most) dominant player in Section 2. Not only is she physically and athletically dominant at 6'2" with length & unmatched bounce in this area, her overall skill level has drastically improved and there's a particular smoothness to her game. On several occasions, she made tough catches look easy and showed good body control finishing through contact & around defenders. Along with scoring around the rim, she hit a runner off glass in transition and shot well from the free throw line (11/14). Defensively, Liv deterred her opponents from trying to score around the rim with her ability to block shots - at one point, emphatically smacking one off the glass in a way that you don't even see much in boys' games. From youngster with upside to several Division I offers on the table with the list only growing... when watching her, it doesn't take long to see why.

- The change of momentum that gave Nisky the edge they needed came when they went box & 1 on VFP to start the 2nd half. It certainly isn't that Guilderland was stymied offensively in the last 16 minutes - they still scored 29 after halftime - but the few minutes that it took for them to adjust, a period where they went stagnant on offense, was enough time for Nisky to take advantage and force their opponents to play from behind for the rest of the night. Couple that with them doing a better job handling Guilderland's pressure after halftime - partially because foul trouble kept the Dutch from being as aggressive defensively - and it was too much for the hosts to overcome.

Natalie Prian provided a solid perimeter scoring punch for Niskayuna, finishing with 14 points in the win.

- Speaking of foul trouble... if we're playing 'by the numbers', then 15 is the +/- total for Niskayuna at the free throw line. They went 22/37 from the charity stripe, Guilderland went 7/9. The discrepancy will happen with their difference of styles, but the difference at the line certainly was a factor in the result.

- They may have been on the losing end, but the game was played to Guilderland's pace throughout. If you want to watch uptempo, fast-paced hoops, check them out this winter. The shot clock operator is expendable goods when they're in town!

Corinne Feller Memorial Tournament Semifinals: Burke Knocks Off Marlboro, Hosts Run To W

November 23, 2019

It may have been the Saturday night of what I've called 'scrimmage week', but at Valley Central, they were playing games that counted on the record. The 20th Annual Corinne Feller Memorial Tip-Off Tournament effectively tipped off the regular season in Section 9, with Class B foes Marlboro & Burke Catholic starting it up and AA counterparts Middletown & host Valley Central finishing it off.


Burke Catholic 52, Marlboro 40

A competitive battle for 24 minutes went in Burke Catholic's favor in the final 8, as they matched their scoring output through 3 quarters with a 26 point outburst to break away with a season opening victory.

A back-and-forth start saw the lead change hands five times alone with three ties in the 1st half, and it showcased contrasting styles with Marlboro trying to get paint touches & attack the rim while Burke Catholic focused on getting perimeter looks against Marlboro's zone defense. An Erin Lofaro (Marlboro 2020; UMass Lowell signee) bucket gave the Dukes a 14-12 lead after 1 quarter. After younger sister Lizzy Lofaro (Marlboro 2021) scored to start the 2nd, Marlboro went over 7 minutes without scoring again. Although shots weren't falling for Burke in the quarter either - there was a scoreless stretch of 5:09 for both teams - they grabbed a 3 point lead late in the half before Briana Bernicker (Marlboro 2021) canned a top of the key three to beat the 2nd quarter buzzer, tying the game at 19.

Lizzy Lofaro led Marlboro with 15 points in their opener.

The tug-of-war continued in the 3rd quarter. Marlboro scored the first 4 of the quarter on Erin Lofaro baskets as the Dukes came out of the locker room attempting to get it into the post. Burke scored the next 5, briefly regaining the lead on a Brenna Costello (Burke Catholic 2020) bucket, but Liz Lofaro & Bernicker answered to give Marlboro a 4 point lead once more late in the quarter. The tide would quickly turn though, as the Eagles were able to make a big push from there. A 6-0 run split between the 3rd & 4th quarters gave them the lead, with Costello scoring to put them up 30-28, and Marlboro's problems only intensified as Erin Lofaro saw an end to her night due to fouls shortly thereafter. They briefly tied it on a Hannah Polumbo (Marlboro 2024) layup, but a Caileigh Costello (Burke Catholic 2020) three at the 6:40 mark gave Burke the lead for good. Another 7-0 spurt, 5 coming from Brenna Costello, extended their run to 18-5 and lead to 42-33. Marlboro attempted to make one last push, with a three from Liz Lofaro - who took on a much larger role offensively with Erin on the bench - cutting their deficit to 42-37, but 6 straight Burke Catholic points capped with another Caileigh Costello trey at the 1:01 mark put it out of reach, as they picked up a quality early season victory.

