2nd Annual EST Middle School Combine (SOLD OUT - FILL OUT REGISTRATION FORM TO BE ADDED TO WAITING LIST)

THIS EVENT IS CURRENTLY SOLD OUT. TO BE ADDED TO THE WAITING LIST, PLEASE FILL OUT THE REGISTRATION FORM AT THE LINK BELOW & I WILL CONTACT YOU DIRECTLY!!!

High school basketball season is coming to a close... it's about time for EST events to come back for 2019!

With the success of last spring's inaugural middle school event, it's only right to bring it back for another go-around. On the evening of Friday, May 10, the Pat Riley Sports Center @ Schenectady High School will host the 2nd Annual EST Middle School Combine.

The event is open to all girls' basketball players in the 2023-2024 graduating classes (7th-8th grade). An emphasis will be placed on the combination of skills/drills/individual breakdowns and live play - as usual for EST events, former/current collegiate coaches will run the individual skills & breakdown portion of the event. Along with that, athletes will participate in highly competitive, structured 3v3 & 5v5 action. A chance for young players to get a taste of the format of an individual event similar to a college elite camp, all while seeing where they stack up among the top players of their age in the Northeast and LEARNING & IMPROVING! Registration & PayPal links below:

REGISTRATION FORM: https://jeffmlinar.wufoo.com/forms/mboq59l1ha2jl9/

The inaugural Middle School Combine was a major success. Nearly 60 players went to work at the Schenectady HS gymnasium last May. Not only was there a strong representation from the Capital District, but additional players from Utica, Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo, and the Southern Tier came out to participate. There were even athletes from Pennsylvania & Vermont in the gym. The individual breakdowns to start the event were coordinated by SUNY Oswego women's coach Sean Pinkerton. Athletes that participated last May have already made waves at the varsity level at a young age, including all-league & even all-state selections in various sections, along with being important pieces of successful varsity teams.

Empire State Takeover events have become a must-stop for much of upstate NY & New England's top talent. Numbers in all events have increased with time - from 5 teams in 2015's inaugural summer league to 8 in each of the following three years, and from 24 players in the 2015 inaugural fall event to selling out at approximately 120 in recent showcases. Attendance from college coaches, prep school coaches, scouting services & other media outlets has increased along with the jump in talent. This is truly an outlet where your daughter can get tested, see where she measures up among the region's best, get in front of eyes that matter, and receive bang for your buck!

Please contact me directly or reach out via the website or social media with any questions. Hope to see you in the building on May 10!

REGISTERED PLAYER LIST (updated 4/30/19 12:00 PM)

Jalea Abrams (5'8", 2023)
Grace Almeida (5'10", 2023)
Karissa Antoine (5'11", 2024)
Sophia Bonnell (5'1", 2024)
Addie Borowsky (5'7", 2023)
Brianna Carey (5'6", 2023)
Maya Carpenter (5'5", 2023)
Ellie Cerf (5'0", 2024)
Ellie Clearwater (5'4', 2024)
Ella Chandler (5'7", 2023)
Grace Cozzens (5'8", 2024)
Malati Culver (5'9", 2023)
Sydney Delisle (4'10", 2024)
Ashley DiCarlo (5'4", 2023)
Alyssa Dobson (5'4", 2023)
Brooklyn Douglass (5'3", 2023)
Taylor Evans (5'4", 2024)
Adriana Fontana (5'5", 2024)
Natalie Fox (5'11", 2024)
Isabella Franchi (5'6", 2023)
Isabella Gilmore (5'6", 2024)
Klarissa Goode (5'4", 2025)
Caydence Hadley (6'0", 2023)
Sara Hotaling (5'6", 2023)
Sophia Jabour (5'6", 2023)
Jackie Kozakiewicz (5'4", 2024)
Kaetlyn L'Amoreaux (5'6", 2023)
Quincy Lake (5'3", 2023)
Cora Long (5'2", 2023)
Alyssa Martin (5'2", 2023)
Amya McLeod (5'6", 2023)
Imani McNeil (5'9", 2023)
Avery Mills (5'6", 2024)
Kaleigh Montanez (5'10", 2023)
Alexandra Moses (5'4", 2024)
Avrie Nannery (5'10", 2024)
Allison O'Hanlon (5'8", 2024)
Keaira Odume (5'7", 2023)
Mackenzie Owens (5'6", 2024)
Lauren Patnode (5'10", 2023)
Ava Pearson (5'4", 2023)
Rhiannon Perkins (5'7", 2024)
Megan Perrine (6'0", 2023)
Emma Phelan (5'4", 2025)
Kristina Rush (5'6", 2023)
Meagan Schuermann (5'9", 2023)
Melissa Schuermann (5'2", 2023)
Isabella Seeberger (5'6", 2023)
Sophia Serravillo (5'6", 2024)
Audrey Shields (5'9", 2024)
Amarah Streiff (5'11", 2023)
Abby Stuart (5'0", 2024)
Gabby Stuart (5'4", 2024)
Sidney Tabor (6'1", 2023)
Kathleen Taru (5'8", 2024)
Hannah VanDerzee (5'9", 2023)
Bella Vincent (5'8", 2024)
Alaejah Wallace (5'2", 2023)
Cameryn Wilders (5'5", 2023)
Makenzie Williams (6'3", 2024)
Nevaeh Wingate (5'11", 2023)

