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Making history: Hornell upends Dansville to claim first-ever Section V Class B2 title

bob chavez, mpnnow
·2 min read

The first Section V girls basketball championship for Hornell is finally here.

And there may be a few more on the way.

Playing the bulk of Saturday’s Class B2 championship against Dansville with three freshmen and an eighth-grader on the floor, the Raiders played with maturity and poise beyond their years in a 54-47 win over the top-seeded Mustangs at Rush-Henrietta High.

“They play so much above their age,” coach Jimmy Dagon said. “They trust each other and they’re so unselfish.”

Hornell players take the floor after the buzzer. They won their Section V Class B2 championship game at Rush Henrietta High School against Danville 54-47. Dansville 's Megan Tyler cries as she walks off the court.
Hornell players take the floor after the buzzer. They won their Section V Class B2 championship game at Rush Henrietta High School against Danville 54-47. Dansville 's Megan Tyler cries as she walks off the court.

The No. 3 Raiders (15-8) pulled away from a 25-23 halftime lead with a 9-0 run and Dansville (16-7) never got any closer than six points.

“We knew it was going to be close,” Dansville coach Arin Belden said. “We’re familiar with each other. We battled back after starting slow … but that third quarter killed us.”

Key play

The 9-0 run to open the third was all the Raiders needed to get some distance from the Mustangs and from there, defensive stops and turnovers maintained the cushion.

Payton Bentley scored four points in the third, Selena Maldonado scored two and handled the point and Jordyn Dyring was the other freshman threat that helped Hornell keep Dansville at bay.

And the lone Hornell senior, Madelyn Moore, did her part down low to keep Dansville’s threat to a minimum.

“We were ready,” said Moore, who scored 11. “It’s the most I’ve ever seen us pumped up.”

The Raiders channeled that energy correctly and when sophomore Lillian Hoyt drained three free throws late in the fourth for a 49-42 lead, she had more free throws herself that quarter than the Dansville team combined at that point (2-for-6).

“They’ve bought into locking down on defense and grinding out games,” said Dagon.

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

By the numbers

Chelsie Tyler of Dansville reaches in and tries to knock the ball awaye from Madelyn Moore of Dansville.
Chelsie Tyler of Dansville reaches in and tries to knock the ball awaye from Madelyn Moore of Dansville.

Chelsie Tyler led all players with 16 points for Dansville.

For Hornell, eighth-grader Reagan Evingham scored 13 and Moore had 11.

The combined rosters for both teams has just two seniors, Moore for Hornell and Stephanie Youngers for Dansville.

They said it

Hornell coach Jimmy Dagon: “These girls make you play five on the floor all the time and Maddie, the only senior, does a great job of keeping everything together.”

Hornell senior Madelyn Moore: “We wanted to push the tempo and outrun them. That’s what we do.”

Dansville coach Arin Belden: “We got some looks but we missed the shots and then our confidence got rattled.”

Section V Class B2 All-Tournament team

Maddie Verkey (Mynderse), Sara Reitz (Wellsville), Taylor Hamsher (Pittsford Sutherland), Selena Maldonado (Hornell), Chelsie Tyler (Dansville), Reagan Evingham (Hornell). MVP: Madelyn Moore (Hornell).

This article originally appeared on MPNnow: Hornell upends Dansville to claim first-ever Section V Class B2 title