High School Fridays: Sectional championship weekend begins

Ed McDonough Field House might not have been packed like it was a week ago, but the partisans for the participants in the women's Class D & C finals were loud just the same tonight.

In the Class D final, the Lady Cougars of North Warren High were looking for their second title in three years in taking on the challenge of Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons. Unfortunately, tournament MVP Abigail Kienzle and the Golden Knights had something to say about that. Kienzle was huge in the second half, leading Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons to the title. Kienzle led all scorers with 19 points as the Knights won a low scoring, defensive battle, 39-36. Jodi Bartlett led North Warren with 12 points. The Lady Cougars managed only a single free throw in the fourth quarter, and that sealed their fate.

In Class C, defending champion Cambridge came from behind to repeat as champions, getting 25 points from Sophie Phillips, in beating Hoosick Falls, 55-49. Logan Thayne led Hoosick Falls with 18 points, while Lillian Hickey added 14, but only 2 in the second half.

On the men's side, the Class D title game was moved to tomorrow due to the semifinals having been played last night. Lake George won the C title, downing Hoosick Falls in a low scoring affair, 48-45. However, most of the crowd in Glens Falls came to see their hometown team and superstar Joseph Girard III, who poured in 52 points as the Indians defeated Schalmont, 77-56. Trent Girard was the only other Glens Falls player in double figures with 11.

Tomorrow's games have tough acts to follow.