Brenna Costello dropped a game high 20 in the win for Burke Catholic.

Two last names accounted for over 2/3 of the game's scoring - Costello & Lofaro. Brenna Costello dropped a game high 20 points for Burke Catholic, 9 coming in the 4th quarter. Caileigh Costello joined her in double digits, scoring 8 each in the 1st & 4th quarters to account for her 16. On Marlboro's end, Lizzy Lofaro led the way with 15 points, and Erin (along with Briana Bernicker) added 8.


Valley Central 52, Middletown 24

The nightcap lacked any sort of the dramatic flare that the night's opener provided, as host Valley Central had just about put this game away by intermission en route to a notch in the W column in their opener.

It was a pretty sloppy start on both ends, but before the 1st quarter was over, Valley Central started to work the nerves out, executing in the half-court and turning defense into transition offense. A 6-5 game quickly became 16-5 by the end of the 1st, as VC ran off 10 straight points in the final 2:05 of the stanza. The 2nd quarter held the same storyline as the 1st - after a pair of Kiki Kennedy (Middletown 2020) threes held their deficit at 11, they were held scoreless for the last nearly 5 minutes of the half, with Valley Central scoring the last 8 of the half to extend their lead to 30-11.

Erin-Rose Cooney led a balanced VC group with 11 points in their victory.

Any hopes of a comeback were quickly dashed, as Middletown didn't get closer than 17 in the 2nd half. A 7-0 run in response - and as the rest of this game went, coming from 3 different VC scorers - ran the margin to 37-13 in the 3rd, and Valley Central eventually led by as much as 32 in the final minutes.

A very balanced Valley Central scoring effort saw all 9 active players score at least 4 points. Erin-Rose Cooney (VC 2020) led them with 11 points, and Shaina Cooney (VC 2021) followed her with 8. For the Middies, Alyze Skyers (Middletown 2022) led the way with 7 points.

Kiarra Kennedy had 6 points on a pair of threes for Middletown.

Now, as was the case for all of these posts, you know what time it is...

#JeffsThoughts

- November basketball is what it is. Can't put too much stock into results two weeks into a four-month basketball season. I'm certainly not. That being said, that doesn't diminish that Burke Catholic picked up a quality win to start their season, knocking off defending S9 Class B champion Marlboro with a dominant 4th quarter. They did a good job playing to their strengths against the Marlboro zone, moving the ball and getting good looks for their guards & giving Brenna/Caileigh Costello room to work. When an opportunity to seize control came about due to Lofaro's foul trouble, they jumped on it, outscoring Marlboro 22-12 with Erin on the bench. Quality win for Burke Catholic, and I imagine a confidence booster as they jump head first into their season.

- I've mentioned Brenna & Caileigh Costello quite a bit in this post - here's one more. I don't get deep into Section 9 (read Orange County) as much as I'd like to or probably should, so this was my first time seeing Burke and I believe my first time seeing them. I left pretty impressed with them, from skill level to court presence. They have clear differences in their game - Caileigh has a stronger build, Brenna looks a little more long & lanky, Caileigh looked more comfortable using the midrange & in-between game going off the dribble and Brenna looked more to attack the rim & use her bounce to go over the top - but both can shoot it, both can handle it, and both play with a little flare & confidence. Not sure where their recruitment is at, but they each could help some programs out looking for depth at the guard spots in the 2020 class.

Caileigh Costello went to work for Burke, contributing 16 points including 8 in the 4th quarter.

