Sackets Harbor beats Madison

SACKETS HARBOR — According to seniors Olivia Kolb and Taylor Fields, Sackets Harbor girls basketball coach Gregg Townsend could write a book about Oriskany.

After disposing of Madison in the first round of the Section 3 Class D playoffs on Wednesday night at Sackets Harbor, Townsend will have plenty to read over the next two days.

Kolb scored a game-high 22 points and provided 12 steals and four assists as the No. 7 Patriots cruised to a 50-31 victory over the No. 10 Devils.

Sackets Harbor (12-7) will play a quarterfinal game at second-seeded Oriskany on Friday at 6 p.m.

“We expect her to step up and lead us in a game like this,” Townsend said of Kolb. “We’re going to need her, from here on out, to do the same thing.”

The Patriots, who never trailed, used a full-court press throughout and didn’t allow a young Madison team to get into any type of rhythm offensively.

“I think our press has helped us win a lot of games,” said Kolb, who notched her fourth 20-point game of the season. “It’s a strong point for us.”

The Patriots also produced their share of turnovers, especially early in the game.

“I think we played a sloppy game,” Townsend said. “It definitely wasn’t our best effort of the year. All in all, we’ll take the win.”

Fields finished with 11 points, four rebounds and two blocks. She scored Sackets Harbor’s first five points and grabbed three offensive boards in the opening minutes to negate the team’s sluggish start.

Freshman Samantha Menapace scored six points on a pair of 3-point field goals.

Fields said that, while Oriskany has been on the team’s radar, they did not overlook Madison.

“We know that we can’t take anything lightly right now,” Fields said. “It’s sectionals, you never know what’s going to come with it.”

Sophomore Megan Rockhill led Madison (8-11) with 10 points and Shana Biedermann added nine. The Devils do not have a senior on the roster.

“We’re a very young team,” Hamilton coach Elaine Hogan said. “We have a lot of young girls that, unfortunately, under pressure they were forced into a lot of turnovers.”

Townsend said that Sackets Harbor’s next opponent, Oriskany (14-4), has good size and a strong press. They have a go-to scorer in junior Christina Graziadei, who averages 14 points and has reached double figures in all but two games this season.

“Strong team,” Townsend said. “We’ll have our work cut out for us for sure.”

Kolb, a fifth-year senior, was on a sectional title team in each of her first two varsity seasons. The Patriots have made one finals appearance since, an overtime loss to Hamilton last year.

“Knowing that feeling (of winning) makes you want it more,” Kolb said. “Especially since this is our last chance to do it.”

“We’re in it to win it right now. We’re really looking forward to try and get ourselves to the dome,” said Fields, referring to the Carrier Dome in Syracuse which will host the sectional finals.