Late Unatego Run Does Cooperstown In

January 28, 2019

Unatego 42, Cooperstown 28

The schools are separated by just over 30 miles, but very rarely do they cross paths due to being on opposite sides of the Section 3/4 line. On Monday, that wasn't the case. Cooperstown, a team that seems to have found itself over the last few weeks after going through the transition period from losing three current collegiate players to graduation in 2018, made the trip to play an upstart Unatego group that figures to be a major player in the upcoming Section 4 Class C playoffs. In a game that featured three long, established runs, Unatego was on the winning side of two of them - including the final one - and they pulled away in the 4th quarter to pick up a win.

Morgan Perry was part of a balanced effort that helped Unatego pull away to a win over visiting Cooperstown Monday.

Defense won out in the first 8 minutes, as both teams had trouble scoring while feeling out their opponent. Unatego, whose height & length were far superior to Cooperstown's, extended into a 3/4 court zone press and dropped back into a 2-3. Cooperstown dropped back and played solid half-court man-to-man, containing Unatego and making their start a stagnant one on offense.

The floodgates would open right out of the huddle to start the 2nd quarter, as Unatego's press started to take effect. Meghan Perry (Unatego 2021) knocked down midrange jumpers in the half-court and, along with twin sister Morgan Perry (Unatego 2021), helped spearhead the defensive effort that started to turn Cooperstown over. Meghan Perry scored 6 straight to start the 2nd, and after Hali Lucia (Unatego 2021) added a bucket & free throw, Morgan Perry added 4 quick points of her own to give Unatego the first 13 points of the quarter and a 19-4 lead. However, Cooperstown would answer Unatego's run - 15-0 by the end of it - with an extended run of their own. With both Perry sisters and Lucia on the bench for the last 3 minutes of the half with 2 fouls each, Cooperstown made its push. It started with a pair of Kate Trosset (Cooperstown 2019) free throws - due to a technical foul on the back end of a scrum for a loose ball - and the Hawkeyes received scoring from 4 different players in what was a 9-0 run over the last 2:46 of the half. After being in danger of getting blown out early, an Emilie Perez free throw to end the half cut Cooperstown's deficit to 19-13.

Cooperstown continued to hang in the game throughout the 3rd quarter. They received an early scoring flurry from Trosset, who had 7 points in the middle of the quarter, including a three to cut their deficit to 24-22 with 3:20 left in the stanza. That is as close as they'd get though, as Unatego always had the answer - Meghan Perry. She had 8 points in the 3rd quarter, mainly coming off midrange jumpers as she made a living in the 15'-18' area. A pair of Perry buckets to end the quarter gave Unatego a 30-24 lead. After Dana Stepp (Unatego 2021) and Piper Seamon (Cooperstown 2020) traded points to start the 4th, Unatego went on its game-clinching run. Stepp started it off with a free throw, and the run eventually extended to 10-0 as they held Cooperstown scoreless for a 4+ minute stretch in the quarter. A Morgan Newman three-point play gave Unatego their largest lead at 42-26 with 1:26 remaining, and the hosts were able to coast to the finish line.

Kate Trosset paced Cooperstown with 9 points, including a 7 point spurt in the 3rd quarter to help them cut their deficit to 2.

Meghan Perry had a strong game for Unatego, putting her prints on the game at both ends while finishing with a game high 18 points. They received scoring contributions between 5-8 points from each of their other starters Monday, as all 42 points came from their starting 5. Kate Trosset paced Cooperstown with 9 points, and Piper Seamon chipped in with 8.


#JeffsNotes

- Meghan Perry was taking a bunch of catch & shoot wing/corner midrange jumpers in warmups... and she was making almost all of them. Considering she's more of a natural wing, I couldn't help but wonder why so many of them - the catch & shoot 15-17 footer isn't a shot that guards usually get too often within the flow of any offense. I quickly realized why that was the case as the game started and Unatego started running their sets. They actively looked for her on the baseline in their flex set, and that turned into jumper... after jumper... after jumper. Out of her 18 points, I'd guess that 12 of them came from the catch & shoot midrange J. Consider that my Unatego learning experience. But it was certainly more than that with Meghan on Monday. She showed the ability to put it on the floor and get to the rim, and she made an impact with her length & activity on the defensive end. I've been watching the Perrys for the last couple years - the first time I saw them was almost two years ago to the day - and it looks like they (along with twin sister Morgan) have really started to turn the corner on the court.

Big game for Meghan Perry, who - along with twin sis Morgan - has established herself as someone to watch going forward.

- I've watched Unatego twice now. Against Walton earlier in the month, they made it look easy with how they were able to turn them over. Cooperstown, except for the first part of the 2nd quarter where Unatego went on their 13-0 run, did a much better job with ball security against the zone press. So what Unatego did in response was control pace. In the half-court, they're essentially willing to 'flex you to death', working deep into the shot clock with their sets to get a good look in the final few seconds. The 4th quarter was a Unatego clinic as far as controlling pace. Work the shot clock down, get a bucket or get to the line. Get back on defense, use their length to force Cooperstown into difficult jumpers - they had success when getting the ball into the typical zone buzz areas, the high post & short corner, but Unatego made it difficult for them to get it there - grab the rebound, go back down the court & repeat. It was an interesting game, considering the hosts looked like they might run their visitors out of the gym before the margin was cut to 2 in the 2nd half, but a quality win for Unatego over a Cooperstown squad that's hit its stride lately nonetheless.

Hudson Uses Big 3rd Quarter to Race to W Over Chatham

January 23, 2019

Hudson 60, Chatham 41

A light Wednesday became even lighter due to the weather, as many schools in upstate NY called off after-school activities or had snow days due to freezing rain sweeping through. A pair of Patroon Conference games made it through the wreckage though, including Hudson's short voyage up Route 66 to Chatham. The hosts gave visiting Hudson - a team with a pair of losses to Maple Hill being the only blemishes on their record - everything they could ask for in the game's first 16 minutes. A defensive adjustment out of the locker room helped spark a Hudson run in the 3rd quarter, and they made one more push in the 4th to put a pesky Chatham squad away for good.

