MHAL Semifinals: Millbrook Fends Off Spackenkill, FDR Uses Big 2nd Half to Handle Red Hook

February 19, 2019

Another day that's turned into an annual trip for me is the opening of the Mid-Hudson Athletic League playoffs. A league that features many of Section 9's stronger Class A, B, & C teams - including the sectional champions in each of those classes last year - sends its top two teams in each division to a semifinal round. The 2019 field looked similar to the 2018 field, with only one new face (Red Hook) in the playoff equation. They looked sharp in the first 16 minutes of Tuesday's nightcap before a relentless FDR squad took control in the 3rd quarter. In the night's opener, Millbrook was able to overcome the adversity of losing one of its main guns to fouls early in the 4th quarter, getting contributions from a young supporting cast to knock off Spackenkill.


Millbrook 49, Spackenkill 42

In a game that featured eight lead changes and a margin that remained in single digits from end to end, Millbrook (#1 in Class C state rankings) was able to gain much needed separation in the 4th quarter and earn a quality win over their opponents from Spackenkill (#22 in Class B state rankings).

Erin Fox stepped up even more when needed, producing a game high 23 points in a tough Millbrook win.

A slow start both ways started to pick up late in the 1st quarter. After a pair of Sam McKenna (Millbrook 2019; Mitchell commit) buckets, Erin Fox (Millbrook 2020; Marist commit) knocked down a three to give them a 9-4 edge. Spackenkill, as was the case on more than one occasion, sent their response with the three ball. Issy Herrera (Spackenkill 2019; U of Chicago commit) and Simone Pelish (Spackenkill 2024) dialed long distance to end the quarter, with Pelish's right corner trey before the buzzer giving Spackenkill a 10-9 edge. 6 quick Fox points to start the 2nd, with another Pelish trey sandwiched in between them, gave Millbrook the lead back. They extended it to 23-17 late in the quarter thanks again to Fox, who had 10 in the 2nd stanza, but Spackenkill ended the 2nd quarter the same way they did the 1st. An 8-0 run over the last 1:20 - a pair of Pelish free throws in between two Herrera threes, both off the glass - gave Spackenkill a 25-23 lead going into the locker room.

The teams spent more time at the free throw line early in the 2nd half than anywhere else, with Millbrook & Spackenkill combining to make 2 field goals and shoot 14 free throws in the 3rd quarter, and foul issues started to pile up. McKenna was originally a recipient, going 3/4 from the line in the opening moments of the half, but it eventually sent her to the bench, as the longtime Millbrook standout headed to the bench with 4 fouls at the 4:16 mark in the 3rd. Spackenkill was unable to capitalize, however, as a staunch defensive effort from Millbrook kept them off the 3 point line and prevented easy looks. After Spackenkill briefly took a 30-28 lead late in the 3rd, Millbrook scored the last 3 of the quarter, with a Claire Martell (Millbrook 2019) bucket giving them a 31-30 lead at the end of the 3rd that they'd never relinquish.

Simone Pelish had a fast start for Spackenkill, and the 7th grader chipped in with 10 points Tuesday.

 Fox started the 4th quarter on the right note, burying a deep three after her defender went underneath on an exchange, but Millbrook would be dealt a major blow on the ensuing possession as McKenna would be whistled for her 5th foul trying to jump a passing lane with 6:22 left. The state's top-ranked Class C team would dial in from there, though, never letting Spackenkill take advantage of that. Martell added a bucket, and then Fox buried another three to give Millbrook a 39-32 lead. After Herrera answered with 5 straight points, it was Martell followed by Maddy Harkenrider (Millbrook 2022) burying an open jumper to give them a 6 point cushion again. Spackenkill made it interesting one more time, cutting the deficit to 43-40 with 3:21 left, but it was Millbrook's youngest player helping to ice the game in the final moments. Natalie Fox (Millbrook 2024), Erin's younger sister, knocked down a three at the 2:26 mark. After getting a couple stops, it was 'little' Fox again, knocking down a pretty well-contested 18 footer to give them a 48-40 lead with 1:14 remaining.

Claire Martell made big plays for Millbrook in the 2nd half when needed, scoring all of her pts in the final 8+ minutes.

Erin Fox had a strong game, shaking off a slow start to finish with a game high 23 points in the victory. The early Marist commit showed off her improved range, knocking down 3 threes. Sam McKenna added 9 before fouling out. Natalie Fox (7 points) and Claire Martell (6 points) combined to score 11 in the game's final 8:35 to give much needed support for Millbrook. In defeat, Issy Herrera led Spackenkill with 14 points and hit 4 of their 7 threes. Simone Pelish, a 2024 with immense promise, added 10 points.



Franklin D. Roosevelt 52, Red Hook 41

The two teams played each other less than two weeks prior, with FDR storming back in the 2nd half on Red Hook's home court to take control of the game and pull away with a victory. Without one of Red Hook's most consistent contributors on the court Tuesday, they did well to walk into the locker room at halftime with a lead. However, the nightcap at SUNY Ulster eventually looked like a bit of a repeat of their initial matchup, with FDR using a 16-4 3rd quarter to seize control and secure a berth in the MHAL championship against Millbrook.

Deliah Smith chipped in with 9 pts for FDR, including back to back threes early in the 4th to give them a double digit lead.

