BY BRIAN FEESSouthern Tier Sports Report
BINGHAMTON — As Cornwall went to pass the ball into the post to their star post players, Horseheads’ Sadie Gustin poked the ball away for a steal.
That defensive effort set the tone for the Blue Raiders as they dominated and led wire-to-wire in a 57-30 win over the Section 9 champion in a Class AA regional final at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena.
The win sends the Blue Raiders to the final four for the first time since 2002, and hands Andy Scott, who has been coach since the 1999-2000 season, his 400th career victory.
“Really great,” Scott said of the win. “It’s been 24 years since we’ve done that in Horseheads and actually with this gorup it is relaly special because they are 11 kids that just give their heart and soul every single day. I never hear the complain. They dig in every day. They are positive, energetic, it’s a coaches dream to go with them, it’s really impressive. I’m really happy.”
After struggling offensively early in the sectional final, the Blue Raiders got things going quick on Sunday, leading 14-5 after one quarter and 30-15 at the half.
Horseheads felt like they could take advantage of some things in the game, and that’s what they did.
“I thought they did really good,” Scott said. “From the opening they tried to get the ball inside and Sadie Gustin deflected it out. Those two (post players Ana Sonko and Tessa Furst) are really good basketball players and I said two things, post players have to have good positioning and our guard pressure has to be really good and our guard pressure was insane today. They had a hard time getting the ball to the girls to even allow them to score.
“We told the girls, we watched this team on film. I thought we could exploit some things. I told them, I think you are a better team if you go out and perform. It helps to be in the arena before. I thought they came out, got that early lead and didn’t look back. I think they trust in our scouts and they trust in what we say.”
The Horseheads players know everything started with the defense.
“It started with our defense really,” Ribble said. “We knew they had some pretty good post players and we had to D up the post and right from the start Sadie had that steal and that really set the tone.”
Freshman Samantha Bonnell again led the Blue RAiders, scoring 16 points, with four assists and two steals and fellow freshman Maggie Tremaine had 15 points and Maddie Ribble finished with eight points and four assists.
Leading early gave the Blue Raiders plenty of confidence.
“It really helped us a lot because once we had that first few we knew we could score, so it gave us the confidence to keep going,” Ribble said.
“It really helped us settle in and settle down,” Bonnell sadded.
Furst led Cornwall with 13 and Sonko had 12 points. Sonko blocked eight shots in the game.
None of the players on this Horseheads team were alive the last time Horseheads made the final four.
“First time in 24 years that our program has won regionals and it’s just an amazing experience here,” Ribble said. “This team deserves it more than anybody else.”
With so much on the line the Blue Raiders came out strong.
“Having the chance to go to the final four really put us in the mindset to come out hard and strong,” Bonnell said.
Gustin and Giana Hughey had big games inside against the strong post players for Cornwall. Hughey had six steals and eight rebounds.
“After that Chenango Forks loss (in the STAC final), I think the girls didn’t like the taste of that. They are a really good team, obviously, but we took 17 days, refocused, locked in and have done a really good job. Our guard pressure is insane.”
Scott let his team know how special it is to make the final four.
“I was trying to explain to the we went in 2001 and 2002. Hollie (Cook) Hughey, her daughter (Giana) is now playing with us. Back then they got to go back-to-back years, only about 16 girls from Horseheads, or boys, have ever made it to the final four and now you are 15 more of them. Only 30 kids have ever been there and I’m glad these girls get a chance to be there.”
Scott becomes one of less than 40 coaches in state history to win 400 games. And, he knows it’s the players over the years who made that possible.
“The 400 is great and you put that aside, the fact that you hit a milestone with this group is what is important to me. We’ve had a lot of great families and kids,” he said. “They are the reason why there’s 400 wins.”
Now, the Blue Raiders head to the state semifinals where the 18-3 Blue Raiders will play Section 6’s North Tonawanda at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, March 21 at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy.
“It’s great to be here. Can’t wait to go to the final four and keep playing,” Bonnell said.
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PHOTOS BY BRIAN FEES
PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE GAME:
