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Palmer tourney: Corning boys rally past Seton in OT; 4 other teams win titles

andrew legare, elmira star-gazette
·8 min read

A second brilliant tournament performance from Binghamton Seton Catholic Central junior Andrew Erickson was trumped by the clutch play of Corning's Isaiah Henderson in the Boys Regional Division 2 championship game Friday at the Josh Palmer Fund Clarion Classic at Elmira High School.

Henderson's contested 3-pointer with just over a second remaining in regulation sent the game to overtime. He added 11 points in the extra period, including a 7-for-7 effort at the foul line, as the Hawks pulled away for 74-63 comeback victory in a matchup of defending Section 4 champions.

"It feels really good to get a win against a great team," said Henderson, who grabbed nine rebounds.

More:Josh Palmer Fund Clarion Classic 2022 scores

That was one of five championship games during the final day of the four-day tournament, which ended up with 25 teams instead of the planned 28 after three Buffalo-area schools couldn't make it because of travel issues caused by the region's blizzard. This year marked the event's return after the previous two scheduled tourneys were canceled because of COVID-19.

In other finals Friday:

  • Ithaca prevailed, 48-43, over Elmira Notre Dame in the Girls Regional Division.

  • North Penn-Mansfield rolled to a 52-28 victory over Vestal in Boys Regional Division I.

  • Bishop Kearney, from Rochester, beat Queens' St. Francis Prep, 62-56, for its third consecutive Girls Division title.

  • McDonogh, from Owings Mills, Maryland, repeated as the tournament's National Division champion with a 50-44 victory over Mount St. Michael Academy, from the Bronx.

More:Josh Palmer tourney Day 3: Past champs earn berths in National Division final

Hawks' Henderson catches fire at right time

Corning's Isaiah Henderson drives to the basket during a 74-63 overtime win against Binghamton Seton Catholic Central in the Boys Regional Division 2 championship game at the Josh Palmer Fund Clarion Classic on Dec. 30, 2022 at Elmira High School.
Corning's Isaiah Henderson drives to the basket during a 74-63 overtime win against Binghamton Seton Catholic Central in the Boys Regional Division 2 championship game at the Josh Palmer Fund Clarion Classic on Dec. 30, 2022 at Elmira High School.

The normally high-scoring Henderson had two points through the first three quarters, but he scored 20 over the fourth quarter and overtime to finish with a team-high 22.

"Coach just told me to keep my head up, keep playing hard, play defense and play as hard as I could," Henderson said.

Corning trailed 19-4 after one quarter and faced a 49-36 deficit heading to the fourth. Henderson's layup cut Seton's advantage to 54-53 with 48 seconds left. After Erickson fed Johnny Hopf for a layup that gave Seton its three-point lead back, Corning's Jackson Casey and Erickson each hit two foul shots.

Binghamton Seton Catholic Central's Yusri Razzag looks for his shot as Corning's Isaiah Henderson defends during the Hawks' 74-63 overtime win in the Boys Regional Division 2 championship game at the Josh Palmer Fund Clarion Classic on Dec. 30, 2022 at Elmira High School.
Binghamton Seton Catholic Central's Yusri Razzag looks for his shot as Corning's Isaiah Henderson defends during the Hawks' 74-63 overtime win in the Boys Regional Division 2 championship game at the Josh Palmer Fund Clarion Classic on Dec. 30, 2022 at Elmira High School.

With time winding down and two defenders in his face, Henderson stepped back behind the 3-point lane and drained a tying shot that went through the hoop with 1.4 seconds to go.

"They ran the play for me and I decided to take my shot," Henderson said.

As for making a hoop with a high degree of difficulty and the game on the line, he said, "Thank God. Thank God."

Binghamton Seton Catholic Central's Andrew Erickson goes up for a shot as Corning's Reed Walrath (20) and Isaiah Henderson (2) defend during the Hawks' 74-63 overtime win in the Boys Regional Division 2 championship game at the Josh Palmer Fund Clarion Classic on Dec. 30, 2022 at Elmira High School.
Binghamton Seton Catholic Central's Andrew Erickson goes up for a shot as Corning's Reed Walrath (20) and Isaiah Henderson (2) defend during the Hawks' 74-63 overtime win in the Boys Regional Division 2 championship game at the Josh Palmer Fund Clarion Classic on Dec. 30, 2022 at Elmira High School.