Jamesville-DeWitt Holds Off Averill Park in Instant Classic

March 5, 2019

Jamesville-DeWitt 65, Averill Park 60 (OT)

Three things in life are certain: death, taxes, and the Jamesville-DeWitt & Averill Park girls' basketball teams playing each other in regionals. History buffs would be quick to point out that JD has owned the matchup in recent memory, winning the last 5 years up to this point. Red Ram supporters walked in the Shenendehowa gym Tuesday night hoping for history to repeat itself, and an overwhelming contingent of Averill Park faithfuls came in hoping the Warriors would write their own history. In a game that quickly crossed over to the 'instant classic' territory in the 2nd half, Jamesville-DeWitt was able to bounce back after losing all of a double-digit 4th quarter lead to escape and retain the crown.

Momo LaClair lived up to the hype & then some Tuesday, going off for a game high 27 points and making her share of big plays in Jamesville-DeWitt's win.

The first 8 minutes weren't indicative of how the last 28 would go. Nerves combined with each team having scouted the other extensively made for a start filled with turnovers and tough shots. It was still just 5-2 in favor of Averill Park in the final minute of the 1st quarter before things started to open up. Gabby Stickle (JD 2020) drove & finished, then after Olivia Kelley (Averill Park 2019; Manhattanville commit) answered with a bucket, Stickle banked home a three to tie it up at 7 going back into the huddle. The JD run continued into the 2nd quarter. Sydney Baker (JD 2020) buried a three to start a quick flurry. Kelley came back with 4 quick points before Baker hit another three, all of this coming in the first minute of the quarter. The 2nd Baker trey sparked an 8-0 spurt by the Red Rams, with Paige Keeler (JD 2020) hitting a three that forced an Averill Park timeout and Momo LaClair (JD 2021) adding a bucket to give them an 18-11 lead. The lead would extend to 8 on a LaClair top of the key three, but Averill Park would reel off 6 straight points - 4 more from Kelley - to cut into the deficit. The Red Rams would get a layup from Andrea Sumida (JD 2020) before the half to give them a 25-21 lead.

The 3rd quarter was a virtuoso offensive performance on both sides most of the way. It started with a Michelina Lombardi (Averill Park 2022) three and LaClair responding with a basket, which would become a trend. Kelsey Wood (Averill Park 2020) would then score off JD's press, getting the Warrior standout into the scoring column after a scoreless 1st half, and Stickle, Kelley, and Sumida would quickly answer back & forth with buckets in a fast and furious start to the quarter. Every point was answered by an equal result on the other end for the first half of the period until LaClair scored 4 straight - once on a drive & finish and then tacking on 2 free throws - to give JD a 40-35 lead. Averill Park got 3 points back on a trey from Anna Jankovic (Averill Park 2021), but it would be more Momo for JD, getting 6 more points late in the quarter from her as she took control for the Section 3 champs en route to a 48-40 lead.

Kelsey Wood started to assert herself in the 2nd half & ended up dominating the 4th quarter - she scored all 17 of her points after halftime.

