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?!