Maintaining status quo (Championship Saturday at HVCC, 3/7/20)

If we have learned anything from past sectionals, crowd size is fluid depending on who is playing at a particular time.

That having been said, the largest crowd of the day Saturday at Hudson Valley Community College was in the anticipated main event, the third meeting of the season between Suburban Council Blue division powers Saratoga & Shenendehowa. The game wasn't lacking in drama, but did have some issues with scoring early on.

Natasha Chudy, daughter of Saratoga coach Robin Chudy, scored the first five points for the Blue Streaks, but, then, got into foul trouble, and missed most of the second quarter with four fouls. Undaunted, she played the entire second half, risking an early exit, and finished with 10 points for her efforts. With senior star Catherine "Dolly" Cairns ice cold for most of the night, others had to pick up the scoring slack.

Katie Claeson, a junior, answered the call with a second quarter three pointer, as the Streaks trimmed a 11 point 1st quarter deficit down to 8 at 27-19 at the break. At that point in the evening, Cairns had just one point on a free throw.

Similarly, Shen's Meghan Huerter was searching for her scoring touch. Luckily for her, sister Jillian picked up for her, tallying 16 points before fouling out halfway through the 4th quarter.

In that fourth quarter, Cairns finally showed up. Held to three points through three quarters, Cairns hit a late trey and some key free throws before she, too, fouled out with under a minute remaining, with 11 points.

Shen fans had to be holding their collective breath in the first half when Simone Walker, a senior, went down with a leg injury after a collision with Saratoga's Abby Ray. Walker walked gingerly off the court, and didn't return to the game, finishing with two points.

In the end, Meghan Huerter, the tournament MVP, and her free throws proved to be the difference, as Shen repeated as Class AA women's champion, 60-56. Huerter finished with 11 points, and Kaitlyn Watrobski added 12 to back up Jillian Huerter's game high 16.
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You'd be forgiven if the score in the Class C title game, the opening game of the day, more closely resembled a football game. Defending champion Cambridge ran out to a 24-10 lead after one quarter, and never looked back, routing Maple Hill, 68-44, to repeat as champions. As per normal, the Indians' offense was mostly the Phillips twins, Lily & Sophie, who combined for 41 points (Lily had 18, Sophie 23) to lead the champions. Natasha Strock had 11 to lead the Wildcats.
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The first signs of fan discontent with the officiating had actually come during the Maple Hill-Cambridge game over a ticky-tack foul in the fourth quarter, but it got worse in the Class B title game.

Mekeel Christian Academy, whose boys' team is in Class A (more on that later), as opposed to the girls being in B, never got untracked against defending champion Mechanicville, and it didn't help matters that one of the referees was visibly seen sharing some laughs with Mechanicville coach Blaine Goverski, whose daughters, Chloe & Charli, like the Phillips sisters in the first game, carried the Red Raider offense. Chloe shared game high honors with Anaida (AJ) Joseph, as each had 12 points, while Charli added 11. The Lady Lions made it interesting late, but by then, it was too late. Jillian Ballard shared game high honors with 12 points, but the disparity in fouls, called or not, was disturbing, and some could chalk it up to Section II politics, since this was Mekeel's 1st sectional final. Mechanicville repeats, 56-46.
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Saturday's other spotlight game was in Class A, as Averill Park sought its 7th straight sectional title. The last team to win Class A before the Warriors' run? Troy High, back in 2013, when the Lady Horses won it all, including a state title. Foothills Council champ Queensbury, the top seed in the class, provided the opposition, and hung tough with Averill Park for most of the afternoon. No Spartan player broke double figures, with Meghan O'Connor the high scorer with 9 points. Averill Park sophomore Michelina Lombardi had a sort-of coming out party, finishing with a game high 14 points. The Wood sisters, Amelia (11) & Kelsey (8) combined for 19 points in support of Lombardi, as the Warriors' defense carried them to title #7, pulling away in the 4th quarter to prevail, 52-39.
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While the bleachers were mostly full for the above games, that wasn't the case in the Class D game between Fort Edward and Whitehall. This was the only game where we were assured a new champion, with last year's winner, Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons, having already been shown the door. Gabby Thomas earned game high honors with 18 points, doing most of her damage in the second half. Kyrie Smith, despite playing with four fouls in the fourth quarter, tried to bring the Railroaders back with some important free throws in the frame to finish with a team high 12 points. However, it wasn't enough, and the Flying Forts captured the D crown, erasing a 9-5 first quarter deficit to prevail, 46-28. Whitehall's offense basically did a disappearing act in the second quarter, and never recovered.
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If there was some solace for Mekeel boosters, it's the fact that their men's team took home the A title, beating Lansingburgh, 75-67. The Knights' leading scorer this season, Isaiah Knight, was held to 8 points, while Vinny Tario led 'Burgh with 15 points. Alex Barnhill led the Lions with 33 points, while Ozzy DeJesus added 27.

North Warren won the men's D title, beating Argyle, 62-51. Anthony Girard, no relation to Joseph Girard III and his family, led North Warren with 27 points. Peyton Lufkin led the Scots with 25.

Shen also won the men's Class AA title, downing Green Tech, which was looking for its first title since 2014, 64-61. Mazziah Thorpe took game high honors in a losing cause for the Eagles with 20 points. Andrew Martin led Shen with 19.
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Back to the women. Shen & Cambridge will return to HVCC next Saturday in state regional finals vs. opponents to be named. Admission next week will be $10. Mechanicville will play the Section 10 champ at Saratoga on Tuesday, while Averill Park has to go all the way to SUNY-Potdam, also on Tuesday. Fort Edward travels to Beekmantown for the D regional final next Saturday.