Dundee/Bradford girls, Avoca-Prattsburgh boys claim Section V basketball titles
A No. 1 seed in its respective sectional tournament for the third straight year, Dundee/Bradford didn't let this opportunity go to waste.
The BraveScots, who combine players from nearby rivals Dundee and Bradford, held off a battle-tested Keshequa team in a topsy-turvy Section V, Class C2 final, 51-47.
It's the first championship in the merger's four-year history (Dundee last won a title in 1991).
"The best part is that we're combined for all sports, so the girls who play together do so for all three seasons," BraveScots coach Michael Strait said. "We came from two really good, up-and-coming programs, and the girls' willingness to just play basketball — they haven't let this or that get in the way of what we wanted to do. I'm not surprised, they're a great group of kids."
Dundee/Bradford mostly led throughout, save for a few momentary advantages seized by Keshequa. In the end, the BraveScots' defense proved too tall a wall to leap over.
The chances were there, though. In a must-foul situation with Dundee/Bradford leading 49-47 and less than 10 seconds left, Keshequa received the two free throw misses it needed.
A crucial rebound after the second attempt was won by BraveScots junior guard Bruna Crespo, who drained the next two free throws to seal the game.
"Having been here the last two years and not getting over the top, not only fueled our hunger but I didn't see us get rattled," Strait said. "We played composed in tough situations and knew we were capable of playing through it."
How it happened
A tie at the end of the first quarter signaled a tightly-contested C2 finale. Dundee/Bradford led by four at halftime and by two at the end of the third.
Multiple leads were exchanged in the fourth. It was junior Kendall Parker's jumper that put Dundee/Bradford ahead for good, 48-47, with 40 seconds left. Crespas 2-for-2 showing at the free throw line moments later were the clincher.
Along with the game-winning shot, Parker collected the rebound on each of Keshequa's field goal misses in the final minute.
"I've never had a female athlete work as hard as she does," Strait said. "She's always in the gym and doesn't always work on trying to score. She's always working on jumping and explosive rebounding, and has improved so much in the defensive end. People talk about jumping out of the gym, and she really can."
Class C2 all-tournament team: Kendall Parker, Dundee/Bradford (MVP); Bruna Crespo, Dundee/Bradford; Makayla Schoffner, Dundee/Bradford; Libby Benner, Keshequa; Braelyn Isaman, Keshequa; Tessa Rodwell, York; Hazell Nickerson, Caledonia-Mumford.
Up next: Finger Lakes rivals meet for state tournament berth
Dundee/Bradford will meet Class C1 champion Bloomfield in Section V's Class C state-qualifying game on Tuesday.
The teams split their season series, with Dundee/Bradford winning the first matchup 63-50 on Dec. 21. Bloomfield answered with a 55-47 victory on Feb. 1.
Bloomfield and Dundee/Bradford each went 15-1 in league play to share the Finger Lakes' west division title this season.
The second matchup is Dundee/Bradford's only loss this season.
Class D boys
No. 1 Avoca-Prattsburgh 50, No. 7 Elba 37
What it means
Avoca-Prattsburgh, the two-time state champion, won its third straight Section V championship as a merged program.
Tournament MVP
Macoy Putnam led Avoca-Prattsburgh's Titans (13-9) with 17 points.
What's next
Avoca-Prattsburgh will play Section VI champion Pine Valley in regionals Saturday, March 9 in Buffalo.
This article originally appeared on MPNnow: Dundee/Bradford girls, Avoca-Prattsburgh boys win Section V titles
