LADY CLIPPERS WIN SECTION II TITLE

Greg Dedrick
ccSCOOP Sports Editor

03-09-09 -The Germantown Lady Clippers continued their remarkable undefeated run on Saturday at Hudson Valley Community College as the top seed in Class D and captured the Section II title with a 50-45 win over third-seeded Argyle. The win pushes Germantown’s record to 23-0 for the season and gives the Clippers their first sectional title in more than 20 years.

The Clippers started the game looking like one of the top teams in the state. Their offense was clicking, and their defense was forcing Argyle into tough shots. Caitlin Briggs started strong, scoring 6 first-quarter points as Germantown jumped out to a 7-point lead after the first eight minutes, but the Clippers quickly fell on hard times in the cavernous gym at Hudson Valley. Although they were able to score 10 points in the second stanza, they struggled to control the ball and stop the high-scoring Scotties’ attack. Argyle finished the half on a 12-3 run, which put them up by 3 heading into the half.

Coming out of the half, it looked like the reigning Central Hudson Valley League champions might be out of their league as Argyle pushed their lead to 10 and looked as though they might cruise to a title, but the Clippers would not go down quietly. Germantown’s do-it-all junior forward Taylor Race converted a hoop and free throw to slice the lead to 7.

In the final quarter, the Clippers proved once and for all they were all they were built up to be. Speedy, attacking point guard Suzy Wright helped to push Germantown back into the game as the Clippers kept up their run. With just under three minutes to go, Victoria Fuchs converted one of the two buckets she would score in the game: a lay-up that knotted the game up at 44. With right around 2 minutes left in the championship contest, Kim Kreig knocked down one of two free throws to give the Clippers the lead. Briggs, who started the game strong for Germantown and finished strong, converted four of four from the free-throw line down the stretch to seal the deal.

The Clippers finished the game on an 18-3 run, including a fourth-quarter 15-3 score. This Section II title, the first since 1998, sends Germantown into regional play. On Wednesday they will make the long trek to SUNY Potsdam where they will play the defending state champion Hammond.

Leading the way for the Clippers as she has so many times this year was Race, who finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists. Briggs finished with 16 points and 9 boards, just one rebound short of another double-double. Wright finished with 8 points before fouling out late in the contest, while Fuchs finished up with 4, including the crucial game-tying hoop. Rounding out the scoring with 2 points a piece for Germantown were Melissa Fuchs and Kreig.

Race was named the Class D Tournament Most Valuable Player, while Briggs was named to the First Team All-Tournament Team for helping lead their team to the victory.