The Mid-Season Check: Lockdown

The EST midseason report continues with perhaps the oldest team in the league last year, Lockdown.

If opening night was any indication, the ladies in Lockdown blue looked like they would be a team to beat, as they were in midseason form with a pair of solid victories. They hit a down stretch though, going on a slump while missing some players (both injury and just lack of attendance) that was enough to push them out of a top-four seed. They certainly still had their moments during the summer, however, and many of them are off to a great start with their high school teams. Check it out:

Sareena DiCerbo has helped Colonie get off to a strong start this winter.

This was one of the three EST teams that had a heavy Suburban Council feel to it, with six of the ten on the roster representing Suburban schools. Three of them came from Colonie, who's off to a great start this winter. Sareena DiCerbo (Colonie 2020), who was out for one of their losses, is leading a balanced scoring effort for the Raiders. She's averaging 12.8 PPG with a season high of 22, and she's finished in double digits in five of her nine games. She was also an all-tournament team selection in their holiday tournament, which they won in a thriller over Averill Park, the state's top-ranked Class A team. Macie Trimarchi (Colonie 2022) is also in double figures, averaging 11.3 PPG with a season high of 28 in their opener, a triple-overtime victory over Horseheads in a tournament at Oneonta. She's scored 10+ in six games, and the 5'10" wing has hit 8 threes and is shooting over 77% (24/31) from the free throw line. Ahnalese Pearson (Colonie 2020; RPI commit) has been the straw that stirs the drink for Colonie, running the show at the PG spot while also establishing herself as a legitimate scoring option. She's averaging 9.2 PPG including a season high of 18 in a dramatic comeback W over Liverpool in the opener of their holiday tournament. She's hit 13 threes and is shooting just under 76% (28/37) from the line, all while filling up the assist column on a nightly basis. She earned MVP honors at the Colonie holiday tournament for her performance in their wins. Their only losses have come to Oneonta - without DiCerbo - and NYSSWA #3 ranked AA Shenendehowa.

Two others were able to wear their high school colors when lined up with Lockdown, and they've been important pieces to their Shaker team this winter. Solé Carrington (Shaker 2021) and Kaelah Carter (Shaker 2022) are not only key members individually, but add to their serious depth in the backcourt. Kaelah's averaging 6.9 PPG (season high 12) in a very balanced Blue Bison attack, and Carrington is right behind her at 6.5 PPG. Shaker's had a brutal schedule to this point, with four games against teams state-ranked in Class AA and two more road games against Class A state-ranked foes, and they went a stretch of over a month without a home game. They're currently sitting at 6-6.

Kaelah Carter (Shaker 2022) has emerged as one of the area's stronger young talents.

The final Suburban Council representative, like the aforementioned Pearson, recently made her commitment to a New York Division III power. Guilderland 2020 Graycen Dubin, who committed to Ithaca College over the last few weeks, is averaging 7.5 PPG with a season high of 17. Guilderland, who has once again beefed up their non-league schedule with a pair of trips to NYC, is sitting at 4-8.

Although in another league, Sarah Mattfeld (Catholic Central 2021) adds to the list of Section II Class AA notables on the Lockdown team. She seems to be the lone familiar face of years past on a generally new-look Crusaders squad, and how their season has went seems to reflect that. After a slow start where they stumbled to a 2-5 record, they've been on a tear of late, winning all of their 2020 games so far to run their record to 6-5. Sarah's leading the charge, averaging 12.4 PPG (season high 19) with 5 straight double digit outings. She's hit 10 threes while taking some of the ballhandling duties, and she's shooting over 76% (32/42) from the line.

Belle Kranbuhl, a Monmouth signee, is continuing to make things happen in her 5th year at the varsity level for Adirondack.

As far as individual success goes, it likely starts with the team's two Section III representatives, who both have signed letters of intent to continue playing on scholarship. We'll start off with Belle Kranbuhl (Adirondack 2020), who committed to Division I Monmouth University in the spring & signed in the fall. Belle's averaging 16.3 PPG (season high 23 twice), 12.3 RPG, 2.9 SPG, & 4.5 BPG for the 8-3 Wildcats. That includes at least eight double-doubles - full stats haven't been reported for a couple of their games - along with three 20/10s. The longtime standout also joined the 1,000 point club in a recent victory over Sherburne-Earlville.

Right alongside Belle - and in the same league, which makes for some great battles in the blocks - is Haedyn Roberts (Holland Patent 2020). Haedyn committed to Division II power Le Moyne in the summer and signed in the fall, and she's had a great senior campaign so far. She's averaging 17.1 PPG, including four 20+ point games and a season high of 27. She's also averaging 13.9 RPG, 1.9 SPG, and 2.7 BPG. She's recorded a double-double in all 10 games that she's played in and has four 20/10s. Like Belle, she recently scored her 1,000th point - in the same week - and also in a win over Sherburne-Earlville. Holland Patent is 6-5 so far, with a recent loss coming with Haedyn out of the lineup due to illness.

The continued development of Le Moyne signee Haedyn Roberts has made her one of Section III's most productive forwards.

Caroline Iannotti (Broadalbin-Perth 2021), a 3rd year varsity starter for the Patriots, is helping them start to turn it around. Her scoring numbers aren't gaudy, as she's averaging around 5 PPG while handling PG duties, but they're picking it up after a rough start, with two straight victories pushing their record to 3-5.

LOCKDOWN Summer League State (Notable)

Team Record: 4-8

Solé Carrington (Shaker 2021): 6.8 PPG (high 13), 3.5 RPG, 7 threes, 6 games played

Kaelah Carter (Shaker 2022): 4.9 PPG (high 13), 4.2 RPG, 1.8 APG, 22/43 FG (51.2% - 2nd in EST), 5/12 3P (41.7% - 3rd in EST), 11 games played

Sareena DiCerbo (Colonie 2020): 8.8 PPG (high 18), 4.7 RPG, 1.2 SPG, 44/110 FG (40%), 10/29 3P (34.5%), 12 games played

Graycen Dubin (Guilderland 2020; Ithaca commit): 9.6 PPG (high 17), 4.1 RPG, 1.9 APG, 10 threes, 7 games played

Caroline Iannotti (Broadalbin-Perth 2021): 2.4 PPG, 1.4 APG, 5 games played

Belle Kranbuhl (Adirondack 2020; Monmouth signee): 10.8 PPG (4th in EST - high 16), 7.5 RPG (T-7th in EST), 1 SPG, 2 BPG (4th in EST), 6 games played

Sarah Mattfeld (Catholic Central 2021): 7.8 PPG (high 19), 3 RPG, 13 threes, 24/30 FT (80% - T-2nd in EST), 12 games played

Ahnalese Pearson (Colonie 2020; RPI commit): 3.3 PPG (high 11), 2.7 RPG, 4.5 APG (1st in EST), 1.7 SPG, 8 threes, 12 games played

Haedyn Roberts (Holland Patent 2020; Le Moyne signee): 6.1 PPG (high 15), 8.8 RPG (2nd in EST), 1 BPG, 10 games played

Macie Trimarchi (Colonie 2022): 3.4 PPG (high 13), 2.9 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.2 SPG, 11 games played

Ahnalese Pearson, who will continue her education & playing days at RPI in the fall, has been a catalyst for Colonie's continued success.