Deja Beauford lived around the rim for Hudson, and she dropped 22 of her game high 26 in the 2nd half in their win.

Chatham was dealt a blow right from the opening tip, as Brooke Doyle - a multi-year varsity contributor - went down with an ankle injury right after the jump. They were able to shake it off and start strong, however, handling Hudson's initial pressure and getting layups at the other end. They went on a 9-0 run after Hudson scored off the opening tip, and a Hannah Taylor (Chatham 2021) bucket gave them a 13-5 lead late in the quarter. Hudson was able to respond in the last couple minutes of the quarter, as they were able to turn Chatham over a handful of times and get out in transition. Deja Beauford (Hudson 2020) started & ended the spurt with layups, tying the game at 13 by the end of the 1st. Chatham responded well out of the huddle, extending their lead back to 20-14 and despite finding themselves falling into foul trouble as the half came to a close, they carried a 26-24 edge into the locker room.

The game would turn in Hudson's favor from the start of the 2nd half. Beauford opened the half with a bucket and they pulled the press off, dropping back into a zone. They continued to pressure guards in the half-court and jump passing lanes, which paid dividends right off the bat. By the middle of the quarter, their run had ballooned to 11-0 to start the half and they held a 35-26 lead before Taylor earned a three-point play the old fashioned way at the 4:17 mark. Hudson continued to put on the pressure, swelling their lead to 12 by the end of the 3rd in what was a 20-6 stanza. Taylor's offensive production allowed Chatham to hang around into the middle of the 4th - a three early in the quarter cut their deficit to 9 - but they would get no closer before Hudson delivered the putaway run. Their defensive activity turned into transition opportunities & Beauford was often the finisher, and they scored the game's last 8 points to win by a margin that was the game's largest.

Deja Beauford finished with a game high 26 points, 22 of them coming in the 2nd half. She had 14 in the 4th quarter, including Hudson's final 10 as a team. Many of those came in transition, almost exclusively at the rim as Chatham had problems dealing with her athleticism. Hannah Taylor had a solid game for a Chatham squad that only had 7 available players after Doyle's injury in the opening seconds, and she finished with a team high 16 points.


#JeffsNotes

- The key to dealing with Hudson, as has been the case in every year since I started, is dealing with their pressure & athletic ability. They'll get up and dog ballhandlers, be physical, and try to jump passing lanes in the backcourt. Most teams in the Patroon have been unable to handle it over the last few years. Chatham was able to do that in the 1st half - their press break worked well in advancing the ball, and unlike some teams, they have bigger guards that are strong enough to throw it over the top of the trap. They often were able to fight fire with fire, getting layups off the press break or good looks early in the shot clock as Hudson was scrambling back. The tide turned when Hudson dropped back in the 2nd half. They kept the pressure up and continued to try & turn Chatham over, and closing the court off not only allowed them to be more successful with that, but they were able to get more bodies going forward in transition. Hudson's halftime defensive adjustment and their execution of it truly made this one a tale of two halves.

Hannah Taylor had a good showing for Chatham, filling several roles & finishing with a team high 16 points.

- When Chatham had success, Hannah Taylor was usually behind it. This was my first time seeing her play and only the 2nd time ever watching Chatham play as a team. Hannah, a 2021 who has been their leading scorer this winter, made plenty of positive plays and has the sort of game that could translate well to different levels. She's a taller guard - guessing around 5'9" - and ran the point for Chatham. She passed well over the top of the zone press and showed enough handle & quickness to be able to hit the outside shoulder and bust out of traps if needed. In the half-court, she scored in various ways and did so efficiently. She hit the three when given room, wasn't afraid to try & get to the rim, and she moved well without the ball, scoring a couple times off cuts. It was a particularly tiring game for her considering the roles she had to fill at both ends - a light roster, injury, and foul trouble decimated Chatham as the game went on - so I can only assume she slept well after, but while the game was going on, she showed me some good things.

Emma Willard Absorbs AAG Blow, Recovers To Earn Win

January 22, 2019

Emma Willard 40, Albany Academy for Girls 37

The Emma Willard Jesters have had little trouble running through their schedule for the most part this winter. The former CHVL members - now independent, in hopes of boosting their quality of opponents - came into Tuesday's game undefeated, with only their season opening victory over Voorheesville in single digits. They ran into a game opponent in upstart Albany Academy for Girls, a Colonial Council squad experiencing their most success since I started EST in 2014-15. AAG threw a knockout blow in the 2nd half, but Emma Willard was able to get back on its feet and respond just in time, going on a 4th quarter surge to take home the victory.

Molly Zahnleuter got going in the 2nd half and made some big plays for Emma Willard in their victory.

AAG started off on the right foot, getting the game's first 5 points from Mianna Jackson (AAG 2021) and bothering the hosts with their pressure. EW was eventually able to settle in, and they started breaking the press & scoring on it. A basket and free throw from Emma Shields (EW 2022) capped a strong end to the quarter for the Jesters, who held AAG scoreless for the remainder of the quarter after Jackson's early ones to take a 9-5 lead. Jackson ended the AAG drought with another three to start the 2nd quarter, but Emma Willard was able to maintain their cushion through the remainder of the half, going into the locker room up 16-13.