Momo & Gabby would combine again to start the 4th, giving Jamesville-DeWitt their largest lead. LaClair started the quarter with a bucket, and then Stickle added an and-one to give JD their largest lead at 53-40 with 6:37 remaining. The tide would turn from there, however, as a scrambling Averill Park squad dialed up the pressure & physicality to get back into it. It started with another Lombardi basket, then Kelsey Wood went to work. Often on offensive rebounds or feeds from Olivia Kelley, she would find ways to score or get to the line. A bucket at the 5:02 mark would cut AP's deficit back to single digits. Another made it 53-46 with 3:33 left. A three-point play not long after and another trip to the line - where she split the free throws - cut it to 53-50 with over 2 minutes to play and had the huge AP contingent at a fever pitch. They continued to force turnovers & get stops on the other end, and another Kelsey bucket made it 53-52 with :39.0 remaining - a 12-0 AP run, and a 10-0 Wood run. The Warriors turned JD over on the ensuing possession and Amelia Wood (Averill Park 2022) was fouled. She split a pair of free throws with 26 seconds left, pulling AP even for the first time since early in the 2nd quarter. On the final JD possession, Keeler missed a three and Kelsey grabbed the rebound, putting an end to regulation in the most improbable of ways - AP scoring the last 13, holding JD scoreless over the last 6:37 to send it to overtime.

It didn't take long in the extra session for the Red Rams to get their mojo back. Right after Keeler missed a potential game winner in regulation, she started off the overtime by banging home a three after being left open in the right corner. A pair of Amelia Wood free throws was then answered with a Baker bucket and Keeler free throw, then LaClair found Sumida for a layup to run JD's lead to 61-55. Averill Park fought back one more time. It started with a Kelley finish around the rim, then Amelia Wood got back to the line - drawing Stickle's 5th foul in the process - and split a pair. After a pair of missed JD free throws, Kelley scored again, cutting their deficit to 61-60 with 25 seconds left. The Red Rams handled Averill Park's pressure in the backcourt, and they were unable to foul until it was in Momo's hands, where she went to the line with 13 seconds left. She calmly buried a pair to give them a 3 point lead. On AP's final possession, a long three missed the mark, and it was LaClair again sinking two free throws in the final seconds to ice the game.

17 points for Gabby Stickle, who's had a big playoff run, to help JD advance.

Momo LaClair went off for Jamesville-DeWitt in the win. She finished with 27 points, including 14 in a phenomenal 3rd quarter. Gabby Stickle added 17 points, and she was one of three players in red to hit 2 threes on the night. Syd Baker added 8, Paige Keeler had 4 of her 7 in the extra session, and Andrea Sumida had 6 points & 13 rebounds. For Averill Park, Kelsey Wood pumped in 17 points, all of them coming in a huge 2nd half, and added a 20+ rebound performance. Olivia Kelley ended her high school career with one of her best games, adding 16 points and filling the stat sheet in various ways. Michelina Lombardi and Amelia Wood, both 2022s, added 12 & 10 points respectively. Anna Jankovic rounded out the AP scoring with 5.


#JeffsNotes

- In five years of being involved in girls' basketball in this capacity, whenever anyone has asked me about 'best games' along the way, there's always been one that comes to mind. Shen/Ossining in state playoffs at HVCC, which was in 2016 if memory serves me right. Now it's two games. Add Tuesday's Jamesville-DeWitt/Averill Park showdown to that list. The game had pretty much anything I could look for. JD had control in the 4th quarter, then AP made a huge run in front of a raucous home crowd to send it to overtime. JD responded like champions, bouncing back from the tip in the overtime session. The crowd was maybe the best I've been around at a girls game - definitely the best this winter. Between the crowd size & the acoustics, Shen was probably the perfect venue for the night. The stars were stars in every sense of the word, especially in the 2nd half, and supporting cast players made plays. Game of the year, and perhaps years to come.

When JD needed it most, Paige Keeler delivered with a three to start overtime & get the Red Rams headed in the right direction.

- Going into the game, where I thought the difference between this year & the previous couple years lied was that Averill Park was going to make a run, and how the game went would depend on how JD responded. Didn't know when it would be, didn't know if it would be 8-0, 10-2, or anything else. Well, the run happened, and it was a big one. Averill Park went on an extended 13-0 run to end regulation, and they had all of the momentum. JD hadn't scored in nearly 7 minutes... and then they responded. Paige Keeler hit a three 10 seconds into overtime to start it off, and they ended up scoring 8 of the first 10 in the extra session. The run happened, Jamesville-DeWitt responded when the pressure got to its peak, and they found a way to advance.

