Take Away: Trailing 3-2 in the fifth, the Warriors scored eight times in the bottom of the frame to take control, on their way to the non-league “W” over the Spartans of Queensbury. Eden Resch went the distance to record the win from the circle and the Stillwater attack banged out 12 hits in the victory.
WP: Mike Campion LP: Joshua Harrington Save: Jaxon Mueller
Hitting Stars: Warriors – Resse Hotaling 3B, RBI Liam Brady 2B Shea Brown 2 1B’s David Giso Sac Fly S/C: Stephen Yakubec 2B, RBI Chase Losee 2B, RBI
Take Away: The Warriors plated two in the bottom of the sixth with Giso’s sacrifice fly the eventual game-winner. Mueller closes things out in the seventh as Stillwater notches the victory in the season-opener for both squads.
The longest of the three sports seasons at the high school level came to end for the Wasaren League on Saturday when the Greenwich girls fell to Millbrook in a state semifinal run. The Lady Witches were the last team standing from the Wasaren this basketball campaign and did the league proud, advancing to the Class C Final Four. Greenwich finished a truly exceptional year at 26-1 with League, Sectional and Regional titles under their belts.
While Greenwich was the most accomplished team from the Wasaren this winter, many other squads built fine seasons for themselves as well.
Tamarac and Mechanicville, the league’s Class B schools, both enjoyed strong years on the girl’s side of things as did Cambridge, Emma Willard and even the Warriors of Stillwater who closed out the year playing winning basketball with a young squad.
For decades the boy’s side has been a gauntlet run that tests every school nearly on a nightly basis, and the 2022-23 season was no exception.
A deep and talented Tamarac squad earned the league title and advanced to the Class B semifinals. Hoosic Valley and Stilllwater were also teams with a host of talented players, showcasing their abilities on their way to sectional finals in Classes C and CC.
Greenwich, Hoosick Falls and Mechanicville also put together solid years, all finishing well above the .500 mark, while Waterford and Spa Catholic proved to be tough outs more nights than not.
Individually five players from the league reached the 1000 career points plateau, with Hoosic Valley’s Isaiah Eckler and Logan Reilly, Tamarac’s Joey Poulin, and Greenwich’s Adrianna Rojas and Norah Niesz all joining the 1000-point club.
Our Wasaren Sportsnet Players of the Week included Joey Poulin (Tamarac), Schuylar Nolan (Cambridge), Isaiah Eckler (Hoosic Valley), Jaxon Mueller (Stillwater), Adrianna Rojas (Greenwich), Myanna Faraj (Tamarac), Logan Reilly (Hoosic Valley), Derick Pontore (Waterford), and Norah Niesz (Greenwich).
Congratulations to all the players and coaches who make the Wasaren what it is, one of the finest small school conferences in the state.
Personally I’d like to thank the league coaches who sent me game results over the course of the season making recaps so much easier and our sponsoring businesses, Toyota of Clifton Park, Bonnier’s Service, Devito Salvadore Family, LaVigna Insurance, Legends Barbershop, Val’s, Dicarlo’s Auto Body, Gunning Elite Training, The Connor’s Agency, and Off-Broadway Hair Design for their help in promoting the athletes of the Wasaren.
Lastly a thank you to everyone who followed our written coverage and podcasts this year and helped me out along the way.
Key Stat: Millbrook used a 20-5 third period to take control.
Take Away: Millbrook held a 37-29 advantage at halftime and used a big third frame to pull away from the Witches, on their way to the Class C state semifinal win at HVCC on Saturday. Millbrook moves to Sunday’s championship game where a win will give them three state titles in the last four years. Greenwich wraps up an outstanding season at 26-1 earning league, sectional and regional titles during the campaign.
Leading Scorers: Witches – Brooke Kuzmich 26 5 3’s Reegan Mullen 16 Norah Niesz 12 Canton – Ava Hoy 10
Key Stat: Greenwich held a 7-3 advantage in made threes.
Take Away: After falling behind 5-2 in the early going, Greenwich quickly gained the lead and steadily pulled away for the comfortable Class C regional final victory. The Witches placed three players in doubles and won every quarter, holding Canton to single numbers in three of the four periods. With the “W” Greenwich moves to 25-0 on the season and more importantly, earns a berth in the state Final Four next Saturday at HVCC in a 2:15 tip.
Key Stat: Greenwich outscored the Eagles 19-11 in the third frame.
Take Away: The Witches ran out to a 17-4 lead after the first period, only to see Northeastern Clinton battle back, and pull even, early in the third quarter. But Greenwich rallied to close out the third frame, led my Niesz’s 12 points, taking a 40-30 lead into the final eight minutes where they held off the Eagles from Section VII. The Witches (25-0) advance to face Canton in the regional final on Saturday at SUNY Potsdam in a 2:45 run.
We break down Wednesday night’s Class C regional matchup at Clinton Community College between the Greenwich Witches and the Northeastern Clinton Cougars.
Leading Scorers: Witches – Brooke Kuzmich 21 Reegan Mullen 12 Eagles – Alison O’Hanlon 16 Alex Moses 18 5 3’s
Key Stat: Greenwich outscored the Eagles 22-17 in the final frame.
Take Away: In a close game throughout that was tied 8-8 after the first and saw the Witches take a 29-26 lead into the fourth, Greenwich closed things out with a 22-point quarter, clinching the Section II C-CC playoff. Duanesburg held a 6-1 advantage in made threes, but Greenwich dominated in made two-point goals holding a 17-7 edge. With the victory Greenwich moves to 24-0 on the season and advances to regional play on Wednesday at Clinton Community College in Plattsburg.
Duanesburg 58 Hoosic Valley 49
Leading Scorers: Eagles – Jeffrey Mulhern 18 Michael Leak 16 Peyton Fall 11 Valley – Chris Jones 14 Logan Reilly 12 Isaiah Eckler 11
Key Stat: Duanesburg outscored the Valley 39-29 in the second half.
Take Away: Hoosic Valley took a narrow 20-19 advantage into the break, but Duanesburg used an 18-12 third frame to gain the lead and closed out the win over the final eight minutes to earn the Section II Class C championship. Duanesburg moves on to the Class C-CC playoff on Sunday in a matchup with Chatham. Hoosic Valley finishes an excellent season with a 19-4 mark.
Chatham 58 Stillwater 56
Leading Scorers: Chatham – Matt Thorson 20 Jacob Baccaro 14 Warriors – Thomas McDonough 22 3 3’s Jaxon Mueller 15 Lukas Lilac 13 3 3’s
Take Away: Trailing by one with time winding down, Chatham’s Anthony O’Dell drilled a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer to lift the Panthers to the win in the Section II Class CC championship game. Chatham moves on to the C-CC playoff with Duanesburg on Sunday. Stillwater completes an outstanding year at 18-5.
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