- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 370,631
- Reaction score
- 43
March Madness is in full swing and that’s especially true in the local high school ranks this year.
Five local squads will be in action this weekend with their sights set on a trip to the State Final Four with at least one guaranteed to move on to the state semifinals.
Here is a look at the local teams competing in their respective Regional finals this weekend.
GIRLS CLASS C
Cooperstown (20-4) vs. Delhi (16-7)
At Tompkins Cortland Community College, Saturday, 2 p.m.
The lone meeting between two local teams also happens to be a matchup between the last two local girls programs to win a State Championship.
Delhi took home the 2018 state crown while Cooperstown did so back in 2015. They’ll have to get past one another if they hope to go all the way once again.
This will be the third meeting this season between the two sides. Cooperstown won both times, a 45-31 decision on Dec. 7 at the Dick Alwine Tournament and a 57-45 win on Dec. 26 at the Dick White Tournament.
The Hawkeyes are in familiar territory under head coach Mike Niles, who won his eighth Section III title last Sunday with a 44-34 win over Hamilton.
Cooperstown features a mix of youth and experience that’s evident when looking at their recent top performers. Senior Brenna Seamon has scored in double-figures in each of the last three games. At the other end of the spectrum, seventh-grader Emma Johnson is averaging 13.8 points per game for the season, including 14 in the sectional final, and eighth-grader Lanie Nelen has averaged 12 points in the last three games.
Delhi, meanwhile, is on one of the more surprising playoff runs in recent memory. The number 10 seed in the Section IV tournament, the Bulldogs find themselves one win away from making the Final Four.
They’ve done it with a defense that has been downright impenetrable. Delhi allowed only 33 points per game in its four sectional contests. At the other end, Danielle Ennist has led the offense with 15.9 points per game including 25 in the 45-37 semifinal win over Union Springs. Lexi Davis has also stepped up big, scoring 13 points against Union Springs and a team-high 14 against Unatego in the 38-24 sectional final victory.
GIRLS CLASS D
South Kortright (20-1) vs. La Fargeville (19-2)
At Tompkins Cortland Community College, Saturday, 4 p.m.
If you’ve made it to the Regional final, chances are that you’re on a bit of a hot streak and that’s certainly the case for the two squads in the Class D final.
South Kortright and La Fargeville have combined winning streaks of 32 games, with SK having won its last 18 and the Red Knights winners of 14 in a row.
The Rams are in the Regional final for the first time in five years and are seeking their first State title since 2006. They’re coming off of a convincing 49-38 win over Stamford/Jefferson in the sectional final and allowed just 34.7 points per game in their three sectional matchups.
Senior Addy Eckert leads the way with 21.0 points per game. But the Rams showed they aren’t reliant on just one player as Eckert was held to eight points against S/J. Caitlyn Deysenroth had a team-high 16 points in the win while Carlee Dropp averaged 12.3 points in the three sectional games.
If the Rams want to advance they’ll have to find a way to stop La Fargeville’s star senior Emeline Barton, who comes in averaging 24.7 points per game. The Red Knights have been dominant all season long, outscoring their opponents by an average of 59-32.
BOYS CLASS C
Cooperstown (24-0) vs. Moravia (20-1)
At Visions Veterans Memorial Arena, Sunday, 1:30 p.m.
There might not be a better matchup this weekend than Sunday’s Class C tilt between undefeated Cooperstown and one-loss, defending State Champion Moravia.
The Hawkeyes are looking to get back to the Final Four for the first time since winning it all in 2019. They’re coming off a 76-67 win over Waterville in the Section III final, a bonafide nailbiter relative to their usual margin of victory during their undefeated season.
Junior Miles Nelen, averaging 22.7 points per game this season, has taken his game up a notch for Cooperstown, scoring 31 points in the 67-49 semifinal win over Hamilton and 35 in the title game.
But it’s been the depth of coach John Lambert’s squad that has been most impressive: Cooper Bradley, Christian Lawson, Cooper Coleman, Jackson Crisman and Brody Murdock have all had double-digit scoring performances during Cooperstown’s playoff run.
Moravia is coming off a second straight victory over Delhi in the Section IV final. Joe Baylor finished with a game-high 29 points in last weekend’s contest for the Blue Devils.
BOYS CLASS D
Morris (15-7) vs. Sackets Harbor (19-4)
At Visions Veterans Memorial Arena, Sunday, 3:15 p.m.
The Mustangs enter Sunday’s Regional final looking to add to a season that is already historic.
Morris’ 50-39 win over Worcester in the Section IV title game gave the program its first sectional championship in 50 years.
It’s been a season of defying expectations for coach Gerry Joy’s squad: the Mustangs didn’t even make it to the Tri-Valley League title game and entered the sectional playoffs as the four seed in Class D.
But three impressive victories over league rivals Schenevus, Edmeston and Worcester have them on the brink of the Final Four.
The one-two punch of Ryan Murphy (26.8 points per game) and Carter Swayer (19.4) has been the engine behind the Mustangs’ success all season. But their playoff run has also seen key contributions from players like Ryland Boss and Ty Turner and a stout defense that allowed only 38.7 points per game in the sectional playoffs.
They’ll have to deal with a Sackets Harbor team coming off back-to-back Section III titles and an offense that averages more than 61 points per game. Senior Marcus Castine leads the Patriots with 20.7 points per game.
