With a 10-10 regular-season mark, the Jordan-Elbridge girls basketball team found itself with the no. 7 seed for the Section III Class B-2 playoffs — and not much luck with the draw.
For the Eagles had to go face no. 2 seed Clinton in last Tuesday night’s B-2 quarterfinals, and the Warriors, an acknowledged championship contender, handled J-E in a 52-30 decision.
Since both teams hadn’t played in more than a week, it fit that the start would be slow. J-E didn’t mind this, playing Clinton to a 6-6 first-quarter tie to generate some early hope.
Gradually, though, Clinton started to seize control. The Warriors’ tough all-around defense never let the Eagles get too comfortable, though J-E did stay within reasonable striking distance until a closing 18-6 run by the hosts.
Molly Hourigan led J-E with eight points, with Kate Dungey adding seven points and Liz Caspari adding six points. Warrior teammates Lauren Conway (17 points) and Kati Griffiths (13 points) combined to match the Eagles’ entire output.
Now J-E will see six seniors depart, including Dungey, but will also have key players like Hourigan, Caspari and Kelsey Richardson back in 2009-10, looking to continue the Eagles’ growth spurt.
Up in the crucible of the Section III Class B-1 playoffs, Solvay could not escape the shadow of formidable OHSL Liberty division foes.
In fact, the no. 7 seed Bearcats had to meet the league champs when it visited no. 2 seed Cazenovia in last Tuesday night’s quarterfinal round, and the Lakers prevailed by a score of 60-30, ending Solvay’s season.
Neither side got off to quick starts, the two teams slowly finding game form again following an extended rest period of more than a week.
Solvay only trailed, 8-6, through one period, but Cazenovia outscored them 34-16 over the next two periods to take charge.
One more time this season, Tessa Pucello tried to take charge, and she managed 14 points in the face of a Lakers defense doing everything conceivable to stop her.
Otherwise, the Bearcats managed just six total field goals, with Liz Martinez and Amanda Bigness each getting five points. Cazenovia had a deep, well-balanced attack, as Kiley Evans and Kassie Kleine led the way with 12 points apiece.
Solvay ended its season with a mark of 9-12, but it could get back above the .500 mark next season with Pucello coming back and stars like Evans and Westhill’s Carly Cooper leaving the league scene.
