CENTRAL NEW YORK – Armed with a 10-game win streak, the Jordan-Elbridge girls basketball team would have, perhaps, its most important regular-season game in years when it took on Weedsport last Tuesday night.
And for a long while, it looked like the Eagles would keep it going – but the Warriors, perhaps more experienced in games like this, had the final say, rallying late to prevail by a score of 52-44.
Weedsport had turned away J-E 56-42 in its Dec. 6 opener, but the rematch was all Eagles in the early going.
In front of a fired-up home crowd, J-E was superb on defense, frustrating the Warriors as it streaked to a 14-5 edge by the end of the first quarter.
That margin grew to 26-15 by halftime, but with strong adjustments Weedsport began chipping away in the third quarter and saved its best work for the stretch.
Unable to stop Mallory Brown (who finished with 21 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals), J-E was outscored 21-7 in the final period.
Erin LaVancha, in defeat, had 17 points, eight rebounds, three blocks and three steals. Abbie Ahern got 12 points, five rebounds and three assists as Ava Hildebrant got six points and six blocks. Madison Clochessy earned eight rebounds.
J-E did rebound on Thursday to beat Pulaski 69-45, outscoring the Blue Devils 40-20 after a close first half as Hildebrant and Ahern nearly got triple-doubles.
Not only did Hildebrant set a career mark with 27 points, she grabbed nine rebounds and got nine steals, while Ahern had 16 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists, plus six steals and four blocks. LaVancha got 10 points and 10 rebounds as Brooke Chiarmaonte had nine points.
Bishop Ludden was gearing up for its sectional Class AA playoff run, winning big twice early last week including an 80-62 decision over Albany Academy.
The Gaelic Knights jumped out 28-11 in the first quarter and never got caught as Amarah Streiff proved unstoppable again, pouring in 31 points and adding seven assists. This added to a career total that surpassed 2,000 points in late January during a win over Solvay.
Bridget Dunham amassed 16 points, 12 rebounds and six assists, with Ava Carpenter earning 14 points, seven assists and four rebounds. Elizabeth Gaughan had 13 points and six rebounds.
What followed, a day later, was Ludden nearly getting to triple digits in a 96-44 romp over Syracuse Academy of Science where it accumulated a 79-35 advantage through three periods.
Streiff had 24 points, seven rebounds and four steals. Abby Reynolds stepped up, her 13 points a career best to go with 14 points as Grace Olivia set her own career mark with 14 points,
Gaughan also had 14 points as Jordyn Townes gained 13 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals. Carpenter notched eight assists and eight steals as Sophia Chemotti got eight points, six assists, five rebounds and four steals.
Even after all this, Ludden had plenty left for Friday’s “Holy War” with Christian Brothers Academy, bashing the Brothers from start to finish in a 71-25 victory.
Streiff nearly equaled CBA by herself with 24 points, Townes hitting on four 3-pointer as she got a career-best 19 points. Gaughan had eight points as Reynolds and Grace Olivia earned seven points apiece.
