Four Section V girls basketball teams eye state titles. Here's what you need to know
It’s down to the final four teams for each class of the girls state basketball tournament.
And as for Section V, there are four teams left standing.
Bishop Kearney (Class AA), Pittsford Mendon (A), Waterloo (B) and East Rochester (C) all take their shots at state championships with semifinal games this weekend. And if they win, the turnaround is fast with championship games the next day.
It’s the first opportunity to win a state title since 2019 after the coronavirus pandemic put a stop to the tournaments in 2020 and 2021. All games this weekend are at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy and tickets are digital only with no cash sales at the door.
Here’s what you need to know about the teams taking the floor this weekend.
Class AA semifinals
Bishop Kearney-V vs. Corning-Painted Post-IV: Friday, 1:30 p.m.
Baldwin-VIII vs. Cicero-North Syracuse-III: Friday, 3:15 p.m.
Class AA championship: Saturday, 7 p.m.
State rankings: No. 3 Bishop Kearney, No. 7 Cicero-North Syracuse, No. 9 Baldwin, No. 13 Corning-Painted Post.
Bishop Kearney Kings (20-3): The Kings started 0-2 with losses to Pennsylvania powerhouses Villa Maria (22-2) and Mt. Lebanon (25-1) but have since won 20 of 21 games in search of their first state title since 2013. There is plenty of scoring balance with Kaia Goode (20 ppg), Amaia Jackson (14 ppg), Aniya Rowe (12.4 ppg) and Caydence Hadley (9.9 ppg). Rowe (5-9) and Hadley (6-1) are the top rebounders but the Kings are also averaging nearly 9 steals a game so there aren’t many second chances for opponents who squander a possession. The aggressive press and defense tends to make opponents uncomfortable and when BK does get the ball, the creativity of Goode, Jackson and Rowe is effective and breaking down defenders.
Cicero-North Syracuse Northstars (17-5): C-NS beat Albany, 62-60, to advance to their first state semifinals in six seasons. Alita Carey-Santangelo, a 5-8 guard, and 5-11 forward Alexa Kulakowski are the top offensive players for C-NC, which lost a Jan. 22 non-league game to Pittsford Mendon, a Class A state semifinalist. The Northstars won state championships in 2011 and 2012 with the 6-4 Breanna Stewart, who went on to help UConn win four NCAA championships and is now a WNBA star with the Seattle Storm.
Corning Painted Post Hawks (15-4): Corning-Painted Post is making its first trip to the state semifinals after winning its first Section IV title since Corning and Painted Post merged in 2010. The Hawks have won their last three postseason games by two points each, which includes a 46-44 win over four-time defending sectional champion Elmira. There isn’t much height for the Hawks, who essentially play five guards who shoot well and are athletic on defense. Juniors Jenna DiNardo (University of Virginia lacrosse commit) and Alyssa Dobson along with senior Kellie Zoerb (Towson softball) lead the way. The last, and only, state title for girls hoops for this area was the 1995 championship won by Corning West.
Baldwin Bruins (17-4): Defense is the name of the game for the Bruins, who scored just 31 points in winning their eighth straight Nassau County championship and held opponent Syosset to just 29 points. The Bruins are young with 5-8 sophomore Renelle Grannum and freshman Payton Dulin running the backcourt and 5-10 junior Dally Moreno handling most of the post work. The open chair on the bench is a tribute to longtime assistant coach Anthony Bolden, who died during the offseason, so there is plenty of motivation for a program that won state titles in 2017 and 2018.
Class A semifinals
Tappan Zee-I vs. Pittsford Mendon-V: Friday, 10 a.m.
West Babylon-XI vs. Averill Park-II: Friday, 11:45 a.m.
Class A championship: Saturday, 5:15 p.m.
State rankings: No. 1 Pittsford Mendon, No. 2 Tappan Zee, No. 3 Averill Park, No. 13 West Babylon.