AAG, a scrappy group above the .500 mark for the first time in recent memory, responded well out of the locker room. Jackson gave AAG a quick lead, then after Shields responded with a basket, Aaliyah Juste (AAG 2020) - their leading scorer on the season, who was held scoreless in the 1st half - added two quick hoops. After Molly Zahnleuter (EW 2020) - their leading scorer, who was limited to only a 1st half free throw - answered with 4 quick points of her own, AAG went on an 11-1 run to end the 3rd. It culminated with a 35 foot buzzer beater from Juste, who had 8 in the quarter to give them a 32-23 lead. Shields & Juste traded buckets to start the 4th to maintain the 9 point margin, but that's when Emma Willard made their push. After AAG got to their opponents with their pressure in the 3rd quarter, it was EW reversing roles in the 4th, forcing AAG into several turnovers & rushed decisions. The Jesters went on an 11-0 run spanning a large chunk of the middle of the 4th. Four players scored in the run - a Zahnleuter trey tied it up at 34, and a pair of Shields free throws - big makes after missing a handful earlier in the quarter - gave EW the lead for good. Jackson got to the line for AAG and split a pair with 1:52 left, but it was Shields once again for the hosts, as the 6'2" freshman wing got loose for a deep corner jumper off a baseline out-of-bounds play to give EW a 38-35 lead with 1:19 left. The teams traded stops before Jackson got to the line again, this time making both to cut AAG's deficit to 38-37 with :11.2 remaining. They fouled Khairat Raji on the other end, and she hit a pair for Emma Willard. AAG's final possession came up empty, as EW was able to corral a loose ball just before the buzzer to ensure the victory.

Mianna Jackson made an impact for AAG throughout the game, leading them with 15 points.

Emma Shields led all scorers with 16 points in Emma Willard's victory, and she also added 8 blocks as she made a strong two-way impact throughout the game. Khairat Raji added 10 and was a major sparkplug for EW with her energy & effort on the boards, particularly the offensive glass. Molly Zahnleuter chipped in with 8, knocking down a couple important shots after a rough start shooting the ball. For AAG, Mianna Jackson had another solid game and paced them with 15 points. Aaliyah Juste joined her in double figures, shaking off a quiet 1st half of her own and adding 10 points.


#JeffsNotes

- Looking more deeply into the game, I thought it became more interesting as the night went on partially due to the early struggles of each team's leading scorer. Defenses were of course paying attention to Emma Willard's Molly Zahnleuter & AAG's Aaliyah Juste - both juniors - but they both were able to get good shots early. They just were off. Zahnleuter only had a free throw to her name in the 1st half, and Juste didn't scratch the books. That gave way to big showings from standout freshman Emma Shields (more on her in a second) and sophomore Mianna Jackson, along with supporting cast players having to contribute on each side. They both were able to shake loose from their early struggles though, with Juste being a catalyst in AAG's strong 3rd quarter and Zahnleuter knocking down a couple important 2nd half shots, and that turned an interesting nonleague matchup into a game worth the watch.

Emma Shields has next-level versatility and is among the region's top players in the 2022 class.

- Emma Shields, to put it in a more understandable way, is disgustingly versatile. The 16 points she finished with were scored at all three levels, and even the high number of blocks happened different ways - on-ball guarding a wing, on-ball guarding a post, weak side coming to help, getting in the play after an AAG offensive rebound. That being said, I was happy to see her playing predominantly at the wing for EW. At 6'2", she was the tallest player on the court by a considerable margin. I'm sure there's someone stuck in the past reading this thinking 'tallest person on the court, get under the basket', and I've seen more than my share of coaches fall victim to just that way of thinking even if it's not a player's natural position where you'll get the most out of them. Of course, there are situations where you want to take advantage of particular matchups, but this is about the rule more than the exception. Emma is more of a natural wing than anything else, and that's where she spent plenty of her time & making a major impact. She may not be at a Suburban Council school - and EW isn't exactly in the spotlight for girls' basketball in the 518 - but don't forget about her, as it'd be foolish to not bring her name into the equation among the region's top players with the most upside in the 2022 class.

Colonie Holds Off Shaker

January 15, 2019

Colonie 60, Shaker 55

Mid-January can accurately be described as the beginning of the 'dog days' of high school basketball season. Over two months since the season started yet still a month away from sectional season, teams can fall victim to a bit of malaise from time to time. Thankfully, this was far from the case on Tuesday night in Colonie. In the battle of South vs. North Colonie, both sides came with a spirited effort in a game that had more of a late February feel. Shaker made Colonie sweat until the bitter end, but the hosts made enough plays in the 4th quarter to gain some separation and hold off one last Shaker push in the final minute.

Aliyah Wright finished with 15 points Tuesday to pace Colonie in their victory.

It was a physical, jittery, foul-filled & sloppy at times start in the Colonie gym, with both teams spending more time at the free throw line over the first few minutes than actually playing. Shaker rode a hot start from Solé Carrington (Shaker 2021), who had 8 1st quarter points, to an early lead, but it was short-lived. Late in the quarter, Ahnalese Pearson (Colonie 2020) went on a personal 7-0 run to give Colonie a lead and extend it to 17-11 - a lead that Shaker would never get back. After Carrington scored early in the 2nd quarter to cut Shaker's deficit to 2, Colonie would reel off 8 straight points to earn their first double digit lead. Makayla Blake (Colonie 2020) had a strong stanza, scoring 8 points in the 2nd quarter to help them maintain their lead despite the hot shooting of Julia DeBeatham (Shaker 2020), who hit a pair of threes late in the half to keep the Bison within striking distance.

After Colonie went into the locker room up 7, they came out and got baskets from Pearson and Aliyah Wright (Colonie 2019; New Haven signee) to give them their largest lead at 39-28. Then Shaker, whose calling card this year has been their scrappiness, used it to claw back into the game. A pair of Carrington free throws started off their run. After Kaelah Carter (Shaker 2022) and Blake traded baskets, Shaker would go on an 8-0 run - including a pair of driving layups from Carrington and ending with another Carter bucket - to tie it up at 42. Colonie would eventually the quarter up 3 after a drive & finish from Wright to end it on a positive note for the hosts. They would continue that energy into the 4th quarter to gain separation once again. Sareena DiCerbo (Colonie 2020) scored to start the 4th, and by the time Pearson added a three-point play off a drive from the left wing, Colonie had gone on a 10-2 run with 5 different Raiders in on the scoring. That put them up 54-45 with 4:30 left. The Bison had one more serious push left in them, though. A 6-0 run culminating with another Carrington layup cut their deficit to 3 with under two minutes left. After a timeout, Colonie was able to get a much needed basket to stop the bleeding. Kyara Triblet (Colonie 2019; St. Michael's signee) found Alivia Paeglow (Colonie 2019) wide open off a side ball screen, who finished late in the shot clock. After a couple empty possessions, DeBeatham answered to cut it to 3 once more with :28.6 left, but Colonie sandwiched a stop in between 4 made free throws to put the game on ice.