- More to talk about with Averill Park than I can wrap my head around. It ended the high school basketball chapter for Olivia Kelley, someone AP will sorely miss. The next chapter begins soon for her though, as their emotional leader & key contributor will be playing at the next level at Manhattanville - a major pickup for them. Kelsey Wood imposed her will in the most important moments, dominating at both ends of the floor for a long stretch, including scoring 10 straight points in that 13-0 4th quarter run. I hope Michelina Lombardi realizes she won't be sneaking up on anyone anymore, as their 2022 point guard has officially arrived. She made JD pay numerous times for leaving her open and was a sparkplug for the Warriors at the defensive end. The energy in the building through much of that game, especially in the 4th quarter, was special. They collectively lived up to their 'Warriors' name - lot of grit & toughness in the AP crew, something that I love about them.

Olivia Kelley gave AP one of her best overall games Tuesday - a winning mentality that can pay dividends quickly at Manhattanville going forward.

- Anyone in the 518 that didn't know who Momo LaClair was before this game got put on in a major way. Just a 2021, she's been doing it at a high level for a long time already, and this was one of her best performances that I've seen. The quickness, ability to fight fire with fire when pressured to get to the rim, shiftiness & changing speeds, finishing ability, willingness to create for others, shooting ability, you name it. They needed all of what Momo could give them Tuesday, and she delivered.

- To wrap back around to the beginning sentence... three things in life are certain: death, taxes, and JD/AP. Two teams that are, in my eyes, consistently in the top handful of teams in Class A in NY. It just so happens that the way brackets are split, they always have to play each other in regional finals or semifinals. Two teams that, despite the rivalry, have mutual respect for each other... the nightcap at Shen on Tuesday was a state semifinal/final quality game, just 10 days in advance. Buckle up.

Shen Holds Off Saratoga To Get Back To Winner's Circle in Section 2 Class AA

March 2, 2019

The final game of Section 2 championship weekend brought familiar opponents to the floor in a highly anticipated rubber match. Shenendehowa & Saratoga Springs played to a draw in regular season matchups, with each taking home a win on their home floor. In the matchup that mattered most, Shen was able to bounce back from a slow start to take the lead and eventually gain control in the 2nd half. A big Saratoga run when it looked all but over made for some late game drama, but a dagger three in the waning moments proved to be the knockout punch as Shen found itself advancing back into regional play.

Cat Almeida had a strong 1st half and finished in double figures with 10 points. With her performance Saturday & dominant showing in semis Thursday, the Quinnipiac signee was awarded the Class AA Tournament MVP.

A huge start from Saratoga Springs 2020 standout Dolly Cairns got the Blue Streaks off on the right foot. 7 points in the first 2+ minutes gave Saratoga a 7-3 lead. She later tacked on a pair of free throws and an and-one, giving her Saratoga's first 12 points, and a Kerry Flaherty (Saratoga Springs 2019; Holy Cross signee) three gave them a 15-7 lead late in the quarter. Shen responded to the 8-0 Saratoga spurt by starting a run of their own that would stretch even farther. They scored the last 5 of the quarter to cut their deficit to 15-12, then it continued into the 2nd quarter starting with a Cat Almeida (Shenendehowa 2019; Quinnipiac signee) hoop and harm to tie it up. Anna Milham (Shenendehowa 2019) then canned a three to give the Plainsmen the lead, and Jill Huerter (Shenendehowa 2022) tacked on a bucket and Milham buried another triple to extend their run to 16-0. Cairns finally stopped the run with a bucket, then her & Milham traded threes in what was an early trend, as both had monster starts. Saratoga cut it back to 4 late in the half on a Flaherty three, but Almeida answered with a basket to send Shen into the locker room up 31-25.

