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2-21-2007

CV-S girls relish historic win in T-V Championship Game, 46-35

By ERIC AHLQVIST

Editor

ONEONTA - The Cherry Valley- Springfield girls basketball team left no doubt on Saturday. The Patriots led the Tri-Valley Championship Game against defending champion Morris from start to finish, and the 46-35 victory was the program's first T-V title since the schools merged in 1989. "It was just a wonderful experience for our girls," said CV-S girls basketball coach Amy Garretson. "We were focused and just didn't let anything stop us."

With her team holding a onepoint halftime lead, sophomore point guard Morgan VanAlstine took over in the second half, starting with a three-point shot to start the half that propelled CV-S to a 13-4 third-quarter advantage. She finished with 16 points, including three three-point shots and 18 rebounds. "I could tell before we got on the bus to come here that Morgan was ready to play," Garretson said. "She was confident and just had a look in here eye. She eats, drinks and sleeps basketball. If she's not playing it, she's watching games on television."

With the win, the Patriots improved to 17-2 overall, and they will host a Section Four Class D quarterfinal game Saturday at 7 p.m. against either Gilboa or Hunter- Tannersville.

CV-S beat Gilboa during the regular season. CV-S is the third seed behind South Kortright and top seed Davenport.

"I think winning the Tri-Valley has them inspired to keep going," Garretson said. "They don't want to let go of this feeling." On Saturday, reserve guard Fiona Doherty scored seven of her eight points in the first half, including a three-point shot, and junior Courtney VanBrink contributed 15 points and 12 rebounds while junior center Laura Kroon added 10 rebounds.

"I told her she was our secret weapon in the first half," Garretson said of Doherty.

Garretson added that switching to a 3-2 zone defense in the second half put pressure on Morris' outside shooters, and the rebounding of VanAlstine, VanBrink and Kroon was a big difference in the game. Laurens beats Milford for boys title The Laurens boys basketball team dug deep to pull out a 46-35 Tri-Valley Championship Game win over Milford Saturday at Oneonta State.

Missing three starters for disciplinary reasons, junior Ryan Carr and senior Gregg Conklin stepped up to combine for 25 points, and junior center Aaron Laing was dominating with 11 points, 16 rebounds and eight blocked shots. "We had some good looks, but we just didn't shoot the ball well," said Milford head coach Frank Spurchise. "Give credit to Laurens, their players stepped up and their situation can be a strong motivating factor."

The Leopards, 18-1, limited Milford to five first-quarter points, and built an 18-5 lead before the Wildcats scored the final six points of the half to cut the lead to seven, 18- 11.

Milford continued its comeback in the second half, cutting the lead to 24-20 when Drew Jones hit a three-point shot from the right corner. But junior varsity call-up Jordan Davis scored after an offensive rebound, and Ryan Carr hit a threepoint shot and pair of free throws to push the lead back to 11, and Milford never got any closer the rest of the way. "We stopped taking the ball to the basket, and only got to the free throw line one time," Spurchise said.

The Wildcats diodn't find their shooting touch in sectionals either, losing a 51-39 decision at Worcester Tuesday to end the season with five consecutive losses. Scott Seeley was the only Wildcat player in double figures with 10 points, while Drew Jones added eight and Brian Edelstein seven. Worcester plays second seed Laurens at Morris Friday night at 7 p.m.