Julia DeBeatham had a solid game for Shaker, finishing with 13 points & 3 steals as part of a potent backcourt combo.

The hosts received great balance from some of their usual suspects in the win. Aliyah Wright paced them with 15 points, and backcourt mate Ahnalese Pearson had a strong game & finished with 14. Makayla Blake added 11 points, and Kyara Triblet joined her in double digits with 10. For Shaker, Solé Carrington led all scorers with 22 points & added 4 steals. Julia DeBeatham added 13 points & 3 steals in what proved to be a potent backcourt punch on this night.


#JeffsNotes

- I should start off by saying that on this night, this rivalry game was certainly bigger than basketball. The raffles, the decorations, the halftime contest, the pink shirts. Tuesday night's Coaches vs. Cancer game had someone close to home in mind. You may have seen the #ShootingForSyd trend on social media. Proceeds through various outlets during the game - donations, raffles, bake sale, 50/50 - went to support young Sydney Leonard, a relative of both Shaker player Maddisyn Mahoney & Colonie assistant coach Tanya Hansen, who was diagnosed with Wilms' tumor a few months ago. A quality game around quality people with funds going to a fantastic cause. The atmosphere during the game was more of a playoff feeling, but it was also great to see the sides come together for an aforementioned 'bigger than basketball' moment.

- Now about the game itself. I'll give everyone on a team $20 if they can find a way to stay in front of Solé Carrington this winter... just kidding, I'm too broke for that. But the sentiment remains. I've watched Shaker three times so far this winter, and the 2021 PG might as well pay rent in the paint with how much she has been living there. The scouting report on her has read that she wants to get to the rim for a while, but what has changed is how she does it. She's becoming much more effective at using change-of-speed moves & changing her own center of gravity. She's getting defenders to step back onto their heels or stand up straight, and that's all she needs to be able to blow by. Considering the opponent and how she was able to produce on top of the actual numbers, this was one of the best overall showings I've seen from her. It's safe to say that Solé has been a breakout performer in the Suburban Council and Section 2 as a whole this winter.

When Ahnalese Pearson produces, it's a major stimulant for the Colonie team - she had 14 in their win Tuesday, including a personal 7-0 run in the 1st half.

- Colonie, the defending Class AA champions in Section 2, have taken a couple lumps this year. They fell victim to a bit of a slow start in a tough early-mid December schedule, and they also had a tough loss to Shen last week. But they are still and will continue to be a tough out for any AA team once we get into sectional season because of how many options they have on the offensive end. They have six players that are perfectly capable of giving them double digit production on any given night. Four of them did on Tuesday (Aliyah Wright, Ahnalese Pearson, Makayla Blake, Kyara Triblet). Sareena DiCerbo, who had just 3 points in this game, was averaging over 10 PPG going into Tuesday. Alivia Paeglow (4 points) is a longtime varsity producer that's given them 9+ points in over half of their games this winter. When any combination of them get it going, their ability to spread the wealth can provide issues for many teams on the defensive end, and I'm sure they won't be high on the wish list of teams to see on their side of the bracket for anyone in S2 AA in a month.

ESTers in Action - 1/14-1/15/19

*** Participants of the EST summer league are listed in bold. Those that have only participated in one-day EST events (Summer Kickoff, Upstate Fall Showcase, Middle School Combine) are listed in bold & italics.

Section 2

- Lexi Van Vorst (Columbia 2019; SUNY New Paltz commit) went off for a game high 31 points, including 7 threes, in Tuesday's 63-48 victory over Schenectady. Lauren Obermayer (Columbia 2019) also contributed double digits in the victory, finishing with 10.

- Harmony Philo (Gloversville 2019; Queens signee) dropped a game high 27 points, knocking down 7 threes in the process, in their 70-52 W over Glens Falls. The long-range bombardier now has made 250 threes in her career, which now makes her Section 2's most accomplished three-point shooter.

- Kelsey Wood (Averill Park 2020) pumped in a game high 27 points in Tuesday's 70-35 victory over Troy. EmmaLee Morgan (Averill Park 2019; NYIT commit) also contributed double digits, chipping in with 10.

- Logan Thayne (Hoosick Falls 2020) dropped a game high 27 points, and the Panthers handled Saratoga Catholic 49-16 on Tuesday night.

- Shenendehowa had several contributors key a 78-37 blowout victory over Guilderland on Tuesday. Meghan Huerter (2021) went off for a game high 24 points, knocking down 7 threes in the process. Cat Almeida (2019; Quinnipiac signee) and Bella Stuart (2020) contributed 10 points apiece, and Jill Huerter (2022) & Kaitlyn Watrobski (2020) chipped in with 8 points each in the W.

Meg Huerter was feeling it Tuesday, knocking down 7 treys en route to a game high 24 in a Shen blowout W.

- Dolly Cairns (Saratoga Springs 2020) dropped a game high 22 points, knocking down 4 threes in the process, and Kerry Flaherty (Saratoga Springs 2019; Holy Cross signee) added 19 points in their 60-53 victory over Bethlehem.

- In Bethlehem's close loss to Saratoga on Tuesday, Ava LaClair (Bethlehem 2022) contributed 13 points and Julia Harvey (Bethlehem 2021) chipped in with 12.

- Brinley Inglee (Hudson Falls 2020) finished with a game high 22 points in their blowout victory over Schuylerville Monday.

- Antonia May (Amsterdam 2021) contributed 17 of her 19 points in the 2nd half, and the Rams broke it open with a big 3rd quarter in a 58-37 triumph over Broadalbin-Perth Monday.

Antonia May had a big 2nd half Monday, helping push Amsterdam over the top in their win over Broadalbin-Perth.