Pittsford Mendon Vikings (24-1): The Vikings have won 21 straight since their only loss, Dec. 14 to Penfield, a run that includes a win over Cicero-North Syracuse, a Class AA semifinalist. There is plenty of offensive balance for Mendon but defense is the calling card. The Vikings are holding opponents to about 37 points a game but they’ve found a defensive groove lately in holding eight of their last nine opponents to 39 points or less. Senior guard Anaya Coleman is the catalyst at both ends of the floor. She’s averaging 14 points a game and her hustle knows no quit on defense. A 5-10, senior Lily Kennedy (15.3 ppg) is the leading scorer and 5-10 senior Dani Strauf (11 ppg) and 6-foot senior Bridget Miller (9.5 ppg) are the other top offensive contributors but depth comes with 5-9 senior Kate Hennessey and senior Jess Robinson. Mendon has won three state championships, the last one coming in 2019.
Tappan Zee Dutchmen (24-1): The only loss of the season for this Rockland County school came recently against Class AA power Ursuline and that was an overtime game, so the Dutchmen have a taste of tough competition. Senior guard Dana Phelan (16 ppg) will play at the College of Staten Island and junior forward Ariana Kupi (13 ppg, 9.5 rpg) is the top post option but also is effective away from the basket. Senior Kellie Linehan (American University lacrosse), freshman Kristen Phelan (in her second varsity season) and Brooke Comito are the other contributors for a team that thrives in its man-to-man defense to spark a strong transition game.
Averill Park (23-2) Warriors: Averill Park has a string of eight straight Section II championships (and 11 of the last 12) and the Warriors of Rensselaer County have cruised to this point, winning by 39 and 24 points in their last two games. Amelia Wood is a 6-foot senior forward committed to Sacred Heart who is the consistent leader for the Warriors, who also get plenty of help from 5-11 sophomore Taylor Holohan, 5-8 sophomore Tatiana Tune and 5-7 freshman Arianna Veradi. Those four make up a balance on offense that’s difficult to defend and defensively, the Warriors are a menace who know how to identify and shut down top threats from the opposition. The Warriors have one state championship in their history, in 2010.
West Babylon Eagles (21-4): The Eagles won the Suffolk County small schools championship with junior point Lacey Downey leading the way with 19.9 points a game. Sophomore guard Jade Dockering adds 10 per game and after that, it’s a balanced look that includes seniors Emma Blloshmi (8.2 ppg) and Brianna Winkler (7.9 ppg). But like most teams at this level, a press that forces almost 18 steals a game is the driver for the Eagles and it forces opponents into making bad decisions and keeping them from establishing an offensive rhythm. The Eagles have never won a state championship.
Class B semifinals
Putnam Valley-I vs. Waterloo-V: Saturday, 12:30 p.m.
General Brown-III vs. Schalmont-II: Saturday, 2:15 p.m.
Class B championship: Sunday, 11:45 a.m.
State rankings: No. 1 Waterloo, No. 2 Schalmont, No. 3 General Brown, No. 4 Putnam Valley.
Waterloo Indians (25-0): The Indians have won 39 straight dating back to last season and are 58-3 over their last three seasons. The core of this team has been together since 2018 as varsity players so 6-1 senior Giavanna White-Principio and 5-8 senior guard Macy Carr would love to cap their careers with the ultimate prize. Junior guard Morgan Caraballo (13.4 ppg) joins Carr (9.1 ppg) as the most versatile players on the team and junior Jazzmyn Lewis (7.2 ppg, 5.8 steals) is a brutal defender that helps set the tenacious pace on the Waterloo press that’s contributing to the team averaging 19 steals per game. Junior Natalie DiSanto (5.1 ppg) and eighth-grader Addison Bree (7.2 ppg) join Caraballo, Carr and Lewis as perimeter shooters to keep defensive pressure off of White-Principio (15.6 ppg, 7 rebounds, 41 blocks), who is tough to contain on the post. Waterloo is trying to win its first state title in school history.
Schalmont Sabres (24-1): The only loss for the Sabres out of Schenectady came on Dec. 22 to Cass AA Colonie and their next game was a win against Class AA Fairport, which was the start of a 20-game win streak. Schalmont, chasing its first state title in school history and playing in the state tournament for the first time since 1986, hit nine 3-pointers in its win over Gouverneur before beating Saranac to get here. Payton Grabber, Haley Burchardt and Karissa Antoine are the top threats for the Sabres, who hold opponents to an average of 33 points per game and an average winning margin of 31 points.
