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Dolgeville, Herkimer girls meet again in Section 3 basketball playoffs

jon rathbun, times telegram
·4 min read

The Herkimer Magicians and Dolgeville Blue Devils split two head-to-head decisions during the regular season for girls basketball. The Center State Conference's Division I co-champions will play an informal tie-breaker Tuesday when they meet in the quarterfinals of Section III's Class C tournament.

Each team won on its home court during the regular season and No. 4 Herkimer gets the playoff game against No. 5 Dolgeville in its gym where the Magicians have won nine games in a row.

Herkimer and Dolgeville were among the Saturday winners as Section III cut its basketball playoff field in half from 16 teams to eight in each class for boys and girls.

Herkimer's Madison Marusic goes up for a shot between Little Falls Mounties Andy-Lynn Podlas and Makaylah Mowers (from left) during a Section III playoff game Saturday. The Magicians advanced by beating the Mounties for the third time this season.
Herkimer's Madison Marusic goes up for a shot between Little Falls Mounties Andy-Lynn Podlas and Makaylah Mowers (from left) during a Section III playoff game Saturday. The Magicians advanced by beating the Mounties for the third time this season.

More:Section 3 girls basketball scores for the 2022-23 season

Herkimer (14-6), the No. 4 seed in Class C, was a 63-43 winner over Little Falls, another familiar opponent from league play. The Magicians had beaten the Mounties twice previously. They led by as many as 12 points in the first half, stretched it to 16 on Bailey Bray's three-pointer at the end of the third quarter, and went over 20 early in the fourth.

Charity Dygert and Madison Marusic each scored 14 points, Arrissa Bunker added 13 and Aubrey Lewis had 11 to give Herkimer four players in double figures.

Alexis Kress scored 17 points in the season-ending loss for Little Falls (10-11) and Ava Grcic had 10.

Dolgeville, the No. 5 seed, had advanced earlier Saturday with a 49-39 win over Cato-Meridian Dolgeville (14-7) held its opponents to 10 points in the first half in the battle of Blue Devils and endured a four-point second quarter of its own. Leading 28-25 after three quarters, Dolgeville's Blue Devils got nine points from senior Lexy Morse and shot seven-for-11 at the foul line while outscoring their guests 21-14 in the final period.

Alexandria Comstock led Dolgeville with 12 points, Morse finished with 11, and eighth-grader Payton Comstock had nine.

Dolgeville defeated Herkimer 50-39 at home in December. Herkimer turned the tables with a 53-45 win Jan. 26 in the second of eight consecutive wins to finish the regular season.

Herkimer Magician Charity Dygert (left) advances the ball up the court Dec. 13, 2022, with Alexandria Comstock (10) defending for the Dolgeville Blue Devils. The Center State Conference Division II co-champions will meet for the third time this season Tuesday in the Section III quarterfinals.
Herkimer Magician Charity Dygert (left) advances the ball up the court Dec. 13, 2022, with Alexandria Comstock (10) defending for the Dolgeville Blue Devils. The Center State Conference Division II co-champions will meet for the third time this season Tuesday in the Section III quarterfinals.

Herkimer followed the win against Dolgeville with two over Little Falls in three days and climbed from third place in the standings into its tie for first.

Dolgeville has won seven of its last nine game.

The first, second, sixth and seventh seeds join Herkimer and Dolgeville in the quarterfinals with No. 9 Port Byron and defending champion Waterville, the 14th seed and a 42-40 winner over No. 3 Jordan-Elbridge Friday.

Several other area schools will be in action Tuesday for the girls quarterfinals. Tuesday's winners will play in the sectional semifinals over the weekend at SRC Arena and Allyn Hall on the Syracuse campus of Onondaga Community College

In Class AA, Utica's Proctor Raiders defeated West Gensee 47-37 Friday and earned a third shot at Rome Free Academy. Rome Free Academy is seeded second behind Auburn and defeated Proctor twice in Tri-Valley League play.

Whitesboro was eliminated in Class A with Friday's 66-50 loss to Oswego. New Hartford, seeded third, opens its postseason play Tuesday with a home game against Christian Brothers Academy of Syracuse.

Like Class C, Class B had a busy weekend thanks to this year's open playoff format. Adirondack, Central Valley Academy, Clinton and Holland Patent, all winners Thursday, were eliminated in their second games Saturday. Oneida, the No. 9 seed, beat No. 8 Hannibal and plays Wednesday at General Brown where the No. 1 seed defeated Holladn Patent 53-24 Saturday. Utica's Notre Dame Jugglers, seeded sixth, also advanced by beating Central Valley Academy for a third time and next play Wednesday at No. 3 Cortland.

Top seed West Canada Valley hits the court for the first time in Class D Tuesday against Oriskany, a Center State Conference opponent it has played twice already this season; No. 9 Oriskany won at Stockbridge Valley Friday. No. 2 Poland and No. 4 Hamilton won Friday and host Belleville-Henderson and Watertown-Immaculate Heart, respectively.

This article originally appeared on Times Telegram: Dolgeville, Herkimer girls meet again in Section 3 basketball playoffs