- Colonie received balanced scoring, with 4 finishing in double figures, in their 60-55 victory over Shaker on Tuesday. Aliyah Wright (2019; New Haven signee) led the way with 15 points (3 threes), Ahnalese Pearson (2020) added 14 points, Makayla Blake (2020) contributed 11, and Kyara Triblet (2019; St. Michael's signee) chipped in with 10.

- In Shaker's close loss to Colonie, Solé Carrington (2021) finished with a game high 22 points & 4 steals, and Julia DeBeatham (2020) added 13 points & 3 steals.

- Sophie Phillips (Cambridge 2021) and Lilly Phillips (Cambridge 2021) finished with 18 and 16 points, respectively, and they extended their lead to 26 at halftime in their 60-33 victory over Greenwich.

- Emma Shields (Emma Willard 2022) contributed 13 points, a game high, in their 41-11 W over Hawthorne Valley Monday. She then followed it up with an 18 point performance in Tuesday's 59-21 triumph over Loudonville Christian the following day.

- Ashlyn O'Neil (Scotia-Glenville 2019) finished with a team high 14 points, but they fell to Queensbury 71-40 on Monday.

- Payton Graber (Schalmont 2022) finished with 14 points, but the Sabres fell to visiting Albany Academy 48-41.

- Jenalyse Alarcon (Troy 2021) chipped in with a team high 10 points, but they fell to Averill Park 70-35.

- Emily Erickson (Tamarac 2019) knocked down 5 threes and finished with a game high 21 points in Tuesday's blowout victory over Berlin.

- Breanna Lott (Mohonasen 2020) finished with a team high 16 points, including the game-winning three in the closing seconds, in Tuesday's 57-55 victory over Ravena.

- Talia Washington (Schenectady 2022) finished with a team high 17 points Tuesday, but they fell on the road to Columbia 63-48.

- Sara Hotaling (Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk 2023) contributed 12 points in their 57-55 loss to Mohonasen Tuesday.


Section 3

- Kaia Henderson (New Hartford 2022) - Section 3's leading scorer this winter - dropped a game high 25 points on Tuesday, but they fell to host VVS 60-50.

- Kayla Usborne (Madison 2019) pumped in a game high 21 points and added 10 rebounds, 5 assists, & 7 steals in their 61-23 triumph over Stockbridge Valley Monday.

- Allison Moreau (Sauquoit Valley 2019; Le Moyne soccer signee) finished with a game high 21 points - increasing her career total to 2,099 and putting her at #4 on Section 3's all-time scoring list - but they fell to West Canada Valley 45-34 Monday.

- Jackie Piddock (South Jefferson 2022) pumped in a game high 21 points & 4 assists, and Alyssa Stevenson (South Jefferson 2019) added 10 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, & 3 blocks, and the Spartans led by 31 after one quarter on the way to a 69-19 victory over Beaver River.

Jackie Piddock finished with a game high 21 points in a blowout W for South Jefferson.

- Lexie Roe (Fayetteville-Manlius 2021) contributed a game high 19 points and added 4 rebounds, 3 assists, & 3 steals in the Hornets' 62-35 triumph over Utica Proctor on Monday. She followed it up the next day with another 19 point performance - also a game high - in a 47-35 W over Corcoran.

- Belle Kranbuhl (Adirondack 2020) finished with 19 points, but they fell to host Cooperstown 62-53 on Monday.

- Lindsey Lawson (Cazenovia 2020) registered a game high 18 points and added 24 rebounds, 4 steals, & 4 blocks in Monday's 39-28 victory over visiting CVA.

- Jaelyn Vleer-Elliott (Brookfield 2021) went for a triple-double Monday, finishing with 16 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists (along with 6 steals & 3 blocks) in their blowout victory over DeRuyter. Monday's stat line was the 4th triple-double Jaelyn has registered this winter, and per Post-Standard records, the 9th of her varsity career.

Jaelyn Vleer-Elliott helped state-ranked Brookfield continue their winning ways with her 4th triple-double of the season.

- Sydney Lusher (Oneida 2021) finished with 14 points, 7 rebounds, & 5 assists in Tuesday's 64-47 nonleague victory at Marcellus.

- Olivia Langdon (Little Falls 2019) contributed 12 points, a game high, in Monday's 43-34 triumph over Holland Patent.

- Catherine Dadey (Westhill 2022) was one of three Warriors in double digits, finishing with 10 points in a big 55-45 victory over Chittenango.

- Jess Cook (Cicero-North Syracuse 2021) pumped in a game high 21 points, and the Northstars picked up a big midseason W by taking down West Genesee 56-45 on Tuesday.

- In West Genesee's loss to CNS, Mackenzie Smith (West Genesee 2019; Old Dominion signee) led the Wildcats with 19 points.

- Piper Seamon (Cooperstown 2020) canned 6 threes and led all scorers with 23 points in Monday's 62-53 victory over visiting Adirondack.

- In Adirondack's close loss to Cooperstown, Cam Roberts (Adirondack 2020) finished with a team high 20 points.

- Kennady Amo (Thousand Islands 2021) finished with a game high 18 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, & 3 steals and Madyson Amo (Thousand Islands 2019) added 11 points, 5 rebounds, & 3 assists in Monday's blowout W over Belleville-Henderson.

- Bishop Ludden had three players finish in double figures in their 74-42 victory over Hannibal on Tuesday. Aurora DeShaies (2019; New Haven signee) led the way with 14 points, and Katie Costello (2019) & Amarah Streiff (2023) chipped in with 11 points apiece.

- Lexi Pierce (Syracuse Academy of Science 2022) hit 4 threes and finished with 18 points, and Xy'el Bradford (SAS 2020) added 14 points in Tuesday's 75-58 W over Skaneateles.

- Lexi Emmi (Liverpool 2019) and Karlyssa Shifflett (Liverpool 2021) were two of three in double digits for the Warriors in their 69-46 victory over Baldwinsville. Emmi (3 threes) finished with 14 points, and Shifflett (4 threes) added 12.

- Ally Shoemaker (Chittenango 2020) finished with a game high 16 points and added 5 rebounds, 5 assists, & 12 steals, but they fell to Westhill 55-45 on Tuesday.

