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Hornets Repeat as Section Champions

Posted On: Sunday, March 02, 2014
By: Sherm McElwain

Harpursville’s girls gained repeat entry into Class C state basketball playoffs Saturday by dealing Lansing a 44-33 loss in an oddly low-scoring Section 4 title game at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena.

Section IV Champs

Miranda Drummond’s game-high 24 points included seven of the Hornets’ 11 in the final quarter despite some shaky free throw shooting, and teammate Tatiana Sosnowsky added 13.

Next comes a quarterfinal matchup of 22-0 squads when Harpursville lines up against Section 3 champion Little Falls on March 8 at Onondaga Community College.

Lansing closed its season with an 18-3 record, led by a brilliant 21-point effort by guard Shea McCartney — but no teammate added more than four points.

The Bobcats did not achieve a two-digit scoreboard reading until 3:37 remained in the first half, and their 20th point was logged five minutes into the third period.

Nevertheless, it was a mere 34-28 Harpursville advantage a minute into the final quarter when Lansing’s Kala Mattoon made a steal high on the perimeter and handled the rest of the way for a goal.

Harpursville then missed two free throws, spent a timeout and — out of that stoppage — turned over the ball on a shot-clock violation. The next points came from Drummond, who fluked her way into possession of a free ball and converted inside to make it 36-28 with five minutes remaining.

Lansing drew within five when McCartney pulled up off the dribble and craftily banked home a mid-range shot, drew contact and converted from the line with 4:40 remaining. Twin sister Maura tacked on a goal in transition and the Bobcats were within 36-33 with 4:02 remaining.

Do note, however, Lansing’s point total at that juncture, because it wouldn’t budge until the final horn signaled conclusion of their season.

Sosnowsky put the third-seeded Hornets on top by 38-33 with a pair of nothing-but-nylon free throws, and a mid-ranger from the baseline by Holly Henry — off Sosnowsky’s set-up — stretched it to 40-33 with 2:32 to play.

“That was huge,” Hornets coach Kurt Ehrensbeck said of Henry’s lone goal of the afternoon. “She’s just a special kid, she has no fear. I tell kids where their zones are, that was in her zone so she shoots it.

“It’s funny what a difference one basket can make, and she’s had a bunch of those for us.”

The remainder of scoring belonged to Drummond on 4-for-6 free throw shooting that left her 5-for-10 in the quarter and 14-for-21 all told. She’d entered the game averaging 37.7 per Section 4 tournament game, and despite the drop-off was nonetheless the biggest difference in this one.

“We just didn’t do a very good job with her, she was on the line a lot,” Bobcats coach Stu Dean said. “Give her credit, she’s a great player.”

“Miranda came to the forefront (late), got the ball, was pretty composed,” Ehrensbeck said. “I knew when she had the ball in her hands that they weren’t going to take it from her.”

Harpursville, a state finalist last winter with Drummond an all-tournament selection, led by 10-4 after the first quarter and by 18-8 when Drummond ducked down the lane and smoothly finished with left-handed, sans backboard assistance, midway into the second.

But with Shea McCartney closing a nine-point quarter, the Bobcats were within 20-15 at halftime. McCartney’s goals that quarter came on three penetrations to the rim and a pull-up jump shot from the wing in transition. Lansing’s other bucket that quarter was on a reverse layup by Maura McCartney.

Shea, however, was assessed a third foul late in the first half and a fourth 27 seconds into the fourth quarter.

“We had (first-half) scoring chances that we just didn’t convert on,” Dean said. “I just felt like if we were making baskets we’d have been up at the half.

“First half we missed opportunities offensively, and in the second half we just had some bad possessions offensively where we either (a) didn’t get a shot or (b) had the wrong people taking shots.”

Ehrensbeck said: “We told the girls, the Arena’s a tough place to shoot it if you’ve never been there. We got fortunate that they were missing some outside shots.”

 

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