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Palmyra-Macedon climbs in Class A: Section V teams in latest NYS girls basketball rankings

justin ritzel, canandaigua daily messenger
·3 min read

For the first time this season, Palmyra-Macedon is Section V's top-ranked Class A team.

The Red Raiders' steady climb has landed them at No. 6 in the latest rankings from the New York State Sportswriters Association.

Pal-Mac was the runner-up to eventual state champion Waterloo in the Class B-1 tournament last season, and made the jump to Class A for 2023-24.

Pal-Mac’s Taryn Goodness drives to the basket against Wayne’s Kasey Eaton.
Pal-Mac’s Taryn Goodness drives to the basket against Wayne’s Kasey Eaton.

The Red Raiders are currently riding an 11-game winning streak that dates back to mid-November, with their last loss coming against Hornell (the No. 1 team in Class B).

"I have been pleased with my team's intensity and focus," Pal-Mac coach Dan Harris said. "We have continued to work hard on conditioning and communication on both ends of the floor."

Pal-Mac has leaned on two veterans, senior Marianna Hodgins and junior Taryn Goodness, to lead the charge. Hodgins is averaging a double-double this season, while Goodness is the Red Raiders' leading scorer at around 17 points per game.

The Red Raiders' only state-ranked Class A team remaining on the schedule is Newark, but Pal-Mac also has tough tests upcoming against East (top team in the Rochester City league), Waterloo (state-ranked in Class B) and Hornell (No. 1 team in Class B).

Bookmark this: Section V girls basketball scores for the 2023-24 season

East Rochester makes bid in Class C

The Bombers peaked as the No. 7 team in Class C in the Jan. 7 rankings, but dropped to No. 25 last week and went unlisted this week following recent losses to Bloomfield and Brighton.

East Rochester's absence shouldn't last too long. The Bombers took down rival Gananda -- ranked fifth this week -- at home on Tuesday night, 47-36.

"Defense was really the key to winning this game," Bombers senior Zarriah Eldridge said. "Our offense was a little bit off, so we had to pack it up on defense. Games like this really help us prepare us for sectionals."

East Rochester's Zarriah Eldridge drives to the basket against Gananda's Eva Jenny.
East Rochester's Zarriah Eldridge drives to the basket against Gananda's Eva Jenny.

Through Wednesday, East Rochester projects as the No. 4 seed in Section V's Class C1 tournament, behind Bloomfield, Gananda and Oakfield-Alabama.

East Rochester can secure that spot, and possibly improve it, with four games remaining. The Bombers still have a home-and-home left with Lyons (9-6), as well as meetings with North Rose-Wolcott and Williamson/Marion.

Section V girls basketball teams in NYS top 25 rankings for Jan. 30

Class AAA

  • N/A

Class AA

  • No. 4: Bishop Kearney (9-4)

  • No. 7: Hilton (11-3)

  • No. 8: Victor (14-1)

  • No. 13: Webster Schroeder (10-5)

  • No. 14: Canandaigua (10-3)

Class A

  • No. 6: Palmyra-Macedon (11-1)

  • No. 7: Aquinas (10-3)

  • No. 12: Pittsford Sutherland (12-2)

  • No. 23: Newark (11-4)

Class B

  • No. 1: Hornell (12-1)

  • No. 6: Dansville (15-2)

  • No. 14: Mynderse (12-3)

  • No. 18: Waterloo (9-6)

  • No. 25: Livonia (8-7)

Class C

  • No. 5: Gananda (12-2)

  • No. 11: Keshequa (12-2)

  • No. 12: Dundee/Bradford (14-0)

  • No. 14: Bloomfield (14-2)

  • No. 16: Alexander (11-3)

  • No. 17: Caledonia-Mumford (11-4)

  • No. 20: Oakfield-Alabama (12-2)

Class D

  • No. 7: Elba (13-2)

This article originally appeared on MPNnow: Section V girls basketball teams in NYS rankings: The list for Jan. 30