- A loss for Marlboro, but they didn't come away empty-handed from it and I sure didn't when it comes to them, either. Knowing about the Lofaros going in and having seen them play quite a bit over the last couple years, my biggest takeaway was the aforementioned Hannah Polumbo. Just an 8th grader, she came in off the bench and gave them quality minutes - perhaps even more than they anticipated giving her going into the game. She didn't blow away the scorebooks (4 points), but a simple eye test shows there's a lot of upside here. Hannah appears to be around 6' and already has a pretty strong, athletic body and is coordinated for her size & age with the ability to run the floor. She did a good job creating space in the post and sealing defenders off, and she was a presence on the glass at both ends. Definitely someone for me to keep tabs on not just during the winter, but over the years to come.

- Valley Central had an impressive start and showed that they have several on their roster that can make things happen. The Cooneys, Erin-Rose (2020) & Shaina (2021), have been at it for a while and are probably more familiar names to coaches with their presence on the AAU circuit as well. Katie Crofoot (2020) is also a familiar name, having been a key contributor at VC for a number of years. They pack a powerful punch coming off the bench with Nickole Schmidt (2021), a long, skilled guard that I previously saw & liked in the fall. Hoping to make another trip to the area to catch them as their schedule revs up.

Nickole Schmidt is one of several that can be called upon to produce for Valley Central this winter.

- I'd rather be in the gym than anything else, but sitting in front of my computer typing away for a blog post means one thing... it's basketball season. Nothing better!

Early Signing Period: 23 ESTers Committed To D1/D2 Programs, On Track To Sign In Next Week

The early stages of November signifies many different things in the basketball world. At the collegiate level, several weeks of practices turn into games that count in the standings. At the high school level, an offseason of work and talk about 'next year' wraps up as practices get underway. And for some select seniors, it also signifies bridging the gap as the early signing period for Division I & Division II bound athletes takes place.

Many athletes across the country have committed to Division I & II institutions and have the opportunity to sit at the table during the early signing period and put pen to paper on letters of intent. This includes 23 athletes that participated in EST events - 12 Division I, 11 Division II - and 15 that saw time in the EST summer league. All of these numbers blast their categories' previous high numbers for Division I & II bound players that hit the court for EST events. These athletes represent five sections of the NYSPHSAA (2, 3, 4, 6, & 9), along with two more representing Massachusetts in the MIAA or NEPSAC.

A list of those girls committed to Division I or II schools are below - some have already signed, and the majority are scheduled to sign by the end of the period next Wednesday. A major congratulations goes out to all that are seeing goals turn into reality over the next few days!

Division I

Dolly Cairns

High School: Saratoga Springs (NY, Section II Class AA)

AAU: City Rocks

College Commitment: Rhode Island (Atlantic 10)

- EST Summer League 2015-2019

Erin Fox

High School: Millbrook (NY, Section IX Class C)

AAU: NJ Freedom

College Commitment: Marist (MAAC)

- EST Summer League 2017-2018 (missed 2019 due to injury)

- EST Summer Kickoff 2017

Belle Kranbuhl

High School: Adirondack (NY, Section III Class B)

AAU: NY Havoc

College Commitment: Monmouth (MAAC)

- EST Summer League 2016-2019

- EST Fall Showcase 2017-2018

- EST Summer Kickoff 2017-2018

Lindsey Lawson

High School: Cazenovia (NY, Section III Class B)

AAU: I-90 Elite

College Commitment: Harvard (Ivy League)

- EST Summer League 2018-2019

- EST Summer Kickoff 2018

Bella Stuart

High School: Shenendehowa (NY, Section II Class AA)

AAU: NY Havoc

College Commitment: New Hampshire (America East)

- EST Summer League 2017-2019 (subbed in 2016)

- EST Fall Showcase 2016-2018

- EST Summer Kickoff 2017-2018

Logan Thayne

High School: Hoosick Falls (NY, Section II Class B)

AAU: NY Havoc

College Commitment: Albany (America East)

