AVERILL PARK — Saranac slowed down Voorheesville, but couldn’t get into a rhythm to grab the lead as the Blackbirds won 43-31 in a NYSPHSAA girls Class B subregional, Wednesday.
“I would like to start by saying how tremendously proud I was of the team’s effort in this game,” Spartan head coach Tim Newell said. “Our girls came out and executed the defensive game plan to perfection. We were facing a Voorheesville team that had averaged scoring 12 to 15 three pointers in each of their previous two wins.
“The girls limited them to only 3 three point baskets. Our mind set was to force them to take shots inside the arc.”
And that’s what Saranac did and kept things interesting as it was only a three point lead going into the half.
It was just the Spartans couldn’t get into an offensive rhythm as most players stayed cold throughout the game, while playing staunch defensively.
“We went to a box and one defense with Lily Brown covering their top scorer, Mia Carmody,” Newell said. “We wanted to force their center Hannah Woodworth to score on the interior.
“Carmody led them scoring 22 points, but it was Woodworth scoring 8 points in the second half that got them the cushion they needed to pull out the win.”
Until then, Saranac gutted out a game that kept things close. Answering any run by Voorheesvile with a run of their own.
It wasn’t until the fourth that the lead got out of reach.
“Our two top scorers Brenna Ducatte and Layla Pellerin played extremely well defensively,” Newell said. “Their communication in our box and one defense was huge. Unfortunately, they both just never got into a good flow offensively.
“Layla finished with 8 points and Brenna had 5 points. We were led by Maddie Gagnier with 13 points.”
With the game over, and Saranac’s season complete, the Spartans finish with a record of 17-4, and 10-2 in the CVAC, finishing second in Division 1 to Peru.
“After the game it’s always hard when the reality sets in to the seniors that their career is finally over,” Newell said. “Our seniors have nothing to hang their heads about. They are part of a four-year run of sectional titles.
“They have raised the bar for our future players and have shown them how much commitment and hard work goes into becoming a sectional champion. I’m very proud to have coached such a nice group of seniors this year and I wish them the very best.”
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Voorheesville 43, Saranac 31
Saranac (31)
Pellerin 3-1-8, Ubl 0-0-0. Owen 0-0-0, Gagnier 4-3-13, Brown 2-0-5, Ducatte 2-1-5. TOTALS: 11-5-31
Voorheesville (43)
Tabakian A 1-0-3, Voland 0-0-0, Burns 0-0-0, Tabakian M 0-1-1, Woodworth 5-0-10, Carmody 6-9-22, Orietas 2-2-7. TOTALS: 14-12-43
Halftime- Voorheesville, 21-18
3 point goals- Voorheesville (3): Tabakian A, Carmody, Orietas; Saranac (4): Pellerin, Gagnier 2, Brown