Section 4 basketball: Finals matchups set in STAC, IAC and MAC after 3OT girls classic
Postseason basketball for several teams arrived with a bang Tuesday night, highlighted by Horseheads' win over Chenango Valley in a triple-overtime Southern Tier Athletic Conference girls semifinal.
Championship matchups were also decided for the STAC boys, Interscholastic Athletic Conference girls and Midstate Athletic Conference boys.
A breakdown of Tuesday's action and what's ahead this week.
STAC Girls
Semifinals recap: After hitting what looked like it would be a game-winning 3-pointer from six feet beyond the arc in the first overtime, Horseheads' Sophia Bonnell scored the first five points of the third OT on a 3-pointer and runner in the lane as the Blue Raiders prevailed, 65-57, at Chenango Valley.
Bonnell's go-ahead 3-pointer with 2.4 seconds left in the first overtime was answered by a tying three from CV's Maddie Hayes at the buzzer after Chenango Valley (15-4) called a timeout to move the ball to halfcourt.
"One of the wildest games I've been a part of," said Andy Scott, in his 24th season as Horseheads' coach. "Really proud of the kids. There were so many times when things were going south and they kept grinding defensively. Played and persevered through the adversity."
Bonnell finished with 26 points and six 3-pointers to lead the Raiders (10-8). Megan Wolf went 16-for-18 at the foul line and added 21 points. Maddie Matkosky contributed nine points on three 3-pointers. Hayes and Madelyn Trisket had 12 points each for CV, which had its 11-game winning streak stopped.
In Tuesday's other semifinal, Johnson City topped Susquehanna Valley, 58-35, after leading 30-18 at halftime.
Finals matchup: Horseheads hosts Johnson City in the championship game at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Horseheads Middle School. Admission for Friday's STAC doubleheader is $8 for adults and $5 for students.
Section 4 boys basketball: Results, top performers 2022-23
Section 4 girls basketball: Results, top performers, all-stars 2022-23
STAC Boys
Semifinals recap: Ithaca extended its winning streak to four with a 91-45 win over visiting Oneonta that was led by 27 points from Justin Yearwood. Luke Little and William Holmes scored 18 each for the Little Red, which held a 50-18 halftime advantage. Brady Carr scored 11 points for Oneonta.
Union-Endicott went on the road in the other semifinal and was a 69-57 winner over Chenango Forks. U-E led 35-33 at halftime before pulling out to a 53-42 advantage through three quarters.
Finals matchup: Defending STAC champion U-E faces Ithaca in the title game Friday at Horseheads Middle School as part of a doubleheader with the girls. Last week Ithaca edged the Tigers, 64-60, to clinch the STAC West title and Union-Endicott bounced back the next day with a 60-57 win over Johnson City in a Metro Division tiebreaker.
IAC Girls
Tuesday's tiebreakers: Odessa-Montour's emotional rollercoaster of a season reached a high point with a 37-27 home victory over Spencer-Van Etten in a tiebreaker to decide the Interscholastic Athletic Conference South Small School title. Hannah Nolan, who was announced as division Most Valuable Player earlier in the day, had 15 points, 16 rebounds and five steals to lead O-M (12-8). Gina Gavich added 10 points and Tori Brewster contributed nine points and six steals. Abby Bunce paced S-VE (8-11) with 12 points.
Keyonna Garrison, one of O-M's top players, suffered a stroke in January and the Grizzlies rallied behind her before making their push to their first division title since 2017-18.
After leading 29-28 through three quarters, Whitney Point (6-12) downed visiting Dryden, 47-36, in the IAC North Large School tiebreaker behind 20 points from Sarah Somers. Laci Prignon led Dryden with 15 points and Kahlen Cornell scored 12.
Finals matchups: O-M will face Union Springs (19-0), ranked first in the state by the New York State Sports Writers Association, in the championship game at 6 p.m. Thursday at Tompkins Cortland Community College in Dryden.
Whitney Point takes on Newark Valley in the Large School final at 6 p.m. Friday at TC3. Newark Valley (19-0) is the state's third-ranked Class B team.
IAC Boys
Finals matchups: No tiebreakers were needed for the IAC boys. Defending Class C state champion Newfield (17-1) takes on Moravia (18-1) at approximately 7:45 p.m. Thursday at TC3 in the Small School final. The Large School title game between Waverly (17-2) and Lansing is set for the same time Friday at TC3.
MAC
Tuesday's semifinals: Luke Schnabel had 23 points, seven rebounds and six steals to lead Delhi (18-1) to a 73-46 win over Unatego/Franklin in a MAC semifinal. Angelo Krzyston added 15 points. Bainbridge-Guilford was a 50-44 winner over Greene in the other semifinal.
Finals matchups: Delhi, the state's top-ranked Class C team, plays Bainbridge-Guilford for the title at 5 p.m. Friday at Unadilla Valley. The MAC girls final between Greene and Unatego will follow.
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 Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Breaking down STAC, IAC and MAC basketball tourneys in Section 4
