Jugglers top list of Section III girls' basketball tournament selections
SYRACUSE, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) — Some may say it's tough at the top, but don't tell the Notre Dame girls' basketball team that.
The defending New York State champions earned the top seed in the Section III Class A tournament, which — along with the other five classes — were announced on Thursday, December 20. They were one of two local teams to earn top seeds, and one of 22 local teams to make the tournament.
The Jugglers were again led this season by the Trinkaus sisters — Erin and Ella. Ella led the team with just over 25 points per game, while Erin came in at just over 11 points. That helped the Jugglers go undefeated in Section III play, with their only losses coming to Section II's Greenwich and Shaker — both of whom were ranked top ten in the state in their class — and Section V's Aquinas Institute, who is ranked fifth in Class AA.
The Jugglers — ranked fifth in Class A — will have over a week off while they await the winner of eighth-seeded Oneida and ninth-ranked Westhill. That game is scheduled for Saturday, February 22 at 4 pm in Oneida.
In Class AAA, Proctor has opted out of the tournament and will finish the season at 4-9. That leaves one local team who will be moving on — fourth-seeded Rome Free Academy. The Black Knights had three players who scored almost ten points a game or more this season, and junior Haylee Bostwick led them all, scoring 15 points a game. RFA has only lost five games this season — two of those were to Notre Dame, while another two were to teams out of the section.
The Black Knights will host fifth-seeded Bishop Ludden on Thursday, February 27. The winner of that game will travel to Liverpool to face the top-seeded Warriors on Wednesday, March 5. The Warriors' only loss in Section III this season came over the weekend, losing 49-44 to Cicero-North Syracuse.
There is only one local representative in the Class A Tournament as well. Whitesboro squeaked into the bracket at 2-15, thanks to winless Watertown and 3-17 Auburn opting out. Whitesboro broke a 14-game losing streak on February 11 with a 60-51 win over Holland Patent. They are led by juniors Maddy Montana and A'Nya Jackson, both of whom are scoring over 15 points per game — no other player is scoring more than three.
Whitesboro will be on the road to West Genesee on Wednesday, February 26 to take on the top-seeded Wildcats. Despite a six-game losing streak, the Wildcats were able to win two out of their last three to sneak into the top seed over 14-6 Nottingham.
While seven local teams made the Class B Tournament, the Oriskany Skyhawks breezed to the top, claiming the fourth seed. The Skyhawks' only loss this season came to Class C West Canada Valley by five points on December 16th. Since then, Oriskany has been on a tear, not allowing more than 42 points during their 15-game winning streak while scoring no less than 44 and allowing less than 20 in three games.
The Skyhawks are led by senior guard Madalynne Enos, who is putting up 15 points and four assists a game. Meanwhile, sophomore guard Jackie Downs has averaged a double-double — 13 points and 10 rebounds — a game. They will be at home for the first round of the Class B tournament, where they will host the 13th-seeded Jordan-Elbridge Eagles. Tip-off for that game is scheduled for Monday, February 24 at 6 pm.
The top of the Class C bracket is loaded with local talent, but topping them all is top-seeded, three-loss Hamilton. The Emerald Knights only loss in the section this season came to Class AAA's Bishop Ludden. In between, Hamilton has had winning streaks of five and 11 this season, with their biggest win being a 70-point victory over Morrisville-Eaton on February 11. That allowed them to have the second-best point differential in the section, outscoring their opponents by an average of almost 26 points.
Five different Emerald Knights scored over 100 points this season, with junior Logan Langel leading the way. Langel led the team in points, assists and steals this season, while senior Reagan Hope led the team in rebounds in her sixth season on the team.
With the first seed, Hamilton will have a few days off, where they will await the winner of 16th-seeded Sauquoit Valley and 17th-seeded Poland. That game is set for Friday, February 21 at 6 pm at Sauquoit Valley. The winner of that game will play on Monday, February 24 at 6 pm at Hamilton.
Class D has no local representatives. The only local team — 3-12 Madison — opted out of the tournament. The Class D Tournament will only have seven teams playing, beginning on Wednesday, February 26 with three games.
The full schedule for the Section III Girls' Basketball tournament is below (local games in bold italics):
Class AAA
Thursday, February 27
(5) Bishop Ludden @ , 6 pm– Winner will face (1) Liverpool on Wednesday, March 5(6) Fayetteville-Manlius @ (3) Baldwinsville, 5 pm– Winner will face (2) Cicero-North Syracuse on Wednesday, March 5
Final: Sunday, March 9 at 5 pm at SRC Arena at Onondaga Community College
Class AA
Tuesday, February 25
(7) Fulton @ (2) Nottingham, 5 pm
Wednesday, February 26
@ (1) West Genesee, 5 pm(5) East Syracuse Minoa @ (4) Central Square, 6 pm(6) Oswego @ (3) Henninger, 6 pm
Semifinals: Tuesday, March 4 at Phoenix High SchoolFinals: Sunday, March 9 at 1 pm at SRC Arena at Onondaga Community College
Class A
Friday, February 21
(13) Homer @ (4) Syracuse CBA, 5:30 pm(12) Chittenango @ (5) Indian River, 5 pm
Saturday, February 22
(9) Westhill @ , 4 pm– Winner faces Thursday, February 27, 6:30 PM(10) South Jefferson @ 7 pm– Winner faces (2) Jamesville-DeWitt, Wednesday, February 26, 6 pm(14) Carthage @ 5:30 pm(11) Mexico @ 5 pm
Semifinals: Monday, March 3 at Central Square High SchoolFinals: Friday, March 7 at 5 pm at SRC Arena at Onondaga Community College
Class B
Friday, February 21
@ (17) Syracuse Academy of Science, 6 pm– Winner will face (1) Bishop Grimes, Monday, February 24, 6 pm @ (15) Hannibal, 1 pm– Winner will face (2) Marcellus, Monday, February 24, 5 pm(14) Altmar-Parish-Williamstown @ (3) General Brown, 6 pm
Saturday, February 22
, 5:30 pm(12) Lowville @ 1 pm@ (7) Cazenovia, 4 pm(11) Skaneateles @ (6) Phoenix, noon
Monday, February 24
(13) Jordan-Elbridge @ 6 pm
Semifinals: Monday, March 3 at Sandy Creek High SchoolFinals: Sunday, March 9 at 11 am at SRC Arena at Onondaga Community College
Class C
Friday, February 21
– Winner will face (1) Hamilton, Monday, February 24, 6 pm(18) Fabius-Pompey @ (15) Beaver River, 5 pm– Winner will face , Monday, February 24, 6 pm@ (14) Onondaga, 7:30 pm– Winner will face Monday, February 24, 7 pm
Saturday, February 22
(9) Cato-Meridian , 5 pm(13) Alexandria @ (4) Weedsport, 6 pm(12) LaFayette @ (5) Tully, 2 pm(10) Thousand Islands @ (7) Sandy Creek, 2 pm
Monday, February 24
(11) Jordan-Elbridge @ 6 pm
Semifinals: Tuesday, March 4 at SUNY MorrisvilleFinals: Sunday, March 9 at 7 pm at SRC Arena at Onondaga Community College
Class D
Wednesday, February 26
(5) Lyme @ (4) Copenhagen– Winner will face (1) LaFargeville, Monday March 3 — Time TBA(7) Stockbridge Valley @ (2) Watertown IHC, 6 pm(6) McGraw @ (3) Sackets Harbor, 6 pm
Semifinals: Monday, March 3 at Case Middle School, WatertownFinals: Sunday, March 9 at 3 pm at SRC Arena at Onondaga Community College
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