HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS' BASKETBALL: HORSEHEADS TURNS UP THE DEFENSE TO ADVANCE TO SECTIONAL FINAL (24 PHOTOS) (2024-02-27)

By Brian Fees
Southern Tier Sports Report
HORSEHEADS — The Horseheads Blue Raiders came out fired up on Tuesday night, jumping out to a 17-3 lead as they beat Binghamton 52-30 in the Section IV, Class AA semifinals.

The Blue Raiders defense was strong all night as they limited the Patriots to 16 points through the first three quarters and led 44-16 heading into the final quarter.

“I was really happy with the way they came out and played,” Horseheads coach Andy Scott said. “I thought they were ready to play. It’s been 10 or 11 days and we had scrimmaged a couple good teams from different sections and they worked really, really hard for preparation and if you get some time to prepare for teams it really helped them and they really executed everything we do defensively.

“To hold that tea to the teens through three quarters when the last time we played them it was a one-point game, I was just really please with what I saw on that end and then obviously offensively we got some different contributions from kids so that was really, really nice to see as well. The way we came out, the fast start was huge.”

The win was a 15th straight for the Blue Raiders, who claimed their second straight STAC title in their last game.

“We came out with a lot of intensity,” senior Sophia Bonnell said. “We are coming off a winning streak, so having a lot of energy is good for us right now.

“Defense is what wins us games right now. Our defensive intensity is just way better than our offense and that’s what is getting us through right now.

“We are really proud of our defensive effort.”

The last time the two teams met it was a one-point Horseheads win, but the Horseheads fan base brought the energy on Tuesday night and the girls fed off that energy throughout the game.

“Definitely playing at home I thought was a factor,” Bonnell said. “We have a lot more energy when we are here. WE play better when we are at home. When we have our fans and all of our people cheering us on so it’s better in this environment.”

The extra effort by Horseheads was evident all night, but nothing showed that effort more than a first-half play where Jordyn Gross leapt to save a ball going out of bounds, tossed it over her shoulders and Maddie Ribble knocked down the three.

“It was just a good hustle play,” Bonnell said. “Which is what we do. We just hustle all over the place all the time.”

Bonnell led the Blue Raiders with 23 points, including 11 in the opening quarter when Horseheads got out to a 20-9 lead. Bonnell had three threes in the game.

In the second quarter Binghamton got a couple early baskets and was back within eight, when Ribble came off the bench and scored six points, all in the second quarter. This came on the heels of her scoring 14 off the bench in the STAC final.

“She’s a spark plug,” Scott said. “She does a lot of nice things for us. WE can use her and swing Megan (Wolf) to a forward type deal for us. We get a little smaller when she’s on the court, but we get a heck of a lot faster. In the STAC Championship game she was the difference maker because without her we would have never been able to do what we did. Even in the scrimmages and the practices her confidence has risen and she’s just been a huge asset for us.”

The players know how much Ribble’s play off the bench means.

“She’s done a really good job,” Ribble said. “We love having her come off the bench. She’s our little spark that comes on and puts the clamps on defense and knocks down shots when we need them and can get to the basket. She’s just been a real big spark for us coming off the bench.”

Wolf hit three threes for nine points in the game and Gross finished with seven points.

Emma Kamas had three points and Alexis Knox and Jessica Als each finished with two points.

Melody Finn had 14 points with two threes for Binghamton and Remi Campbell finished with five points.

Shania Bello and Michaela Jean-Phillis each finished with three points. May Finn and Selena Torres had two points each and Liaria Beylo finished with one point.

The Blue Raiders will take on Union-Endicott on Sunday at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton at a time to be announced.

“Great team,” Scott said of U-E. They beat us earlier this year, early December. They’ve had a really good year. They have some great players. I think we have some great players. It’s going to be an entertaining game for the crowd and I”m looking forward to being back at the arena. We used to play in local gas the last six or seven years, so we haven’t had the opportunity to be in the arena since 2015. I’m looking forward to being in that, for the kids to have that experience and also to play a really good opponent. It will be a fun game.”

U-E won that game in December 50-37, one of just four losses all season for the Blue Raiders, who are 17-4 on the year.

For the Horseheads players this is their first chance to play in the arena.

“I have been on varsity for four years and we haven’t made it to a sectional final yet so I’m really amped and really excited to go play in the arena. Especially being my senior year, I’m excited to play there and see what it’s like.

“We have been thinking about it a lot and that’s been our goal. Let’s go play in the arena, that’s been our goal from the start. We want to play in the arena and we want a sectional championship.”
————
PHOTOS BY BRIAN FEES


Print Friendly Version