Hammond reaches semifinals for fourth time
PLATTSBURGH — It took Broadalbin-Perth overtime to down Ogdensburg Free Academy, while Hammond never trailed against Westport in state basketball playoff games Saturday at SUNY Plattsburgh.
The Blue Devils were trying to return to the Class B boys final four for the fourth consecutive year, but failed in overtime, losing to the Patriots 46-44 on a tip-in shot at the buzzer by Justin Boyles.
Hammond is still alive in its bid to join Tuxedo and Pine Valley as the only Class D girls teams to three-peat as state champions. The Red Devils squashed the Eagles, 51-36.
HAMMOND 51, WESTPORT 36
Hammond's press just might produce a third straight state title. It's already earned the Red Devils their fourth consecutive state final four appearance.
No one could consistently break it during the regular season, and now in the state playoffs, it's leading to big runs and countless turnovers.
Germantown fell victim in the first round. Then Hammond employed the full-court zone press against Section 7's Westport (17-5).
The Eagles didn't have an answer.
"I think most of the time people don't expect it," said Hammond's Aubrie Dunn. "It's such a hard, pressuring defense from us, so they struggled with it most of the game."
Westport especially struggled in the third quarter, scoring only six points.
"We don't play a lot of teams of this caliber," Westport coach Hooky McKinley said. "They have a nice press, and they've had it for years. That's how they've won their championships."
Cassie Cunningham generated 10 of Hammond's 15 points in the third quarter as the Red Devils built a 36-23 lead. She finished with 11 points for the Red Devils.
"That's what an MVP does for you," said Hammond coach Shawn Dack of Cunningham. "All the starting five, and their experience in these games I think played through immensely."
Said Cunningham, "I just didn't play that well in the first half."
Hammond was settling for outside jumpers instead of driving into the paint during the first quarter, resulting in a 9-8 lead.
Then Dack made a change.
"We wanted to make sure we attacked the basket and put pressure on them defensively," he said. "That's what we talked about."
Dunn scored five quick points to give Hammond a 13-6 edge early in the second quarter.
"I think, on a court like this that we don't know, the baskets are a little bouncy, and it's hard for our outside shooters to make the shot," she said. "When we get it inside, even if we miss the layups, we hope to get them in foul trouble and get them off the court."
Dunn did one better — she made the shots, finishing with a game-high 15 points, nine in the first half for the Red Devils (22-4).
Rebecca White had 11 points to lead Westport (17-5).
Hammond will play Section 9's Coleman Catholic in the state semifinal at 10:45 a.m., Saturday at Hudson Valley CC.
BOYS BASKETBALL
BROADALBIN-PERTH 46, OFA 44 (OT)
It took 25 minutes before Broadalbin-Perth's height advantage affected OFA.
The Blue Devils led 35-25 only a minute into the fourth quarter. Then 6-foot, 6-inch Justin Boyles and 6-3 Rob Norgard took over.
The Patriots switched an offense that primarily centered on straight post-up play to a motion set with off-ball screens to free Norgard and Boyles. The result was a devastating 14-0 run.
"They put a little pressure on us, and we didn't handle it very well at first," said OFA coach Bill Merna. "It definitely let them back in the game."
Boyles sparked the run with the first four points and the final two that gave B-P a 37-35 lead, its first since 14-13 in the second quarter.
"Our regular motion didn't work tonight," Patriots coach Tucker Gifford said. "We had to get more movement because we had a hard time getting them open. We just started running a bunch of screens in the offense."
Boyles generated 10 second-half points, most in the fourth quarter and finished with a game-high 18 points. Norgard added 12 points for B-P.
OFA fought back from down 39-35 to tie it when Brendan Merna sank a pair of free throws with 18.9 seconds to play. Gene Bouyer got a decent look at a winning shot from 25 feet away at the buzzer, but the shot rattled out, sending the game to overtime.
In the extra frame, Merna fouled out with 3:54 to play, leaving Bouyer as the only consistent offensive threat for OFA. He embraced the role, knocking down two free throws with 3:08 remaining to give OFA a 41-39 lead. Bouyer finished with 17 points for OFA (19-8 overall).
The Patriots continued to pound it inside. Norgard tied the game with 2:03 on the clock. Hathaway gave the Patriots the lead again when he made 1-of-2 from the line on their next possession.
OFA answered right back with Chad Montana, who made a layup with 1:15 remaining and a 43-42 OFA lead. Boyles responded with a basket at 40.8 to get the lead back.
Jared Morrow had a chance to put OFA in front at the line with 19.9 remaining. He only made one free throw to tie the score at 44. B-P ran the ball over half court and called timeout at 15.6. Gifford wanted either Boyles or Norgard to take the final shot. Instead, it was Hathaway.
Bouyer partially deflected the shot, which grazed off the rim. Boyles broke to the basket and tipped the ball in as the final horn sounded for the win.
"It came off the board and went right to me," Boyles said. "We drew up a play for me to get the ball and score, but it didn't happen. I heard the buzzer after it went in."
B-P (18-7) next plays Bishop-Kennedy in the semifinal Friday in Glens Falls.
CHATEAUGAY 75, WESTPORT 71 (OT)
Brad Spinner scored 20 points as the Bulldogs advanced to their third consecutive state Class D semifinal after downing the Eagles in overtime at SUNY Potsdam.
Alex Stalter generated 18 points and Drew Boyea managed 15 for Chateaugay (22-4). The Bulldogs will play South Kortright at 11:45 a.m., Friday at Glens Falls.
Bo McKinley supplied 30 points for Westport (19-2).
MAPLE HILL 82,
NORWOOD-NORFOLK 57
Norwood-Norfolk's first trip to the state tournament in 12 years was brief, losing to Maple Hill handily in the state Class C regional final at Hudson Valley CC.
Trent Tibbits netted 21 points to lead all players for Maple Hill (26-1). Pat Durant supplied 20 points for the Flyers (11-14).