Corning never trailed in overtime after the division's Most Valuable Player, Logan Booker, scored 14 seconds into the four extra minutes. Henderson followed with two foul shots and a bucket for a 64-58 lead.

The finish was a far cry from the start for the Hawks (4-1), last season's Class AA champion in Section 4. Seton (4-2) was 2021-22 section champ in Class B and a state semifinalist.

The key to the rally? "Just keep our heads straight, stay poised and keep fighting," Henderson said.

Corning also needed to deal with Erickson, who had 31 points and eight 3-pointers through three quarters. His scoring in the fourth quarter and overtime was limited to seven free throws.

Erickson finished 10-for-17 from the field and 8-for-12 from 3-point range. That came on the heels of a 34-point performance in 50-48 semifinal win over Ithaca that included a winning shot at the buzzer.

"He’s a really good player. We had a game plan for him and he made it hard for us. But it feels good to win after playing hard," Henderson said.

Binghamton Seton Catholic Central's Andrew Erickson (3) scored 38 points in a 74-63 overtime loss to Corning in the Boys Regional Division 2 championship game at the Josh Palmer Fund Clarion Classic on Dec. 30, 2022 at Elmira High School.
Binghamton Seton Catholic Central's Andrew Erickson (3) scored 38 points in a 74-63 overtime loss to Corning in the Boys Regional Division 2 championship game at the Josh Palmer Fund Clarion Classic on Dec. 30, 2022 at Elmira High School.

Seventh-grader Nolyn Proudfoot added 20 points and four 3-pointers for Corning. Booker scored 19 and Jackson Casey contributed 11.

Division Awards: Most Valuable Player – Logan Booker, Corning; Defensive Player – Reed Walrath, Corning; Sixth Man – Reece Goodman, Seton; All-tournament – Andrew Erickson, Seton; Jackson Casey, Corning; Justin Yearwood, Ithaca.

Repeat titles for McDonogh boys, Bishop Kearney girls

McDonogh's Robert Fields goes up for a shot as Caleb Andigue defends during a 50-44 win over Mount St. Michael Academy in the Boys National Division final at the Josh Palmer Fund Clarion Classic on Dec. 30, 2022 at Elmira High School.
McDonogh's Robert Fields goes up for a shot as Caleb Andigue defends during a 50-44 win over Mount St. Michael Academy in the Boys National Division final at the Josh Palmer Fund Clarion Classic on Dec. 30, 2022 at Elmira High School.

The champions in the Boys National Division and Girls Division ended up being the same teams as the previous Palmer tournament, with McDonogh winning a second straight boys title and defending New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class AA champ Bishop Kearney capturing the event for the third straight time.

McDonogh overcame a 24-19 halftime deficit, using a 17-9 edge in the third quarter to take control. Robert Fields led McDonogh with 16 points and 10 rebounds, Jefferson Exinor Jr. scored 15 and Ashton Kendall contributed 14.

Izaiah Millan had eight points and five rebounds for Mount St. Michael.

Bishop Kearney's win was also propelled by a strong third quarter, with the Lady Kings using a 17-10 spurt over that stretch to lead 44-40.

Amaia Jackson led Bishop Kearney with 15 points. Asia Wilson and Allie Hall scored 14 each, with Klarissa Goode contributing 12 points.

Kayla Martin led St. Francis with 16 points. Christina Psarros scored 13 and Arianna Davis added 11.

Klarissa Goode of Bishop Kearney goes up for a shot during a 62-56 win over St. Francis Prep in the Girls Division final at the Josh Palmer Fund Clarion Classic on Dec. 30, 2022 at Elmira High School.
Klarissa Goode of Bishop Kearney goes up for a shot during a 62-56 win over St. Francis Prep in the Girls Division final at the Josh Palmer Fund Clarion Classic on Dec. 30, 2022 at Elmira High School.

Girls Division Awards: Most Valuable Player – Amaia Jackson, Bishop Kearney; Defensive Player – Caydence Hadley, Bishop Kearney; Sixth Woman – Iysis Marryshow, North Rockland; All-tournament – Kayla Martin, St. Francis Prep; Klarissa Goode, Bishop Kearney; Kimora Smith, St. Francis; Jalea Abrams, Elmira; Jenna DiNardo, Corning.

Boys National Division Awards: Most Valuable Player – Jefferson Exinor Jr., McDonogh; Defensive Player – Izaiah Millan, Mount St. Michael; Sixth Man – Joshua Thompson, Mount St. Michael; All-tournament – Anthony Torres, Geneva; Tristen Waters, Bishop McDevitt; Ashton Kendall, McDonogh; Jayport Smith, Mount St. Michael; Robert Fields, McDonogh.

