Morrison helps power Blue Devils into finale
POTSDAM — Ogdensburg Free Academy coach Mark Henry wanted major contributions throughout his lineup as his Blue Devils squared off against undefeated Brushton-Moira in Tuesday's semifinals of the Section 10 girls basketball overall tournament.
All-star forward Elissa St. Germain was sidelined with a sprained knee and OFA needed help.
Henry didn't have to look far as senior guard Megan Morrison, who was later honored as a finalist for the Jan Reetz Award as Section 10's Outstanding Player, turned in one of her best shooting performances to lead the Blue Devils to a 57-45 victory.
Morrison scored 25 points as OFA methodically built a 40-25 lead after three quarters and held off Brushton-Moira's fourth quarter rally.
Sophomore forward Mackenzie Cole scored 10 points and grabbed a career-high 14 points, and eighth grader Meg Dodge scored 10 points and passed out four assists in her first varsity start for OFA (14-7).
The Blue Devils' win handed the NAC East champion Panthers their first loss after 20 straight wins and moved OFA into the overall championship game against Class A Champion Malone (18-1). The Huskies moved into Friday's 6 p.m. title game at SUNY Potsdam by downing Class D champion Harrisville 61-45.
"We pushed very hard to build the big lead, and with Elissa St. Germain out, and I think we got a little tired in the fourth quarter," Henry said. "Being short a key player is tough.
"(But) Megan Morrison had one of her best games of the season and we shot the ball well as a team. Mackenzie Cole really rebounded well, and Meg Dodge giving us 10 points was a key effort."
Morrison, who converted 9-of-13 attempts, closed out the first quarter by hitting a 3-pointer, a 12-foot jumper as the Devils scooted out to a 12-5 lead and then widened it to 21-5 in the second quarter. Dodge and Cole both converted three-point plays in the third quarter where the Devils maxed their lead.
Brushton-Moira's Krista Trimm buried back-to-back threes to accelerate the Panthers' fourth quarter rally, generated by a swarming fullcourt press.
Jessica Jaques converted two spinning moves in the lane to cut the deficit to 49-43 but the Devils used free throws by Morrison and Lindsay Drummond, and two defensive stops to secure the victory.
Drummond finished with seven points and five rebounds for the Devils, and Chelsea Martin grabbed six rebounds and passed out five assists.
Chenice Russell, who shared the Reetz Award with Malone's Kelsey Johnson, led the Panthers with 11 points, seven rebounds and three steals.
"If we play a whole game with the intensity we showed in the last 12 minutes tonight, we will be fine in the states," Panthers coach Sam Dumont said. "In one way it was good for us to face a team like OFA and fall behind. Because it shows we can come from behind against a good team."
MALONE 65, HARRISVILLE 41
The Huskies used a 17-5 second quarter to take command of the Pirates (16-4) as Brittany Marshall and Kelsey Johnson combined for 13 of the 17 points.
"Sitting through the awards ceremony we came out a little sluggish. But we picked things up in the second quarter," said Malone coach Shelly Skelly. "Against OFA we can't do that. We've got to come out much stronger. It's tough playing a team three times."
Johnson delivered 24 points, nine rebounds, two assists and two steals. Marshall delivered 16 points, seven boards, seven assists and three steals, and Sara Lamica added nine points. Katie Tatro added six rebounds and Amanda Gadway passed out three assists.
Harrisville's Patty Coloney scored 14 points in the third quarter to finish with 23 points.
BOYS SWIMMING
LABARR SHINES FOR WATERTOWN
George LaBarr clocked a time of 49.34 seconds to finish 23rd overall and 19th among public school competitors in the 100-yard freestyle final of the state swimming meet Saturday at Erie Community College in Buffalo.
The Watertown High School sophomore is the first male swimmer from his school to compete at states in 15 years.
LaBarr missed making the finals by one placing during Friday's semifinals but was moved up to the 24th seed after another swimmer forfeited his berth in the final.
LaBarr's time of 49.06 in the preliminaries also qualified him for YMCA Nationals, which will be held in Fort Lauderdale in April.
Tyler Evans of Holland Patent recorded a time of 22.24 seconds to finish 19th in the 50 free final.
CHEERLEADING
WARRIORS EARN STATE HONORS
The Indian River cheerleading squad captured its first state title with a first-place performance in the Class A/AA small varsity division at the NYS championships Saturday at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.
South Jefferson took second place in Class A/B non-tumbling varsity, and Copenhagen captured third in Class D varsity.
The NNY All-Starz, which includes competitors from several local high school teams, also placed well in several divisions.
