MVP Jon Kempf Jr. Hoosick Falls
First Team
Tristan Williams Jr. Cambridge
Bobby Valigorski Sr. Waterford
John Walsh Sr. Greenwich
Brian McNeil Jr. Stillwater
Frank Zotto Sr. Tamarac
Second Team
Isaac Carlo Sr. Hoosic Valley
Josh Germaine Jr. Mechanicville
Michael Talavera Jr. Waterford
Bo Catherwood So. Tamarac
Jacob DeFreest Sr. Tamarac
I’m not sure if there’s any truth to the rumor that coaches Goverski and Phillips considered chartering airplanes for traveling to their regional finals on Saturday, but when directions to the venues for both Cambrdge and Mechanicville include, “If you reach the Canadian border you’ve gone a couple miles too far”, it would be a great way go.
Mechanicville faces the Canton Golden Bears Saturday at 2:45 in the Class B Regional Final at SUNY Potsdam while Cambridge meets Moriah in the Class C Regional Finale with a noon tip at Beekmantown High School with the winners advancing to their classification’s final four. Continue reading
Mechanicville 41 Northeastern Clinton 35
Leading Scorers: Red Raiders – AJ Joseph 12 Charli Goverski 11 Taylor Grayson 9 Jada Brown 6 Amy DiSiena 3 Clinton – Audi Hollister 12
Keys: Mechanicville used a 22-12 advantage over the middle two periods, including a third quarter where they didn’t allow a made field goal, to build a 34-27 lead heading to the final frame. Leading 38-35 with :11 remaining AJ Joseph calmly knocked down a pair of free throws to ice things and send the Red Raiders to the Class B regional final on Saturday at 2:45 at SUNY Potsdam where they’ll face Canton from Section X.
Playing before a sold out SUNY Plattsburgh Field House both squads had trouble making shots, but the Raiders showed that defense travels and their ability to guard, holding Clinton in the mid 30’s, showed that Mechanicville not only can win in a shootout, but also a defensive grind.
The Raiders head back to the north country on Saturday, one win away from the state final four.
As we’ve said about the Cambridge Indians it’s a question of when, not if. When will they put together a run that gives them a lead after they’ve trailed, or give them total command of the game. Last night at Shenendehowa in a girls Class C regional semifinal it once again was the latter.
With their defense fueling the Cambridge transition game the Indians quick feet, active hands and most importantly their length turned Madrid Waddington over time and again in the second period leading to runouts and a 25-5 advantage in the quarter. That gave Cambridge a commanding 40-14 lead at the break and the rest was simply bookkeeping as the Indians posted a 59-31 victory and moved on to the regional final on Saturday at noon at Beekmantown High School where they’ll face Moriah from Section VII.
Cambridge buried six triples and placed three players in doubles with Sophie Phillips scoring 19 points, Lily Phillips 13 and Stasia Epler 10 points.
But defense put this game in win column for the Indians, there 22nd “W” in 23 outings, and defense travels.
Sometimes jump shots get lost in the spacious arenas teams play on this time of year, but traps, resulting in tipped balls that lead to transition buckets plays anywhere. It’ll play next at high noon in Beekmantown on Saturday where Cambridge sits one win away from a return trip to the state Final Four.
It was quite a weekend for the Wasaren with four schools vying for sectional titles. On Friday night it was an all league affair in the Class C girls final in Troy between Cambridge and Hoosick Falls, while in Glens Falls the Hoosick Falls boys faced Lake George in the Class C title game. Saturday morning the Red Raiders of Mechanicville carried the league’s torch into the Class B girls championship game with Fonda at HVCC in Troy
When the smoke cleared Cambridge and Mechanicville wore the crowns but all four squads represented. Each team well prepared for post season play after enduring the gauntlet of the Wasaren schedule.
How about the effort from both Hoosick Falls teams. Continue reading
Mechanicville 56 Fonda 43
Leading Scorers: Raiders – Amy DiSiena 14 Charli Goverski 13 Jada Brown 11 Braves – Abigail Lombardoni 14
Mechanicville trailed 22-14 late in the second period but finished the quarter with five quick points, the start of an extended run that continued with 12 straight points after the break giving the Raiders control at 31-22, on their way to the Class B title before a huge crowd at HVCC on Saturday afternoon.
Mechanicville shot 10 of 13 from the floor in the decisive third frame and clamped down defensively on the potent Braves attack that was averaging 55 points in their three sectional games.
The Raiders put nine players in the scoring column with three reaching doubles. Tournament MVP Amy DiSiena scored all 14 of her points in the second half for Mechanicville who will carry a 16-7 mark into regional play this week.
Congratulations to the Red Raiders.
Lake George 48 Hoosick Falls 45
Leading Scorers: Warriors – Chris Becker 16 Alex Leonelli 11 Panthers – Jon Kempf 18 Max Kipp 14 Isiah Burnett 10
Hoosick Falls played from in front most of the night leading 28-23 at the half, and 37-35 after three. But a Cameron Orr bucket late in the fourth gave Lake George a 45-43 lead, it’s first since a 4-2 Warrior advantage in the game’s opening minutes, and Lake George hung on claim the Section II title.
Hoosick Falls finishes an outstanding season at 20-2 including a Wasaren championship.
Lake George with the victory run’s it’s winning streak to 52, and the Warriors advance to a Wednesday night regional semifinal at Saratoga Springs High School where they’ll face Section X champion Madrid-Waddington in a 5:30 tip.
An all-Wasaren affair for the girls Class C crown turned into a classic Friday night in Troy, with Hoosick Falls forcing Cambridge to do something they had little need for all season. Come from behind.
Trailing through much of the contest the Indians caught the Falls midway through the final period and outscored the Panthers 5-0 over the final minute of play to post the 55-49 “W” to capture their second straight Section II championship. Continue reading
This weekend Section II will crown champions in boys and girls basketball in all five of it’s classifications. On the girls side they’ll be a strong Wasaren presence in the title runs with Mechanicville taking on Fonda in the Class B final and Hoosick Falls meeting Cambridge to decide the Class C championship.
In Class B the #2 seeded Red Raiders will meet the Cinderella squad of the tournament, the #13 seeded Braves of Fonda. Continue reading
It’s not often that a 20-1 team goes into their next game as a substantial underdog, but that’s how many will view the Hoosick Falls Panthers in their Section II class C final Friday night in Glens Falls.
Why? Three reasons come to mind.
Number one their opponent, the Lake George Warriors, are the defending state champions in the C classification and are unbeaten in their last 50 outings including a 23-0 mark this season. Their average margin of victory this year is 32 points and the closest game the Warriors have played was a 73-57 affair over Granville at the end of January. Continue reading
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