Lady Devils, Bulldogs, Cats return to Sectional champs circle

Feb. 25—Hammond and Gouverneur repeated as the Class D and Class B Champions while Heuvelton claimed its first Class C crown and its second sectional title in three years on Friday in a tripleheader of Section 10 Championship Girls Basketball action at SUNY Potsdam on Saturday.

Hammond (17-3) earned the right to crusade for a second straight New York State Class D title by shading Hermon-DeKalb (16-3) 47-43 in a much heralded match of number two and number four state ranked teams. Heuvelton (15-7) won its first ever appearance in the Class C bracket by outscoring St. Lawrence Central (12-10) 74-42. Gouverneur (19-3) quickly erased a 22-18 halftime deficit and went on to control the second half and secure a third straight Class B crown in a 57-40 victory over Canton 57-40.

All three teams prevailed as top seeds and moved into the semi-finals of the Overall Section 10 playoffs on Tuesday night back at SUNY Potsdam's Maxcy Hall with Malone which won the Class A title as a number one seed

At 6 p.m. Hammond will play Malone and after the NAC Girls Basketball Awards ceremony Gouverneur and Heuvelton will meet looking to advance to Friday's Overall Section 10 Championship.

CLASS D

The pregame tension for the latest duel of titans for the Section 10 Class D title was very evident.

"This was a game where either team could be the team to win the state title. I can finally breathe now," said Hammond Coach Alyssa Crosby after a emotional midcourt celebration after the Devils prevailed in a game where both teams came from behind and earned the opportunity to play with the lead.

H-D Coach Steve Morrill expressed the feelings of his team after the Red Devils outscored the Demons 21-13 an offensive minded fourth quarter which was a dramatic contrast for the opening quarter which finished with H-D in a 4-2 lead.

"It is tough, just so tough," said Coach Morrill.

Hammond's center-guard-forward Landree Kenyon, her team's only senior, and H-D junior guard Olivia Simser were a study in toughness in a game-long matchup. Despite Simser's tenacious defensive presence Kenyon scored a game-high 18 points. She scored 10 in the second quarter where the Devils rode a 19-10 surge to take a 21-14 lead and netted eight in the fourth quarter where the Devils rallied from a 30-26 deficit after the third quarter which closed with Hailey Brabaw striking for two 3-pointers and Hannah Coller netting one.

In the climax of the fourth quarter Hammond gained a 43-38 lead when Addy Graveline Mia Tulley buried hurried 3-pointers as the shot clock expired with 2:42 and 1:10 remaining.

An Issy Woodside block protected a 43-40 lead and Ava Howie tallied two free throws to up the margin to 45-40 with 15.7 seconds left.

Olivia Simser used a crafty fake to set up a step back 3-pointer to keep her team alive at 45-43 with 12.4 seconds to play and Kenyon cooly sank two free throws to create the final score with 11.8 seconds left.

"Olivia (Simser) is a great player and an outstanding defender but I just couldn't let her stop me or our team. I think last year's experience winning states was a big plus for us. It was so awesome and indescribable. We just had to go back and try and win again," said Kenyon who was honored as last year's New York State Class D Player of the Year.

"Addy (Graveline) and Mia (Tully) hit those amazing 3-pointers and they just show how far our team has come since early in the season when were bothered by turnovers and missed shots. I really think we are ready for another run in states."

H-D showed their heart and resilience down the stretch staying within one possession by weathering the two jolting 3s and the loss of standout forward-center Aaliyah O'Donnell who fouled out with 5:50 to play.

Ava Howie scored 14 points while playing point guard and point forward against H-D's relentless on the ball man-to-man defensive pressure. Graveline finished with eight points and Issy Woodcock and Mia Tulley finished with four and three.

"This win today is all about Addy Graveline and Mia Tulley. Early in the season they were players that other teams left open. Now they are hitting big shots for us and those 3-pointers were so big. They show how far we have come as a team," said Coach Crosby.

"We haven't played much man this season but we were able to stay in it the whole game. We weren't getting out well and we made the adjustment after Hailey Brabaw hit those three 3s in the third quarter."

Three juniors in Simser, Hannah Coller and Hailey Brabaw all scored 11 points for H-D and twin sisters Aaliyah and Jayla O'Donnell combined for six and four points completing outstanding senior seasons were they became consistent scorers, high and low post passers and strong interior defenders. Reliable reserve forward Bailey Wright also finished her basketball career.

CLASS B

Gouverneur's senior point guard Chloe Smith knows only one speed, full throttle, and only one direction, north-south, as she sets the offensive tempo for the Wildcats.