Putnam Valley Tigers (19-7): The record can be deceiving but Putnam Valley plays a strong schedule that includes AA and A schools. Just one loss is to a Class B school and a stingy zone defense is a big reason behind the success. The Tigers also use the zone to avoid foul trouble because their depth can be lacking. Junior guard Eva DeChent (23 ppg, 9 rpg, 5.5 apg, 3 bpg) is a University of Rhode Island commit (verbal) so she’s the obvious go-to. Senior guard Amanda Orlando (12 ppg) and sophomore guard Nai Torres (13 ppg) provide spark at both ends, especially on defense to create an effective transition game. Beyond that trio, the Tigers have managed to get some key plays from role players as they chase the first state title for girls basketball in school history.
General Brown Lions (23-2): The Lions are making their first trip to this round of the state tournament with juniors Kori Nichols (14.6 ppg) and Ainsley Fuller (12.2 ppg, 5 rpg) and seniors Karsyn Fields (9 ppg) and Emma Dupee (8.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg) leading the way. Fields, Dupee and Fuller all are 5-foot-9, so the Lions have some size but also have athleticism for a defense that’s holding foes to an impressive 30 points per game while averaging 21 steals. Case in point: General Brown has held 14 opponents this season to less than 30 points. General Brown comes out of Dexter in Jefferson County, just west of Watertown.
Class C semifinals
Millbrook-IX vs. East Rochester-V: Saturday, 9 a.m.
Newark Valley-IV vs. Duanesburg-II: Saturday, 10:45 a.m
Class C championship: Sunday, 10 a.m.
State rankings: No. 1 Newark Valley, No. 2 Duanesburg, No. 4 East Rochester, No. 5 Millbrook.
East Rochester Bombers (24-1): ER has lost just two games in the last two seasons, riding talent that is both tall and athletic. Sam Lewis, a 5-8 senior guard, is the motor that leads the team in scoring (18 ppg) while also averaging 3.5 steals and 9.7 rebounds. Zarriah Eldridge adds 11 points a game out of the backcourt and Aniya Eldridge brings 6.8 points, all of which complements the inside game of 6-1 junior Lily Funk (14.2 ppg, 8.5 rpg). Like most teams at this stage, though, it’s defense that sets the tone and five different players have 50 or more steals for the Bombers. There have been plenty of lopsided scores for ER this season but it was pushed in the Far West Regional last weekend, which could recalibrate the focus as the margin for error in Troy gets smaller and smaller in pursuit of the first state championship in school history.
Millbrook Blazers (21-3): The Blazers out of Dutchess County are holding opponents to 29 points a game, so the defense is for real and anchored by a pair of bigs in 6-2 sophomore Natalie Fox and 6-1 junior Emily Grasseler. It’s also motivated because this is a team that believes it could have more than the one state title it won in 2018, but the pandemic took care of the last two state tournaments so Millbrook certainly is a team on a mission considering it’s outscoring small-school opponents by almost 40 points a game this season. Senior point guard Madison Harkenrider directs the offensive traffic and the Blazers get their outside work done with junior guard Ella Wilson and Kaleigh Tompkins, who also get the defense started with pressure up top to get the transition game in gear.
Newark Valley Cardinals (23-1): The Cardinals have won 22 straight and have won their five postseason games by an average of 42 points after winning their first Section IV championship since 1981. Point guard Hayley Beebe was the Class C MVP of the Section IV Tournament and was one of four Newark Valley players to score at least nine points in the Section IV final, a game the Cardinals won by 40 points. Hannah Ferguson, a 5-9 senior, 6-3 sophomore Makana Gardner and 5-8 senior Taylor Benjamin are the other top contributors as the Cardinals shoot for their first state championship.
Duanesburg Eagles (23-2): The Schenectady County school has never won a state title in girls basketball but the Eagles are riding into the semifinals with an offense that’s averaging around 65 points a game. Senior guard Madison Meyer is averaging around 17 points and became her school’s all-time leading scorer this season and 5-8 sophomore Allison O’Hanlon also scores about 17 a game for a team that excels from the perimeter. Alex Moses, a 5-9 sophomore ringing up about 12 points and game and 5-7 sophomore Hannah Mulhern is good for about 10, making the Eagles tough to defend.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: NY state girls basketball tournament: What to know about final four