- Alexandra Bednarczyk (Baldwinsville 2022) finished with a team high 14 points, but they fell to visiting Corcoran 57-48 on Monday.

- Savannah Sommer (CVA 2020) contributed a team high 14 points, but they fell to host Cazenovia 39-28 on Monday.

- Julia Mann (Central Square 2021) contributed a game high 13 points, with 11 coming at the free throw line, but they fell to Jamesville-DeWitt 50-31.


Section 4

- Laycee Drake (Deposit/Hancock 2021) finished with a team high 23 points Tuesday, and they defeated Greene 49-46.

- Melanie Hoyt (Stamford 2021) contributed a game high 17 points, and they held off Hunter-Tannersville 57-50 for a Tuesday night win.

- Jill Casey (Horseheads 2020; Quinnipiac commit) went off for a game high 37 points in Tuesday's 73-49 victory over Maine-Endwell.

Quinnipiac commit Jill Casey went off for 37 points, one off her career high, in an impressive W over Maine-Endwell.

- In Maine-Endwell's loss to Horseheads, Ashlynn McKnight (Maine-Endwell 2019; Roberts Wesleyan signee) finished with a team high 17 points and Kaet L'Amoreaux (Maine-Endwell 2023) added 16.

- Marina Maerkl (Seton Catholic 2019; Daemen signee) dropped a game high 23 points, joining the 1,000 point club in the process, in Tuesday's 54-22 victory over Windsor.

- Kaci Donovan (Owego Free Academy 2020) dropped a game high 22 points, and they jumped out to a big start en route to a 63-39 W over Binghamton.

Kaci Donovan continued her strong junior campaign with a game high 22 pts to help keep Owego unbeaten on the season.

- Halea Eaton (Norwich 2020) finished with a team high 14 points in a balanced Purple Tornado effort, and they defeated Chenango Valley 62-39.


Western NY (Sections 5, 6, Monsignor Martin)

- Shay Ciezki (St. Mary's Lancaster 2022) pumped in a game high 23 points, and they overcame a 2nd half deficit to defeat Sacred Heart 55-53 on Monday.

Shay Ciezki continued her monster freshman campaign with a 23 point effort to keep St. Mary's Lancaster undefeated on the season.

Hudson Valley (Sections 1 & 9)

- Brianna Rozzi (Highland 2019; Loyola (MD) signee) dropped a team high 26 points for the Huskies, becoming Highland's all-time leading scorer in the process with 1,625 and counting, but they fell on the road at Marlboro 73-55.

Bri Rozzi added to the list of accomplishments in her illustrious HS career, becoming Highland's all-time leading scorer (1,625 points) on Tuesday.

- Maggie Malone (Cornwall 2019; SUNY Cortland commit) led all scorers with 19 points in the Dragons' 57-32 W over Kingston on Tuesday.

- Grace VanRoy (Saugerties 2019) finished with 13 points in their 49-33 victory over Rondout Valley on Tuesday.

- Erin Smith (Goshen 2020) contributed a game high 14 points in their 59-25 victory over Chester.

- Kiki Kennedy (Middletown 2020) contributed 13 points in the Middies' 34-33 victory over Minisink Valley.


Northern NY (Sections 7 & 10)

- Maria Baker (Bolton 2021) pumped in a game high 23 points in Tuesday's 47-26 victory over Lake Placid.


Massachusetts

- Amanda Mieczkowski (Northampton 2020) finished with a game high 19 points in Monday's 75-38 W over Holyoke.

Lourdes Shakes Off Pesky Holy Names, Escapes With W

January 7, 2019

Our Lady of Lourdes 41, Academy of the Holy Names 38

Monday nights, outside of the Foothills, tend to be quiet in Section 2. So the matchup that brought perennial Section 1 Class AA contender Our Lady of Lourdes up to Albany to take on Holy Names, one that would've been a notable game on the schedule on any night, only popped off the screen even more on this night. Playing in front of a decent crowd in a game that was well-covered by local media and saw the likes of Princeton in the house, Holy Names was nearly able to overcome an early onslaught from a Lourdes standout with a staunch defensive effort, but eventually weren't able to overcome their own offensive woes as the visitors were able to keep them at bay in the closing moments.

Ava Learn was dominant in the 1st half, where she scored 20 of her game high 23 points for Lourdes.

The first quarter set the early tone for Lourdes, as their defensive effort showed that the bus ride up from Poughkeepsie didn't bother them. They held Holy Names to only a banked three for most of the quarter, and Ava Learn (Our Lady of Lourdes 2021) went to work on the offensive end. A three-point play started it off, then a layup off a cut, a square-up three, and a 3/4 stretch from the line gave her 11 quick points and pushed Lourdes to a 13-3 lead. A scrappy Holy Names squad, despite not getting many good looks early and missing most of the good ones they got, weathered the storm and started to inch back into it. After Learn knocked down another three to start the 2nd quarter, Holy Names started to pound the post, and Saniyya Adams (AHN 2019) scored 7 in the 2nd along with drawing two consecutive fouls on Learn. Not long after a highlight reel double-clutch fadeaway gave Ava 20 points on the half, she picked up her 3rd foul going for a rebound and had to sit the end of the half. A Mia Farley (AHN 2021) three and a pair of Adams free throws cut AHN's deficit to 25-20 at the break.

Between sluggish play offensively and strong efforts on the defensive end, the 3rd quarter was a struggle on the scoreboard. However, a Keira Cohen (AHN 2019) floater and a Grace Field (AHN 2020) free throw cut their once 10 point deficit down to 3 headed into the 4th quarter. For a long stretch of that quarter, it was Field and Sam Fischer (Our Lady of Lourdes 2021) - who had scored a combined 8 points in the first 3 quarters - that shouldered the scoring load for their teams. Four quick Fischer points gave OLL a 33-28 lead, but Field answered with a basket. After Fischer hit a pair of free throws, Field responded with back-to-back buckets to cut their deficit to 1, and she scored again after a Learn free throw to tie it at 36 with 3:16 left. On the ensuing possession, Fischer hit a pair of free throws for Lourdes to regain the lead - one they wouldn't relinquish. Holy Names had one more chance late after a Sofia Feigelson (Our Lady of Lourdes 2021) free throw gave them a 41-38 lead, but a last second Cohen three point attempt was blocked.

