Category: Girls basketball

Galleries, Girls basketball, Home

Top talent travels to Union College for Empire State Takeover league

By ROB JONAS

SCHENECTADY – There are summer girls basketball leagues dotting the Section 2 landscape, but only one attracts players from well beyond the 5-1-8.

The Empire State Takeover League started its fifth season Wednesday, June 26, at Union College with eight teams playing two games apiece. Players from as far away as central New York, western Massachusetts and southern Vermont gathered inside the Viniar Athletic Center to kick off six weeks of summer basketball.

“This is a very competitive league,” said Amanda Mieczkowski, a rising senior from Northampton, Mass., who is playing her second year in the ESTL. “It’s a combination of girls from New York that I’ve come to know, and it’s also very chill.” Continue reading “Top talent travels to Union College for Empire State Takeover league” →

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Academy of the Holy Names, Albany, Amsterdam, Averill Park, Berne-Knox-Westerlo, Broadalbin-Perth, Cambridge, Colonie, Fonda-Fultonville, Fort Ann, Fort Edward, Girls basketball, Gloversville, Greenwich, Guilderland, Hartford, Home, Hoosick Falls, Hudson Falls, Lake George, Mechanicville, Mekeel Christian Academy, Niskayuna, North Warren, Queensbury, Saratoga Springs, Schalmont, Shenendehowa, Tamarac, Voorheesville, Warrensburg

Three Cambridge players named to Class C All-State girls basketball team

State tournament MVP Sophie Phillips of Cambridge and Lake George’s leading scorer, Graceann Bennett, were named first-team Class C All-State girls basketball players by the New York State Sportswriters Association when the list was revealed Tuesday, May 21.

Phillips guided the Indians to their first state title in 2019, while Bennett was the leading scorer in the Adirondack League with an average of 22 points per game. Phillips averaged 17.5 points per game for Cambridge.

Sophie’s twin sister, Lilly Phillips, was a third team selection, while Fiona Mooney was named to the eighth team – giving Cambridge three All-State players. Continue reading “Three Cambridge players named to Class C All-State girls basketball team” →

Cambridge, Galleries, Girls basketball, Home

Scenes from girls basketball: Cambridge pulls away from Watkins Glen to win Class C state title

By ROB JONAS

TROY – It started with a three-pointer and ended with a jubilant celebration.

Stasia Epler’s three-pointer 2:20 into the fourth quarter sparked a 14-4 run that gave Cambridge a 57-43 victory over Watkins Glen (Section 4) in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class C girls basketball final Saturday, March 16, at Hudson Valley Community College.

It’s the first state title in the program’s history, and with a starting five consisting of four sophomores and a freshman, a possible sign of things to come.

“It’s crazy. We’re not even done yet. We still have a couple of years,” said Epler, the freshman within the starting five.

The game was closely contested through the first three quarters. Cambridge built a 12-8 lead in the first quarter, but three-pointers by Danielle Leszyk and Adrienna Solomon helped Watkins Glen pull ahead 16-13 at the end of the period. Neither team led by more than three points until the third quarter, when Cambridge took a 40-35 lead. Solomon and Hannah Morse drove for layups in the final minute to pull Watkins Glen within two points of the Indians entering the fourth quarter. Continue reading “Scenes from girls basketball: Cambridge pulls away from Watkins Glen to win Class C state title” →

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Scenes from NYSPHSAA Girls Basketball Championships: Franklinville surges past Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons

TROY – Franklinville (Section 6) jumped out to a 27-10 halftime lead and sailed past Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons 56-26 in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Girls Basketball Championships Friday, March 15, at Hudson Valley Community College.

Danielle Haskell poured in 33 points to lead Franklinville to the Class D final against Edwards-Knox (Section 10). Haskell made five three-pointers and sank eight out of her 11 free throws to help Franklinville pull away.

Abby Kienzle netted 10 points for Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons, which was making its first trip to the state semifinals in three decades. No other player scored more than three points for the Lady Knights.

Meanwhile, Cambridge advanced to the Class C final with a 75-43 victory over Maple Grove (Section 6) in the semifinal round. Sophie Phillips scored 23 points, and twin sister Lilly Phillips contributed 22 points for the Indians, who led 28-10 after the first quarter. Marissa Schuppenhauer had 16 points for Maple Grove.

Cambridge meets Watkins Glen (Section 4) in Saturday’s Class C final at 7 p.m. Continue reading “Scenes from NYSPHSAA Girls Basketball Championships: Franklinville surges past Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons” →

Galleries, Girls basketball, Home, Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons

Scenes from girls basketball regionals: Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons shuts down Westport in Class D regional

TROY – Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons turned in a strong defensive performance to defeat Section 7’s Westport 49-25 in the Class D girls basketball regionals Saturday, March 9, at Hudson Valley Community College.

The Lady Knights built a 23-10 halftime lead on Westport and closed the game on a 17-7 run to advance to next weekend’s state tournament at HVCC.

Abby Kienzle and Ava Megyari each scored 12 points to lead Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons. Megyeri sank a pair of three-pointers and made all four of her free throws. Abbey Schwoebel had 13 points for Westport.

Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons will play either Section 5’s Elba or Section 6’s Franklinville in the state semifinals Friday, March 15, at 11:45 a.m. Continue reading “Scenes from girls basketball regionals: Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons shuts down Westport in Class D regional” →

Cambridge, Galleries, Girls basketball, Home, Hoosick Falls

Scenes from Section 2 girls basketball: Cambridge uses team approach to defeat Hoosick Falls in Class C final

By ROB JONAS

TROY – Cambridge reached the Section 2 Class C girls basketball final behind twin sisters Lilly and Sophie Phillips, but to win the championship, the Indians needed others to come through.