On Saturday she took the direct route to the basket converting soft bank shots over menacing defenders drives to the goal to erase Canton's 22-18 halftime lead to set in motion the Wildcats methodical 39-18 second half march to a 57-40 victory.

"It was all about effort, we knew that we had to play harder if we wanted to beat Canton because they played very well in the first half," said Smith who plans to play collegiatley at SUNY Canton next season.

"I really wanted to get us going so I just took the ball to the basket. As a senior with the other seniors I wanted to go out as a three-time Class B Champions and it is very important that we get that second Overall Section 10 Championship."

Smith buried a three and went 3-3 at the foul line scoring eight points in a signature balanced offensive effort.

"Chloey is just a great leader and she got us going today in the second half," said Gouverneur Coach Sean Devlin. "I would go to war with her any day."

Coach Devlin's troops also featured co-scoring leaders in Courtney Forsythe who delivered timely putbacks throughout the game scoring 14 points and prime fast-break finisher Meredith Bush who scored seven of her 14 points in the fourth quarter. The Wildcats went 10-13 at the foul line in a 20-10 fourth quarter close-out after Caitlin Storie tallied seven points leading a 19-8 third quarter surge.

Electra Fitzgerald and Rylin Martin-McIntyre rounded out the scoring with four and two.

"In the second half we focused on our inside game. In the first half we missed a lot of chippies and everytime we tried to get a lead Canton would hit shots. Canton played hard and they really challenged us," said Coach Devlin.

"We used our experience well and I think we wore them down as the second half went on."

Eighth grader Ellie White, a late season call-up from the JV team, sparked Canton to a 13-9 advantage in the second quarter scoring six of her eight points. Jenna Larrabee tallied five of her eight points in the first quarter where the Bears forced turnovers on Gouverneur's first four possessions.

Winnie Downs netted two 3s and went 5-6 at the foul line leading Canton with 13 points. Sara Aldous tallied four, Tessa Alguire also scored four to go along with a tenacious rebounding effort and Olivia Francey rounded out the scoring with two points.

"The effort was definitely there and with two starters out with injuries we were a very young team. We played good defense. Gouverneur has five seniors and their experience helped them deal with the pressure as the second half went on," said Canton Coach Jim DiSalvo.

"This was a good game for us. We have everyone back night year and we are going to work very hard this summer so we can get back here next year."

CLASS C

Heuvelton Central Coach Rob Powers has all the respect in the world for the St. Lawrence Central program.

"Over the years St. Lawrence Central never backs down from anyone and Coach Jenna Chamberlain has done a good job keeping that going," said Powers.

With guards Courtney Moreau (15 points) and Kalissa Young (10 points) leading the way in scoring and tempo setting, the third seeded Larries who reversed two NAC East division losses to second seeded Madrid-Waddington in the semi-finals, established a fast pace right off the opening tip.

With senior guards Katie Cunningham and Rylin McAllister providing firm grip on the HCS offensive helm and the basketball the Bulldogs were very comfortable in the tempo and they used a fullcourt press and putbacks from their front line to take a 20-6 lead in the first quarter where six players scored. The Bulldogs scored at least 15 points in every quarter and closed with a 23-point fourth quarter where enjoyed a lengthy run of getting points on every possession.

"When you play St. Lawrence Central you have to keep scoring because they can score points in a hurry and get back in the game after falling behind. Tonight we had a lot people make shots and when someone missed someone else stepped up and scored," said Coach Powers.

"Our bench has produced for us all season and came through to become a factor again tonight."

Cassidy Pray buried six of her first seven shots and led the Heuvelton offense with 18 points around the rim. Katie Cunningham and Rylin McAllister each netted two threes scoring 16 and 10 points and Raya McGaw netted one trey in an 11 point effort.

"This was a very nice win for us and we are really excited to go back to the state tournament as seniors. We might play some bigger schools than we played when went to the states in Class D but all of the tough games that we played in our league this season will definitely help us," said McAllister who recently become her school's all-time leader (boys and girls) in career 3-pointers made.

"And we are really looking forward to playing next week for the Overall Section 10 Championships. The seniors on the team were part of a team which won the overall title two years ago. But we know that is going to be very tough."

Rounding out Heuvelton's scoring was Ashley West and Kerrigan Doyle with six points, Lily Brossoit with four and Mikayla Ritchie and Miah Scott with two.

Following 15 points from Courtney Moreau and 10 from Kalissa Young in the SLC offense were: Carlee Provost with eight, Jaelei Brothers with four, Hope McDonald with one and Annica Ramsdell with four.

"Heuvelton played very tonight and we just didn't play as well as we hoped. But we made it to this game which is good," said SLC Coach Jenna Chamberlain.