Sure, the setting was grander, the opponent more difficult, the championship game far more stressful – but the end result for the West Genesee girls basketball team was just the same, and quite satisfying.
The Wildcats are now back-to-back Section III Class AA champions, having defended its title Sunday in the Carrier Dome with a 70-65 victory over Cicero-North Syracuse in a memorable duel between the sectional tournament’s top two seeds.
Junior forward Madison Smith, named tournament MVP after earning 24 points in the title game, said the key to the victory was her side staying tough and poised in the homestretch.
Head coach Stafford Spreter said it was difficult to compare this sectional title to the one earned in 2017, but added that prevailing against a team as tough as C-NS, who had beaten them in December, made it sweeter.
“Both teams played well,” said Spreter. “But we stuck to what we wanted to do, executed our game plan and our kids made plays.”
All season long, the Wildcats and Northstars had dominated local Class AA competition, so their meeting in the final didn’t surprise anyone, nor did the fact that the game itself would turn into a close, well-played affair.’
Ignoring the early (9 a.m.) start time and adjusting well to the Dome setting, both teams were hot from the field in the early stages. With the score tied 27-27 late in the second quarter, WG ran off seven straight points, only to have C-NS pull within two, 34-32, by halftime.
They stayed close throughout the third quarter, with the Northstars leaning more on senior standout Amani Free, who had missed her team’s loss to the Wildcats in January.
Free scored 10 straight points late in that period to pull her side even, 48-48, but even though she finished with 30 points overall, WG held Free without a field goal in the fourth quarter.
WG was able to concentrate its defense on Free because forward Jessica Cook, who finished with 17 points, picked up her fourth foul. With Cook unable to stay aggressive on the defensive side, the Wildcats could go inside – and did so.
Down 59-58, WG grabbed the lead for good with an 8-0 run midway through the final period. Understandably, the Northstars, in the latter stages, did everything they could to keep the ball away from Madison and Mackenzie Smith, and paid for it.
Kaitlyn Walker hit a basket, drew the foul and sank the free throw. Haley Collins followed with a rebound basket and Catie Cunningham converted on a layup.
Not giving up, the Northstars pulled back within three, 66-63, in the final minute, but Mackenzie Smith, who finished with 16 points, hit a driving lay-up with 25.9 seconds left, and Madison Smith’s pair of free throws sealed it.
Walker, before fouling out, earned 12 points and six rebounds, drawing high praise from Spreter, who said her inside presence on both ends was “phenomenal” and served as an anchor for the Wildcats.
So, for the second year in a row, WG heads to the state tournament, meeting Section II champion Colonie in Saturday’s regional final at 2 p.m. at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy. A win sends the Wildcats back to Troy for the state final four.
Mackenzie Smith said her team is closer and tougher than it was in 2017, giving them a better chance to make a state tournament run. Spreter said everyone is motivated to avenge last year’s regional final defeat to Shenendehowa.
“We’re on a mission to squash what happened last year,” said Spreter.
