Duanesburg Torches The Nets In Win Over Maple Hill

February 19, 2021

Duanesburg 84, Maple Hill 52

Shooter's gym or a gym with shooters? How about both? That's more like it. In a much-anticipated & well-covered matchup between two teams that would be expected to make deeper playoff runs in Section 2 Class C if sectionals were a thing this year, Duanesburg took the suspense out of it early behind the strength of a stellar shooting display. The young, but increasingly experienced Eagles canned 11 threes in the 1st half alone and built a 25 point halftime lead en route to an eye-opening victory.

Allison O'Hanlon made it happen for Duanesburg, pumping in a game high 24 points including 5 of their 15 threes.

The Eagles didn't waste any time. Alexis Tedford (Maple Hill 2021) scored twice in the first couple minutes to offset Duanesburg's first few possessions, but the hosts would start to extend a lead from there. Hannah Mulhern (Duanesburg 2024) and Alex Moses (Duanesburg 2024) contributed to a quick 6-0 spurt, and then Lauren Capron (Duanesburg 2024) got hot. After coming off the bench with Duanesburg holding a 14-9 lead, she proceeded to knock down 4 jumpers - 3 of them threes - scoring their last 11 points of the 1st quarter in the process as they extended their lead to double digits at 25-14.

It was more of the same in the 2nd stanza. Maple Hill started to establish Jenna Hoffman (Maple Hill 2021, St. John Fisher commit) in the post, and her 5 early 2nd quarter points helped offset Duanesburg again, but the avalanche of threes wasn't close to complete. Duanesburg held Maple Hill scoreless for 3 minutes in the middle of the frame, which was enough to go on a 8-0 spurt - including treys from Moses and Allison O'Hanlon (Duanesburg 2024) - to push their edge into the twenties for the first time. The two connected for 8 more points in the last 2+ minutes of the half, hitting Duanesburg's 10th & 11th threes of the half in the process, and Mulhern capped it off with a bucket to go to intermission of 50-25.

The locker room didn't cool Duanesburg off either as their longest run of the game was yet to come. The four freshmen teamed up to reel off the first 15 points of the 2nd half, all in a matter of approximately 3:30, to push the lead to 40. They'd reach their largest lead of 43 twice in the 3rd quarter, after an O'Hanlon three (Duanesburg's 14th) & two more free throws, respectively. Maple Hill's largest run came to start the 4th quarter, as they punched in 9 straight with 7 coming from Bella Seeberger (Maple Hill 2023).

The crew of 2024s teamed up to contribute 74 of Duanesburg's 84 points Friday. Allison O'Hanlon led all scorers with 24 points, 13 coming in the 3rd. Alex Moses punched in 12 of her 20 points in the 2nd quarter. Lauren Capron rode the fast start of an 11 point 1st quarter to a 16 point night, and Hannah Mulhern contributed 14 points in the victory. Duanesburg knocked down 15 threes along the way. Bella Seeberger was the lone Wildcat in double digits; she had 10 of her team high 13 points in the 4th quarter.

Bella Seeberger finished with a team high 13 points for Maple Hill, 10 of them coming in the 4th quarter.

#ThoughtsFromTheBaseline

- The babies aren't babies anymore! Section 2 basketball may have just started, but the game never stopped for much of Duanesburg's crew, and believe me when I say it shows. Allison O'Hanlon, Alex Moses, and Hannah Mulhern were all varsity starters last year as 8th graders (and O'Hanlon in 7th grade too), with Lauren Capron jumping up this year. I've been able to see O'Hanlon & Moses a bunch over the last several months, mainly because 'the grind doesn't stop' for them as players that seem to love the process. Not only have they made major improvements, they've each done so in areas where I thought they needed to improve to take the next step. They both grew too - Alex a lot - to hit matching 5'8" frames. They can seamlessly transition on or off the ball with the ability to score, handle, distribute, and the mental makeup of not caring who's scoring or distributing. Add Mulhern, who plays more of a pseudo-4 for them but has wing tendencies with her ability to shoot the three and take forwards off the bounce. Then throw Capron in the mix, who I'm the least familiar with but still have been able to see her a few times of late. She brings some more legitimate size to the mix as a 5'10" forward, but she also has a good shooting stroke and can stretch the defense - take my word for it if the 4 threes in this game weren't enough. I could keep going, but that's a long enough point. Duanesburg has potentially the best young core I've seen in New York among the small schools. Once spectators are allowed in gyms again... go watch them & enjoy the ride.

Alex Moses, who is continuing her rise among Section 2 players in the 2024 class, dropped 20 points in Duanesburg's W.

- Keep something in mind... this happened WITHOUT Maddie Meyer. While watching a team drop 25 points per quarter for 3 quarters, it might be easy to forget when they have a 1000 point scorer unable to play, but that's where Duanesburg is at. Maddie's been their heart & soul in ways for a few years and also can light up the scorebooks. She's had to be pushed to regular clothes for the season due to a broken foot suffered just before the season started. As a 2022, she's still got another year... so feel free to let your mind wander to next year's team for a minute.

- Was it Maple Hill's best showing? No, of course not. Are they in a bit of a transitional period now? Perhaps - they graduated numerous multi-year varsity contributors and are in a position where they played some youth, which hasn't been a common occurrence in this program. But don't expect this to be any sort of a theme - this result was much less about Maple Hill and more about Duanesburg, a team with a lot of firepower, firing on all cylinders. It was their season opener, so their first game since Section 2 Class C finals last March... check back in a week or so.

- This game was about as well-covered by local media as you'll see from a Class C basketball game. I'll give you three reasons. First, the 'secret' is out on Duanesburg being not just a team of the future, but a team of today as well. Second, the game vs. Maple Hill is an interesting one that isn't a common matchup. Third, and perhaps most importantly given the current climate... Duanesburg is allowing media to attend. You let them in this year, you're getting some coverage. Simple logic! With that being said, a major THANK YOU goes to Duanesburg varsity coach Chris Herron and all athletic administration for making it happen and allowing me (and all of us) in for this game. It's truly appreciated!