FDR started off on the right foot, jumping out to an 8-2 lead in the first 4 minutes off the strength of a pair of Kelsea Demelis (FDR 2020) threes. Red Hook, thanks to the exploits of 2022 Morgan Tompkins, was able to settle in and keep the 1st quarter deficit at 6, with Tompkins scoring 7 of their 9 in the frame to keep it manageable. It was a different game in the 2nd, as even without longtime starting guard Chrissy Gildersleeve in action, Red Hook controlled tempo in the quarter and was able to take full advantage of their strengths. Tompkins buried a three to start the quarter, and Erin Hare (Red Hook 2019) added a three-point play to tie it up. After Jae'len Daubon (FDR 2020) momentarily stopped the bleeding for the Presidents, Red Hook came back on the attack, with Hare eventually giving them the lead. They extended it to 24-19 before FDR, starting with a Daubon trey, scored 5 straight to tie it up. That was short-lived though, as Red Hook threw the last punch of the half. Hare hit a pair of free throws, and then after getting a stop, Tompkins brought it up the right side of the floor, shook off a defender, and buried a deep right wing three before the buzzer to give Red Hook a 29-24 lead.

Morgan Tompkins turned some heads with a big game Tuesday, finishing with 18 pts and showing why she'll be a force in the 845 for years to come.

Red Hook extended their lead to 7 at the beginning of the half with a pair of Hare free throws, but from there, it was all FDR. They reeled off 10 straight points, with Kamryn Hammond (FDR 2019) scoring in the middle of the run to give them a 32-31 lead that they'd never give back. With it still a 1 point game late in the 3rd - almost a mirror image of their battle at Red Hook 11 days prior - FDR banged home two threes to end the quarter, both of them this time coming off the left hand of Demelis to give them a 40-33 lead. Red Hook would never get closer than 6 from there, which they did with a free throw early in the 4th. Deliah Smith (FDR 2020) responded by hitting back-to-back threes, giving them their first double digit lead at 46-34 with 4:51 left. 4 straight Red Hook points were answered by another Daubon three, and the last Red Hook breath of life - a tough Tompkins bucket plus a free throw, cutting their deficit to 49-41 at the 1:41 mark - was answered by the same from Hammond at the other end.

The FDR Presidents won with extreme balance. Jae'len Daubon, Kelsea Demelis, and Kamryn Hammond all finished with 12 points apiece, and Deliah Smith added 9 in the win. All of Demelis' points came from behind the arc, as she hit 4 of their 9 threes on the night. For Red Hook, Morgan Tompkins attracted plenty of FDR's defensive attention after a dynamic 1st half, where she scored 13 of her game high 18 points. Erin Hare added 12 points, with 8 coming in the 2nd quarter where they outscored FDR 20-9.

Kelsea Demelis was one of three with 12 pts for FDR, and her 2 treys late in the 3rd gave them much needed breathing room.

#JeffsNotes

- The youth movement in Section 9 is evident, it's real, and the future is now. You'll see me write up plenty of things about the exploits of some of these girls over the next 3-5 years, so for now, a blanket mention. I can't say that Red Hook's Morgan Tompkins is 'next up', because she's officially moved from that title to a main attraction right now. Simone Pelish, only a 2024 at Spackenkill, is awfully close to that stage already. In the late game situations that for Millbrook, you expect to be Fox/McKenna time, it certainly was Fox time... but maybe not the one you'd expect. After a big game from Marist commit Erin, it was Natalie, a 2024 that bears a striking resemblance to big sis, hitting shots late to ice it. For now, I get to call her 'Erin's little sister', but there will be a time - in the not-so-distant future - that Natalie will be carving out her own legacy. Maddy Harkenrider, a 2022, also gave Millbrook some big minutes in the backcourt and hit a big jumper in the middle of the 4th to reestablish a little separation. Long story short... if you know the names already, you're doing well. If not, get familiar ASAP.

Move over, Erin! Natalie Fox stepped up & hit two big shots to help secure a win for Millbrook Tuesday.

- Erin Fox will probably enjoy the fact that I'm now going to mention her perimeter shooting prowess, but there was no poking & prodding done by her for me to bring it up - it was on full display on Tuesday. The first time I watched Erin play, which was in the pre-camera days a couple years ago, the then-freshman had a unique skill set and a good midrange shooting touch that you thought could extend to the arc, but I never really saw her do it until the EST summer league a few months after. Now, as a part of her game that she's worked on over time, she's really become a knockdown shooter. She hit 3 big threes as a part of her game high 23 points in the MHAL semifinal opener, and she did so both off the catch & off the dribble. Perhaps the biggest one was to start the 4th quarter just after Millbrook regained the lead, when her defender slid underneath on an exchange and she took a dribble, let it go from 22', and barely hit the net as it came down. With her ability to stretch even farther and improvements in her face-up arsenal over time, it's not difficult to see how the early Marist pledge fits into their style offensively.

- Deliah Smith. Kelsea Demelis. Jae'len Daubon. If you've read some of my stuff or followed the Twitter, you've probably seen me mention one or any combo of these three names when watching anything FDR. And that's fair & deserved; the three 2020 guards have emerged as some of Section 9's shining stars in their own right, and doing it together has made opponents' lives hell this year. But an underrated, undermentioned piece of the Presidents' success - including by me - is Kamryn Hammond. That wasn't any more clear than in Tuesday night's festivities. The versatile 5'8" 2019, whose skill set best fits at the wing, has played primarily at the 4 this year with the amount of guards they have. Out of position? Not a problem, as she's relentless around the basket. Her length & motor allow her to play bigger than she is, and she's posed a matchup problem at times herself. She was a driving force behind FDR's 16-4 3rd quarter that allowed them to get control. She'd catch in the high post area and face up, and Red Hook couldn't do much with her from there, as they had to respect her ability to hit the midrange jumper. She'd blow by, get to the rim, and finish or get to the line. I've seen FDR play three times this year, and they've been at their best when she stays involved in the offense.

Kamryn Hammond has proven to be an integral part of FDR's success this winter.