GAME OF THE WEEK: ICC vs. MAPLE HILL
Greg Dedrick
ccSCOOP Sports
12-21-09 - 2:45 a.m. - The Ichabod Crane girls' basketball team has been out of the Patroon Conference for five years now, but when last we saw the Riders they had racked up a 90+ game winning streak in the league. Since ICC’s departure from the league Maple Hill has won three straight league titles and came into Wednesday’s contest in Valatie boasting their own 55 game Patroon Conference win streak. The battle of these two unbeaten teams set up perhaps the biggest showdown in Patroon Conference history. |
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Both teams came out of the gate looking nervous in this highly anticipated matchup. Maple Hill looked to run their offense through star junior center Katie Roth, who was being watched in this game by a number of coaches including some Division I schools. The Riders shook off the rust, thanks to Alyssa Stall who scored three hoops from the field and added a three for 9 points—her total for the game. After a single quarter, the Riders held a slim 9-7 advantage.
Both teams looked sharper and went up and down the court more in the second stanza, but it was Maple Hill who was able to get into the flow more, putting up an impressive 15 points to the Riders 10. Heading into the half, the two teams were separated by a mere 3 points.
Coming out of the half, fouls and defense slowed the offenses as the two teams combined for just 15 points in the 8 minutes. As the two teams moved toward the final quarter, the Wildcats had expanded their lead to 4 points. Once in the fourth, in front of a huge home fan contingent, the Riders came storming back. With Ichabod getting closer and closer, it was a driving layup by Haley Ooms that tied the game at 36. On the ensuing inbounds, Shana Barry stole the ball and was fouled, knocking down both free throws with a minute and a half left.
Roth got fouled for Maple Hill and made 1 of 2 free throws, but after a Rider rebound on the second shot, Jessica Dailey stole it for the Wildcats and was fouled, also making one of two to tie the game at 38.
The Riders missed their next offensive chance, and Roth snatched another of her 16 rebounds and drew a foul, converting both free throws. Once back on offense, ICC missed another shot, but Sarah Wheeler snatched the rebound and drew a foul before calmly sinking both shots to knot the score again.
Maple Hill drew another foul but missed both free throws, giving the Riders the ball with 39 seconds left, but the Wildcats were able to get a steal, and Dailey went to the line again, this time making both for a slim 2-point Maple Hill lead.
ICC had one more quality chance but missed, and Roth collected the rebound, drew a foul, and made both of her free throws to all but seal the deal. Sarah Wheeler had a driving chance to draw her team within 2 in the waning seconds but rolled her ankle, an injury that caused her to miss another game later in the week. The ball was awarded to ICC with less than a second remaining, but it was not enough time to make up the 44-40 deficit.
Wheeler led the Riders with 11 points, including 7 of 8 from the free-throw line. Alyssa Stall finished with 9, all in the first quarter, while Shana Barry added 8, including a pair of shots from beyond the arc. Haley Ooms and Becca Smith each added 4, while Hannah Smith and Morgan Van Alstyne each chipped in with 2.
