Delaney: Utica 0-for-4 at home site finals
The quality of the venue notwithstanding, it was a long day at the Utica Memorial Auditorium Saturday for Utica-area girls basketball teams.
The schools near the host city went 0-for-4 with area teams Little Falls, Hamilton, Clinton and Whitesboro losing in a daylong marathon schedule of games. The best game of the day was the nightcap where it came down to the wire between Class A top seed Whitesboro and No. 3 Mexico. The Tigers outscored the Warriors 8-3 over the final 3:34 to win its first title, 42-39.
Bishop Grimes defeated Little Falls for the Class C title in the first game of my day. The Cobras' approach was much different from Wednesday when they defeated Mohawk to advance to the overall Class C final. The Cobras didn't rely on the 3-pointer Saturday, the way they did in the Class C-2 final win over Mohawk. Bishop Grimes made just two 3-pointers against Little Falls, as opposed to the school-record 12 the Cobras hit against Mohawk. Bishop Grimes' ball movement was just as crisp against Little Falls, but the Cobras weren't always looking for long-range payoff in the form of a 3-pointer. They took what was there and converted.
"It's happened a lot," Bishop Grimes coach John Cifonelli said. "We hit a lot of 3-pointers early in the season and people played us man-to-man. We're prepared for that."
Class D Hamilton was undefeated and ranked third in the state going into its Saturday afternoon final against second-seeded and defending champion Sackets Harbor. The Patriots came out with the 52-41 win, in part because the Emerald Knights couldn't convert opportunities into points. Sackets Harbor led by as many as 14 points in the second half. The Emerald Knights' pressure got them back in the game, but missed shots kept Hamilton Central from moving on. Sackets Harbor didn't have trouble with missed shots. Patriots reserve Olivia Townsend put up at least a 30-foot 3-pointer at the second-half buzzer to give Sackets a 30-21 lead.
"I thought that we'd be able to pressure them and create turnovers," Hamilton coach Jessica Poole said of the press. "We couldn't convert. We didn't shoot well. Everything they threw up went in."
In Class B, Clinton was overmatched by two very good Cazenovia players. Division I recruit Kiley Evans, who might be one of the best girls basketball players I've seen in Section III, scored 21 points and sophomore forward Ellen Burr scored 16 points, including eight in the third quarter when the Lakers outscored Clinton 22-9.
"(Evans) plays great defense," Clinton coach Tom Trevisani said. "She has a good supporting cast. She has four other players who have stepped up."
The schools near the host city went 0-for-4 with area teams Little Falls, Hamilton, Clinton and Whitesboro losing in a daylong marathon schedule of games. The best game of the day was the nightcap where it came down to the wire between Class A top seed Whitesboro and No. 3 Mexico. The Tigers outscored the Warriors 8-3 over the final 3:34 to win its first title, 42-39.
Bishop Grimes defeated Little Falls for the Class C title in the first game of my day. The Cobras' approach was much different from Wednesday when they defeated Mohawk to advance to the overall Class C final. The Cobras didn't rely on the 3-pointer Saturday, the way they did in the Class C-2 final win over Mohawk. Bishop Grimes made just two 3-pointers against Little Falls, as opposed to the school-record 12 the Cobras hit against Mohawk. Bishop Grimes' ball movement was just as crisp against Little Falls, but the Cobras weren't always looking for long-range payoff in the form of a 3-pointer. They took what was there and converted.
"It's happened a lot," Bishop Grimes coach John Cifonelli said. "We hit a lot of 3-pointers early in the season and people played us man-to-man. We're prepared for that."
Class D Hamilton was undefeated and ranked third in the state going into its Saturday afternoon final against second-seeded and defending champion Sackets Harbor. The Patriots came out with the 52-41 win, in part because the Emerald Knights couldn't convert opportunities into points. Sackets Harbor led by as many as 14 points in the second half. The Emerald Knights' pressure got them back in the game, but missed shots kept Hamilton Central from moving on. Sackets Harbor didn't have trouble with missed shots. Patriots reserve Olivia Townsend put up at least a 30-foot 3-pointer at the second-half buzzer to give Sackets a 30-21 lead.
"I thought that we'd be able to pressure them and create turnovers," Hamilton coach Jessica Poole said of the press. "We couldn't convert. We didn't shoot well. Everything they threw up went in."
In Class B, Clinton was overmatched by two very good Cazenovia players. Division I recruit Kiley Evans, who might be one of the best girls basketball players I've seen in Section III, scored 21 points and sophomore forward Ellen Burr scored 16 points, including eight in the third quarter when the Lakers outscored Clinton 22-9.
"(Evans) plays great defense," Clinton coach Tom Trevisani said. "She has a good supporting cast. She has four other players who have stepped up."
posted by Anne Delaney at
7:53 PM
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