Little lifts Ithaca in Girls Regional Division

Ithaca's Mia Little drives with the ball during a 48-41 win over Elmira Notre Dame in the Girls Regional Division championship game at the Josh Palmer Fund Clarion Classic on Dec. 30, 2022 at Elmira High School.
Ithaca's Mia Little drives with the ball during a 48-41 win over Elmira Notre Dame in the Girls Regional Division championship game at the Josh Palmer Fund Clarion Classic on Dec. 30, 2022 at Elmira High School.

Ithaca's Mia Little took control of a close game and finished with 28 points, six steals and five rebounds to earn Division MVP honors and lead the Little Red to the title past Notre Dame.

Ja'Elle Griffin added nine rebounds and six points for Ithaca.

Mallory Sheehan led Notre Dame with 20 points. Shannon Maloney contributed 16 points and 11 rebounds.

Awards: Most Valuable Player – Mia Little, Ithaca; Defensive Player – Shannon Maloney, Notre Dame; Sixth Woman – Laila Lima, Ithaca; All-tournament – Payton Littlefield, Thomas A. Edison; Mallory Sheehan, Notre Dame; Tatyanna George, Ithaca.

More:Dramatic finishes, sterling performances highlight Day 2 of Palmer tourney

North Penn-Mansfield rolls to regional title

Karson Dominick had 21 points on 9-for-16 shooting and grabbed six rebounds to lift North Penn-Mansfield past Vestal for the Boys Regional Division 1 title. NP-Mansfield pulled away after leading 26-21 at the half.

JT Gannon led Vestal with 12 points.

Awards: Most Valuable Player – Karson Dominick, North Penn-Mansfield; Defensive Player – Cooper Shaw, North Penn-Mansfield; Sixth Man – Xavier Shuler, Vestal; All-tournament – Brody Burleigh, North Penn-Mansfield; Jeremiah Parker, Elmira Notre Dame; JT Gannon, Vestal.

More:Josh Palmer tourney Day 1: END girls among winners as blizzard causes schedule scramble

Horseheads boys, girls fall in consolation games

Horseheads came up just short in its bid for two wins in three tournament games, falling by a 56-52 margin to Bishop McDevitt (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) in a National Division consolation game.

Jeremy Truax's 3-pointer with 2 seconds left cut Bishop McDevitt's lead to two. Two free throws sealed the win. Truax finished with 19 points and brother Amauri Truax scored 16.

  • Horseheads fell to North Rockland, 61-46, in a Girls Division consolation game. Sophie Bonnell had seven 3-pointers and 25 points for Horseheads. Kiara Tirado had 14 points and four 3-pointers for North Rockland.

  • In Friday's National Division third-place game, Jamestown was a 54-49 winner over Geneva behind 15 points from Bishop Butts. Trey Drake scored 12 points and Sean Paige chipped in eight points, 11 rebounds and four assists. Geneva's Anthony Torres had 27 points and six steals.

Corning's boys basketball team with its trophy after rallying for a 74-63 victory over Binghamton Seton Catholic Central in the Boys Regional Division 2 final at the Josh Palmer Fund Clarion Classic on Dec. 30, 2022 at Elmira High School.
Corning's boys basketball team with its trophy after rallying for a 74-63 victory over Binghamton Seton Catholic Central in the Boys Regional Division 2 final at the Josh Palmer Fund Clarion Classic on Dec. 30, 2022 at Elmira High School.

Elmira Heights boy receives courage award

The tournament's primary goal is to raise money to help area families facing cancer battles. As in past years, the Stephanie Schrock Courage Award was presented on the tournament's final day.

One of two recipients, 12-year-old Landan Marsh of Elmira Heights, was recognized before the National Division final. He is a Cohen Middle School student who is battling Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Landan's parents, Ryan and Katrina Marsh, accepted the award and $1,000 check from the Josh Palmer Fund on their son's behalf. Ryan said the family will be forever grateful to Palmer and others behind the honor and donation.

"Absolutely speechless at this point," Ryan said. "Just came to support the tournament, support Josh and everything he's done. To be part of this thing is just amazing. Totally unexpected."

Follow Andrew Legare on Twitter: @SGAndrewLegare. You can also reach him at alegare@gannett.com. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today

This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Recap of final day of 2022 Josh Palmer Fund Clarion Classic