As what has been the case in some of their bigger games this winter, Shen started with a flurry to start the 3rd quarter. Milham opened the scoring, then Simone Walker (Shen 2020) and Jess Wagoner (Shen 2019; Caldwell signee) added buckets to give them a double-digit lead. The 3rd quarter would get sloppy, choppy, and at times just ugly from there, as the physicality would increase and foul calls & emotions would rise as a result. Saratoga didn't have a made field goal in the quarter, but shot 8/10 from the line and still found themselves down just 8 late in the quarter. That's when Kaitlyn Watrobski (Shen 2020), who had seen limited action to that point, came through. She broke into the scoring column with a two, then added a three to end the 3rd and put Shen up 46-33. The lead ballooned from there, with Watrobski and Meghan Huerter (Shen 2021) hitting threes after a Cairns bucket to start the 4th, with Huerter's conversion giving Shen their largest lead at 52-35. That's when the lid would be placed on the basket for Shen, and Saratoga was in line to make one last run. It started with a trey and two free throws from Flaherty, then Abby Ray (Saratoga Springs 2021) scored to cut the deficit to 10. Another Flaherty basket was followed by two Natasha Chudy (Saratoga Springs 2023) free throws - after Shen committed their 5th team foul of the quarter - cutting Saratoga's deficit down to 52-46 with 3:34 remaining. Kayla Lahart then scored, as the Blue Streaks found themselves down 4 with a 13-0 run. Walker finally stopped the Shen bleeding with a bucket, and after Flaherty hit another pair of free throws with 1:20 left, the stage was set. On the ensuing possession, Watrobski got the ball with space and buried a back-breaking three, giving Shen a 57-50 lead with 1:05 left. Missed shots on the next two Saratoga possessions were secured by Shen, and Walker & Wagoner split free throw attempts to give them a 9 point lead in the last minute and effectively put the game out of reach.

Dolly Cairns went off in her first sectional final appearance, going for a game high 27 points in a narrow loss.

Anna Milham, who barely played after halftime due to an apparent injury, led Shen in the scoring column with 15 points thanks to a huge 1st half. Kaitlyn Watrobski picked up the slack in Milham's absence - after going scoreless for the first 22 minutes, she went off for 13 points in the closing stages. Cat Almeida joined them in double figures, scoring all 10 of her points in the 1st half. On the Saratoga end, Dolly Cairns was fantastic from start to finish and led all scorers with 27 points. Kerry Flaherty, who was faceguarded from the jump, picked up her production throughout the game and added 18 points.

Kaitlyn Watrobski made critical plays in the 2nd half for Shen, contributing 13 points when they needed it most.

#JeffsNotes

There is a shelf life to everything, and this includes Shen/Toga matchups. I was at the first one, which was a good one to watch especially for an early season game, and everyone that was at the game at Shen late in the regular season has put it in the category of instant classic. This sectional final certainly had its pros as well. Dolly, who's always fun to watch, seems to take it to another gear when the team in green is at the other bench. I enjoyed seeing Anna Milham, who I've been a fan of, play some of her best basketball in the 1st half - and then get rewarded with a spot on the all-tournament team. It was nice to see Kaitlyn Watrobski make big shots late, as she's been coming on more recently after ankle issues sidelined her for a while, including earlier in the season. The teams played extra hard, which is great. Saratoga & Shen are certainly worthy opponents for each other.

But beyond all of that, I couldn't help but get the feeling that these two teams perhaps know each other a little too well.

The emotions were running a little higher in what's always a good rivalry, as they should be with the stakes being raised, but the game - especially the individual matchups - felt similar to what you'd see in the backyard of 1 on 1 games between siblings that are getting progressively more annoyed with each other. High level talent on the court - most that saw action will play basketball in college, with a nice percentage of them receiving scholarship money to do so - but I, for one, will be cool with these two teams recharging the battery and not going up against each other for the next several months.

A five year HS varsity career is now in the books for Kerry Flaherty, who heads to Holy Cross to start the next stage in a few months.

Last but not least, it's going to feel weird not seeing Kerry Flaherty in a Saratoga uniform next year. She was moved up to the varsity ranks as an 8th grader, which was my first year doing EST. She was one of the originals, playing on an 'All Day' squad that won the inaugural EST summer league championship. I've always said the standouts from the Class of 2019 that had been involved with EST events since the start were what took this thing to another level. Kerry's on to bigger & better things in the fall at Holy Cross with a certainly notable high school career at Saratoga in the books, but with the Class of 2019 graduating in a few months, it almost feels bittersweet as the end of the original era. Best of luck to Kerry as the sights now set on the next level!