Grace Field had a strong 2nd half for AHN and paced them in the scorebook with 13 points.

With Princeton in the house, Ava Learn dropped a game high 23 points/13 rebounds with 20 coming in the first half. Sam Fischer provided a major lift for OLL off the bench, scoring 8 of her 11 points in the 4th quarter. For Holy Names, Grace Field had a strong 2nd half at both ends of the floor and paced them with 13 points along with filling the stat sheet. Saniyya Adams added 12 points before fouling out with 4 minutes left.


#JeffsNotes

- Holy Names held Mikayla Russo & Kate Peek - two dangerous shooters that have filled it up at times around Ava Learn at OLL - scoreless for the game. They held Lourdes to 16 points in the 2nd half, and after getting torched to the tune of 20 1st half points from Ava, they held her to 3 points after halftime. If you told me that was going to happen before the game, I would be expecting to walk out of the gym seeing them win. Unfortunately for them, Lourdes came through with a strong defensive effort of their own - not turning AHN over, but staying in front, containing, and often forcing them into difficult shots later in the shot clock - and AHN was never able to get in a true rhythm offensively. The majority of their success on O came as a result of playing through the post, and Saniyya Adams fouling out with 4:23 remaining was a major blow, but credit to them for giving themselves a chance to win it in the game's closing minutes. They showed me that they can grind a game out for 32 minutes when things aren't clicking the way they'd hope, and I think that bodes well for them going forward.

Sam Fischer came through with much needed offensive production when OLL needed it in the 4th quarter.

- On the contrary, if you're Lourdes... just three 2nd half points for Ava Learn, Russo & Peek held scoreless, on the road against a previously undefeated team... you'll take that win however it comes. Big plays from Sam Fischer as the game went on. The Lourdes 2021 seemed to realize in the 4th quarter that the additional production was going to have to come from her, and she looked more confident attacking to score as the game went on. She has a strong build but is skilled and deceptively mobile, and she was able to get to the rim, draw contact, and get to the line. The more capable contributors Lourdes can have around Ava Learn - a high major D1 talent that will attract the lion's share of defensive attention against any team they play - the better off they'll be going into the 2nd half of this winter. With a sophomore core of Learn, Fischer, Peek, and Sofia Feigelson that saw plenty of run along with Russo, a junior, there continues to be room to grow for this group.

Oneida Does Just Enough to Hold Off Adirondack

January 2, 2019

Oneida 50, Adirondack 45

Wednesday's nightcap was an interesting one on the schedule, as two teams that figure to be a threat in the Section 3 Class B playoffs - and don't often bump up against each other - hit the court in a nonleague matchup. Visiting Oneida led most of the way, but they were never able to gain much separation. However, they were able to string together enough plays in the 4th quarter to hold off their hosts and get the nonleague victory.

Ella Rainbow finished with 15 for Oneida, including a couple timely threes in the 4th to help them keep their late cushion.

The first half was back & forth and slow in pace, with Oneida leading most of the way. They scored 7 straight after Camille Roberts (Adirondack 2020) opened the scoring with a three to get off on the right foot. After Oneida went up 16-10 on a Lauren Skibitski (Oneida 2019) basket, Adirondack made a push through most of the remainder of the quarter. Erica Sanford (Adirondack 2021) scored 6 points in an 11-4 stretch, and a Belle Kranbuhl (Adirondack 2020) three-point play gave them a 21-20 edge late in the half. Skibitski answered with a trey to give Oneida a 23-21 lead going into the locker room; a lead that Adirondack would never get back.

After Kranbuhl scored to start the 3rd and tie it up, Oneida went on a 10-0 run with four different Indians scoring - culminating with a Sydney Lusher (Oneida 2021) three - to give them their first of two successive double digit leads. Skibitski scored a minute later to make it 35-25 before Adirondack would start to crawl back into it. Kranbuhl scored the last four points of the quarter to cut Adirondack's deficit to 37-34. The Wildcats were able to cut the deficit to 1 point on a pair of occasions in the middle of the 4th quarter. A pair of Roberts free throws made it 39-38, and after Ella Rainbow (Oneida 2021) knocked down a trey, Sanford came back with a 3 point play to make it 42-41 with 4:09 left. However, Rainbow responded with another three and Lusher added a floater in the lane to give Oneida a 6 point cushion with 2 minutes left. Not long after Kranbuhl hit a pair of free throws to cut Adirondack's deficit to 4, Oneida was able to make a slow-to-foul Wildcats team pay. With Adirondack sitting on two team fouls in the quarter, they attempted to trap Oneida's guards and force a turnover before committing fouls. By the time they committed their 5th team foul, sending Oneida to the line, the Indians were able to milk 47 seconds off the clock and send Rainbow to the line with under 22 seconds remaining. She hit both, effectively ending any hopes of late Adirondack heroics.

Belle Kranbuhl picked it up as the game went on for Adirondack and contributed 16 points, 10 rebounds, & 5 blocks.

Ella Rainbow and Lauren Skibitski finished with 15 points apiece to lead Oneida. Skibitski was a main source of offense in the first three quarters, and Rainbow punched in eight points in the 4th. Syd Lusher added 10 for Oneida and filled the stat sheet with 6 rebounds, 5 assists, & a pair of blocks. For Adirondack, Belle Kranbuhl contributed a double-double with a game high 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 blocks with Monmouth - who has already offered a scholarship - in the gym for her. Erica Sanford added 11 points, and Cam Roberts fought through foul trouble to contribute 7 points and 14 rebounds.

Sydney Lusher was an important part of Oneida's W, contributing 10 pts, 6 rebs, & 5 asts in a well-rounded effort.