McKayla McLenithan and Ruth Nolan eah scored nine points to compliment Sophie Phillips’ 25-point performance to help Cambridge rally past Hoosick Falls 55-49 in the Class C final Friday, March 1, at Hudson Valley Community College.

The Indians trailed throughout much of the game before taking a 45-44 lead on a Nolan three-pointer midway through the fourth quarter. Cambridge increased its advantage to five points before a Grace Wysocki three-pointer and a putback by Logan Thayne tied the score at 49-49.

Hoosick Falls fouled McLenithan with less than one minute left in regulation. The sophomore forward missed the first foul shot, but she made the second to put Cambridge ahead for good.

“I just knew I had to make the shot,” said McLenithan. “If I didn’t, I knew we would still have a chance at the end.” Continue reading “Scenes from Section 2 girls basketball: Cambridge uses team approach to defeat Hoosick Falls in Class C final” →

Galleries, Girls basketball, Home, North Warren, Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons

Scenes from Section 2 Class D final: Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons rallies in fourth quarter to end championship drought

By ROB JONAS

TROY – Thirty years.

That’s how long it’s been since Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons won a Section 2 girls basketball title.

The title drought ended Friday, March 1, at Hudson Valley Community College, as the Lady Knights rallied for a 39-36 victory over North Warren in the Class D final.

Abby Kienzle scored 19 points to lead Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons to its first title since 1989, including the go-ahead basket with 1:12 left in the fourth quarter.

“The key was to stay focused and not let the pressure get to us,” said Kienzle, who was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. Continue reading “Scenes from Section 2 Class D final: Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons rallies in fourth quarter to end championship drought” →

Albany, Bethlehem, Colonie, Girls basketball, Guilderland, Niskayuna, Saratoga Springs, Shaker, Shenendehowa

Section 2 Class AA girls basketball playoffs: Colonie avoids upset against Guilderland to advance

No. 4 Colonie survived a scare from No. 5 Guilderland to defeat the Lady Dutch 59-54 Thursday, Feb. 21, in the Section 2 Class AA girls basketball quarterfinals at Shenendehowa High School.

Guilderland led the defending Class AA champions by four points entering the fourth quarter, but Colonie closed the game on a 22-13 run to pull out the victory and advance to Wednesday’s semifinal against top-seeded Shen at Hudson Valley Community College.

Aliyah Wright scored 19 points, and Alivia Paeglow contributed 16 points for Colonie. Graci Serreavillo led Guilderland with 16 points, and Valencia Fontenelle-Posson chipped in with 14 points.

Shen advanced to the semifinals with a 59-42 victory over No. 8 Niskayuna. Catherine Almeida had 18 points, and Kaitlyn Watrobski added 11 points for the Plainsmen, who built a 29-18 halftime lead. Olivia Olsen paced Niskayuna with 13 points. Continue reading “Section 2 Class AA girls basketball playoffs: Colonie avoids upset against Guilderland to advance” →

Academy of the Holy Names, Amsterdam, Averill Park, Ballston Spa, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, Girls basketball, Gloversville, Home, Queensbury, Troy

Section 2 Class A girls basketball playoffs: Amsterdam wins 2OT thriller against Troy

Jackie Stanavich scored 32 points to lead No. 3 Amsterdam to a 70-64 double overtime victory over No. 6 Troy in the Section 2 Class A girls basketball playoffs Thursday, Feb. 21, at Queensbury High School.

The Flying Horses rallied from a 12-point deficit in the third quarter to take a four-point lead late in the fourth quarter before the Running Rams tied the score at 52-52. The lead changed hands several times in the first overtime period before ending with the score knotted at 60-60, but Amsterdam outscored Troy 10-4 in the second extra stanza to pull out the win.

Andi Gannon contributed 16 points for Amsterdam, which advanced to Wednesday’s semifinal against No. 2 Queensbury at Hudson Valley Community College. Alaina Holmes netted 24 points for Troy.

Queensbury handled No. 10 Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake 75-33 in Thursday’s quarterfinal round. Queensbury pulled away with a 20-6 run in the second quarter and sealed the victory by outscoring BH-BL 25-7 in the third period. Continue reading “Section 2 Class A girls basketball playoffs: Amsterdam wins 2OT thriller against Troy” →

Fonda-Fultonville, Girls basketball, Home, Hudson, Ichabod Crane, Johnstown, Mechanicville, Mekeel Christian Academy, Schalmont, Tamarac

Section 2 Class B girls basketball playoffs: Fonda-Fultonville continues its run with victory over Schalmont

No. 13 Fonda-Fultonville’s playoff ride will carry into the Section 2 Class B girls basketball semifinals following a 55-39 quarterfinal victory over No. 5 Schalmont Wednesday, Feb. 20, at Tamarac High School.

After clinging to a two-point halftime lead, the Braves gradually pulled away from the Sabres to advance into Tuesday’s semifinal against top-seeded Tamarac, which fended off Hudson 52-47.

Abigail Lombardoni made four three-pointers and finished with 27 points for Fonda-Fultonville, while Lyndsay Lombardoni contributed 10 points. Payton Graber netted 26 points for Schalmont.

The Tamarac-Hudson quarterfinal game was billed as a battle between two of Class B’s top players – Tamarac’s Emily Erickson and Hudson’s Deja Beauford. However, it was Tamarac’s supporting cast that made the difference, as the Bengals had nine players enter the scoring column to Hudson’s seven players. Continue reading “Section 2 Class B girls basketball playoffs: Fonda-Fultonville continues its run with victory over Schalmont” →