Continue reading...
Five local squads will be in action this weekend with their sights set on a trip to the State Final Four with at least one guaranteed to move on to the state semifinals.
Here is a look at the local teams competing in their respective Regional finals this weekend.
GIRLS CLASS C
Cooperstown (20-4) vs. Delhi (16-7)
At Tompkins Cortland Community College, Saturday, 2 p.m.
The lone meeting between two local teams also happens to be a matchup between the last two local girls programs to win a State Championship.
Delhi took home the 2018 state crown while Cooperstown did so back in 2015. They’ll have to get past one another if they hope to go all the way once again.
This will be the third meeting this season between the two sides. Cooperstown won both times, a 45-31 decision on Dec. 7 at the Dick Alwine Tournament and a 57-45 win on Dec. 26 at the Dick White Tournament.
The Hawkeyes are in familiar territory under head coach Mike Niles, who won his eighth Section III title last Sunday with a 44-34 win over Hamilton.
Cooperstown features a mix of youth and experience that’s evident when looking at their recent top performers. Senior Brenna Seamon has scored in double-figures in each of the last three games. At the other end of the spectrum, seventh-grader Emma Johnson is averaging 13.8 points per game for the season, including 14 in the sectional final, and eighth-grader Lanie Nelen has averaged 12 points in the last three games.
Delhi, meanwhile, is on one of the more surprising playoff runs in recent memory. The number 10 seed in the Section IV tournament, the Bulldogs find themselves one win away from making the Final Four.
They’ve done it with a defense that has been downright impenetrable. Delhi allowed only 33 points per game in its four sectional contests. At the other end, Danielle Ennist has led the offense with 15.9 points per game including 25 in the 45-37 semifinal win over Union Springs. Lexi Davis has also stepped up big, scoring 13 points against Union Springs and a team-high 14 against Unatego in the 38-24 sectional final victory.
GIRLS CLASS D
South Kortright (20-1) vs. La Fargeville (19-2)
At Tompkins Cortland Community College, Saturday, 4 p.m.
If you’ve made it to the Regional final, chances are that you’re on a bit of a hot streak and that’s certainly the case for the two squads in the Class D final.
South Kortright and La Fargeville have combined winning streaks of 32 games, with SK having won its last 18 and the Red Knights winners of 14 in a row.
The Rams are in the Regional final for the first time in five years and are seeking their first State title since 2006. They’re coming off of a convincing 49-38 win over Stamford/Jefferson in the sectional final and allowed just 34.7 points per game in their three sectional matchups.
Senior Addy Eckert leads the way with 21.0 points per game. But the Rams showed they aren’t reliant on just one player as Eckert was held to eight points against S/J. Caitlyn Deysenroth had a team-high 16 points in the win while Carlee Dropp averaged 12.3 points in the three sectional games.
If the Rams want to advance they’ll have to find a way to stop La Fargeville’s star senior Emeline Barton, who comes in averaging 24.7 points per game. The Red Knights have been dominant all season long, outscoring their opponents by an average of 59-32.
BOYS CLASS C
Cooperstown (24-0) vs. Moravia (20-1)
At Visions Veterans Memorial Arena, Sunday, 1:30 p.m.
There might not be a better matchup this weekend than Sunday’s Class C tilt between undefeated Cooperstown and one-loss, defending State Champion Moravia.
The Hawkeyes are looking to get back to the Final Four for the first time since winning it all in 2019. They’re coming off a 76-67 win over Waterville in the Section III final, a bonafide nailbiter relative to their usual margin of victory during their undefeated season.
Junior Miles Nelen, averaging 22.7 points per game this season, has taken his game up a notch for Cooperstown, scoring 31 points in the 67-49 semifinal win over Hamilton and 35 in the title game.
But it’s been the depth of coach John Lambert’s squad that has been most impressive: Cooper Bradley, Christian Lawson, Cooper Coleman, Jackson Crisman and Brody Murdock have all had double-digit scoring performances during Cooperstown’s playoff run.
Moravia is coming off a second straight victory over Delhi in the Section IV final. Joe Baylor finished with a game-high 29 points in last weekend’s contest for the Blue Devils.
BOYS CLASS D
Morris (15-7) vs. Sackets Harbor (19-4)
At Visions Veterans Memorial Arena, Sunday, 3:15 p.m.
The Mustangs enter Sunday’s Regional final looking to add to a season that is already historic.
Morris’ 50-39 win over Worcester in the Section IV title game gave the program its first sectional championship in 50 years.
It’s been a season of defying expectations for coach Gerry Joy’s squad: the Mustangs didn’t even make it to the Tri-Valley League title game and entered the sectional playoffs as the four seed in Class D.
But three impressive victories over league rivals Schenevus, Edmeston and Worcester have them on the brink of the Final Four.
The one-two punch of Ryan Murphy (26.8 points per game) and Carter Swayer (19.4) has been the engine behind the Mustangs’ success all season. But their playoff run has also seen key contributions from players like Ryland Boss and Ty Turner and a stout defense that allowed only 38.7 points per game in the sectional playoffs.
They’ll have to deal with a Sackets Harbor team coming off back-to-back Section III titles and an offense that averages more than 61 points per game. Senior Marcus Castine leads the Patriots with 20.7 points per game.
Continue reading...