- EST Summer League 2017-2019

- EST Fall Showcase 2017

- EST Summer Kickoff 2017

Sophie Tougas

High School: Bradford Christian Academy (MA, NEPSAC) (Previous School: Glens Falls)

AAU: Rivals

College Commitment: Cal State Bakersfield (WAC)

- EST Summer League 2015-2019

- EST Summer Kickoff 2017-2018

Kelsey Wood

High School: Averill Park (NY, Section II Class A)

AAU: NY Havoc

College Commitment: Sacred Heart (NEC)

- EST Summer League 2016-2019

- EST Fall Showcase 2017-2018

- EST Summer Kickoff 2017

Jillian Casey

High School: Horseheads (NY, Section IV Class AA)

AAU: BNY Select

College Commitment: Quinnipiac (MAAC)

- EST Fall Showcase 2017-2019

- EST Summer Kickoff 2018

Kaci Donovan

High School: Owego Free Academy (NY, Section IV Class B)

AAU: Philly Belles

College Commitment: Penn State (Big Ten)

- EST Fall Showcase 2018

 

Dani Haskell

High School: Franklinville (NY, Section VI Class C)

AAU: I-90 Elite

College Commitment: Canisius (MAAC)

- EST Summer Kickoff 2017

Ahniysha Jackson

High School: Albany (NY, Section II Class AA)

AAU: I-90 Elite

College Commitment: Siena (MAAC)

- EST Summer Kickoff 2017

Division II

Makayla Blake

High School: Colonie (NY, Section II Class AA)

AAU: NY Havoc

College Commitment: St. Michael's (NE-10)

- EST Summer League 2017-2019

- EST Fall Showcase 2017-2018

- EST Summer Kickoff 2017-2018

Julia DeBeatham

High School: Shaker (NY, Section II Class AA)

AAU: City Rocks International

College Commitment: Queens (ECC)

- EST Summer League 2016-2019

- EST Fall Showcase 2017

- EST Summer Kickoff 2017-2018

Madison Graham

High School: Ichabod Crane (NY, Section II Class B)

AAU: Albany Capitals

College Commitment: Adelphi (NE-10)

- EST Summer League 2018-2019

- EST Summer Kickoff 2018

Amanda Mieczkowski

High School: Northampton (MA, WMass Division II)

AAU: NY Havoc

College Commitment: Assumption (NE-10)

- EST Summer League 2018-2019

- EST Fall Showcase 2017-2018

- EST Summer Kickoff 2019

Haedyn Roberts

High School: Holland Patent (NY, Section III Class B)

AAU: NY Havoc

College Commitment: Le Moyne (NE-10)

- EST Summer League 2017-2019

- EST Fall Showcase 2018

- EST Summer Kickoff 2019

Simone Walker

High School: Shenendehowa (NY, Section II Class AA)

AAU: Albany Capitals

College Commitment: Adelphi (NE-10)

- EST Summer League 2018

- EST Summer Kickoff 2019

Kaitlyn Watrobski

High School: Shenendehowa (NY, Section II)

AAU: Albany Capitals

College Commitment: St. Thomas Aquinas (ECC)

- EST Summer League 2018-2019

- EST Fall Showcase 2018

- EST Summer Kickoff 2018-2019

Shamoni Berrios

High School: Maria Regina (NY, Section I)

AAU: Empire State Blue Flames

College Commitment: Concordia (CACC)

- EST Summer Kickoff 2018

Halea Eaton

High School: Norwich (NY, Section IV Class B)

AAU: BNY Select

College Commitment: Le Moyne (NE-10)

- EST Fall Showcase 2017-2018

- EST Summer Kickoff 2018-2019

Georgia Haverlock

High School: Ithaca (NY, Section IV Class AA)

AAU: Elmira Fusion

College Commitment: Roberts Wesleyan (ECC)

- EST Fall Showcase 2018

Freey Pleasants

High School: Syracuse Academy of Science (NY, Section III Class B)

AAU: I-90 Elite

College Commitment: Queens (ECC)

- EST Summer Kickoff 2018

- EST Fall Showcase 2019