#JeffsNotes

- I thought the pace of the game favored Adirondack most of the way, but Oneida was able to have the game favor them where it matters most - the scoreboard. The game was played slowly - zone vs. zone, very limited fast break opportunities, possessions going pretty deep into shot clocks at both ends. I thought this favored the size of Adirondack (6'3" Belle Kranbuhl and 6'2" Cam Roberts) over a very guard-oriented Oneida squad that doesn't play anyone taller than 5'10". But despite that, Oneida did enough. They usually moved the ball well against Adirondack's 2-3, and when they did that & made the defense rotate and recover, they generally got good shots. They made seven threes off the hands of four players, and the two Ella Rainbow hit - who I thought had a nice game and showed me a lot as far as playing within herself and making plays when Oneida needed - were huge. Overall, a nice road win for an Oneida team that I think people in the section are just now starting to respect.

- It was snowing in Boonville when I left, because when isn't it snowing in Boonville? Also, the Dunkin' Donuts in town closes at 7:00 PM... what kind of a Dunkin' closes that early?!

Gera Scores Her 1,000th, Auburn Blows Past Liverpool With Stellar 4th Quarter

January 2, 2019

Auburn 71, Liverpool 63

The first game of 2019 was a rare Wednesday matinee. On a day where some school districts were back in session and others not, Liverpool & Auburn made full use of their day off for a 1:00 tip. The game was a shootout from the tip, but Liverpool was able to maintain the upper hand for over 29 minutes of action. However, the time that Auburn led was the most important, as they were able to go on a huge run late and grab a home victory.

Stef Gera dropped 18 for Auburn, including the 1,000th point of her varsity career, in Wednesday's win.

The milestone of the day was handled very quickly. Auburn standout 2019 and SUNY Cortland commit Stef Gera came into the game with 999 career points, and there wasn't a long wait for the home crowd to see her secure quadruple digits. She sank a three from the top just under 90 seconds into the game to reach the coveted mark and get that weight lifted off her shoulders. When play resumed, Liverpool quickly gained the upper hand off the strength of the three. Karly Shifflett (Liverpool 2021), Victoria Morgan (Liverpool 2021), and Laya Ashkar (Liverpool 2019) all hit threes in the first 8 minutes - Shifflett hit two of them - to give Liverpool a 14-9 edge. Then they started to establish Amanda Barnell (Liverpool 2019) in the post, as she scored 7 quick points in the 2nd and helped Liverpool get their largest lead of 9. They were able to maintain a 28-23 edge going into the locker room.

Amanda Barnell was a presence in the blocks for Liverpool and finished with 15 points.

Auburn came out of the locker room strong, scoring the first 4 of the quarter and eventually tying it at 33 on a Jania Freeman layup. Shifflett knocked down another three to respond for Liverpool, and a quick 9-2 spurt gave them a 7 point lead again. Auburn continued to hang around, taking advantage of Liverpool defensive breakdowns for some easy ones along the way, but the hot shooting of the Warriors was able to keep the hosts at bay into the 4th quarter. Liverpool led by as much as 6 early in the 4th on three separate occasions - a pair of Barnell free throws, another Barnell layup, and a Lexi Emmi (Liverpool 2019) basket that gave them a 55-49 edge - but then it was Auburn's time to make their push. Marlee Solomon (Auburn 2020) hit a pair of baseline jumpers to start what would be a monster 4th quarter for her. She scored again to cut it to two, and after Gera tied it at 57, an Emma Nolan basket gave Auburn the lead with 2:37 left. After Solomon scored once again, Shifflett canned her 5th three of the game to cut Liverpool's deficit to 1. But it was Solomon once again, converting twice to start a quick 8-0 spurt to put it out of reach. A Freeman layup gave Auburn a 9 point lead and effectively put it out of reach, even after Shifflett banged home her 6th and final three of the night.

Marlee Solomon made the most of her scoring opportunities, dropping 14 in the 4th quarter and a game high 23 in total. Stef Gera continued her production after scoring her 1,000th early in the game, adding 18 points to the cause, and Jania Freeman chipped in with 10. Karly Shifflett hit 6 of Liverpool's 11 threes and led the way with 18 points for Liverpool. Amanda Barnell contributed 15 for the Warriors, Victoria Morgan added 11, and Laya Ashkar chipped in with 9.

Marlee Solomon dropped a game high 23 points, 14 coming in the 4th for Auburn.

#JeffsNotes

- Mentioned this on Twitter, but worth saying again. Stef Gera, a 5'3" on a good day guard, has been known as a dynamic scorer that can fill it up in a hurry. That can be shown by her career scoring mark - 1,017 points and counting. But the SUNY Cortland commit showed me some encouraging things besides being able to put the ball in the basket. On top of her 18 points, Stef was able to create for others off the dribble and get the ball where it needed to be & when it needed to be there for others to contribute. This improving ability to create for others is an important piece. As a smaller guard, I've thought that her ability to contribute right away would hang on that more than her pure scoring ability, as anyone that knows her game knows she can do that against anyone you put in front of her. I'm becoming more confident that Stef is someone that can step into Cortland's program, and the SUNYAC as a whole, and be able to contribute & make an impact right away.

- Karly Shifflett is one of the better offensive players that you probably don't know about. The 2021 guard is simply fun to watch when she gets it going, and she was certainly hitting in this game. Catch & shoot? Sure. A few feet behind the three point line? Bang. Quick fire off a screen? No problem. Stepback three against good defense? Better offense - barely moved the net. She hit 6 threes and I'm not sure if she attempted 10. That shotmaking ability, when done with consistency, is dangerous in any situation. Karly is someone I've had my eye on for a while now, seeing her scoring prowess with the Syracuse Nets carry over to a couple of my EST events and beyond, and I'm looking forward to seeing her continued development.

Karly Shifflett was feeling it from start to finish for Liverpool, hitting 6 treys & finishing with 18 points.

- The combined field goal percentage between the two teams had to be the highest out of any game I've seen this year. Part good offense, part getting out in transition and getting easy ones, part shotmaking ability, part not the best defensive showing - wherever you want to go with it, Auburn HS needs new nets after Wednesday afternoon.