Horseheads dominated from the start Sunday, March 15 while securing the program’s first berth to a New York State Public High School Athletic Association girls basketball final four since 2002.
The final score was 57-30 over Section 9 champion Cornwall in a Class AA regional final at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton.
The victory was the 400th for Andy Scott, the Blue Raiders’ head coach since the 1999-2000 season.
Also on Sunday at the arena, the short-handed Corning girls lost their Class AAA regional final to Section 11’s William Floyd, 61-30.
Class AA: Horseheads 57, Cornwall 30
The Blue Raiders led 14-5 through one quarter and 30-15 at halftime in securing their first regional title since the 2002 team reached the Class A state championship game.
“With this group it’s really special because they’re 11 kids who just give their heart and soul every single day,” Scott said. “I’ve never heard a complaint. They dig in every day and they are positive, energetic. It’s just a coach’s dream.”
Scott said Horseheads was confident it could exploit some things against Cornwall based on film study. The players executed.
“I just thought they came out, got that early lead and didn’t look back,” he said. “I think they trust in our scouts and they did exactly what we wanted them to. Credit is all to them.”
Freshman point guard Samantha Bonnell led the way with 16 points, 4 assists and 2 steals. Maggie Tremaine added 15 points, and Maddie Ribble scored 8 points to go with 4 assists.
Tessa Furst paced Cornwall (19-3) with 13 points, followed by Ana Sonko with 12.
“First time in 24 years that our program has won regionals and it’s just an amazing experience here,” Ribble said. “This team deserves it more than anybody else.”
Sadie Gustin had a steal early, a play Ribble said set the tone defensively against Cornwall’s talented inside players. Giana Hughey, who had 6 steals and 8 rebounds, was also a force for Horseheads.
Scott described his team’s defensive guard pressure as “insane,” adding Cornwall had a hard time getting the ball inside to its post players.
“Having the chance to go to the final four really put us in the mindset to come out hard and strong,” Bonnell said.
Horseheads had a brief scare late in the first quarter when Bonnell clutched her knee after a collision with a Cornwall player. Bonnell returned to open the second quarter.
“At the end of the day she’s the toughest kid in the world even though she’s only about 5-3 and weighs about 85 pounds,” Scott said. “She’s not missing this. She would play with two broken legs.”
Based on the NYSPHSAA record book, only 33 girls basketball coaches in New York history had 400 wins or more coming into this season.
Scott mentioned numerous families that have been part of his 400. That includes the mother-daughter tandem of Hollie (Cook) Hughey and Giana Hughey. Cook starred for Horseheads’ back-to-back final four teams in 2001 and 2002.
“We’ve had a lot of great families and kids,” Scott said. “They’re the reason why there’s 400 wins. But this group right here to get to 18 this year, that is what’s really important. I’m really proud of them.”
Ribble praised Scott as a great coach who deserves the milestone, adding, “He’s got us to where we are today.”
Up next: Horseheads (18-3) will play Section 6’s North Tonawanda in a semifinal at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, March 21 at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy. Winner plays either Bethlehem or Nyack in the final at 11:45 a.m. March 22 at the same site.
“It’s great to be here. Can’t wait to go to the final four and keep playing,” Bonnell said.
Class AAA: Cornwall 61, Corning 30
Corning entered Sunday’s contest facing a tall task after all-state forward Charlise Starns hurt her ankle during practice Friday. That followed a concussion for her sister and fellow starter, Evelyn Starns, late in Corning’s win over Elmira in the Section 4 final. Neither sister was available Sunday.
Charlise scored 33 points, including the 1,000th of her career, in the 58-48 win in the sectional final.
Deanna Shaddock paced Corning on Sunday with 15 points.
“I’m proud of them,” Corning head coach Alexis Wood said of her team. “I feel like they definitely stepped up when they needed to. I think (William Floyd) had a couple girls who could shoot and they scored.”
Milania Farrow scored 30 points for William Floyd (19-5) and hit six of the team’s 11 3-pointers.
“We just told them to go out and do what you do,” Wood said. “We told Lucy (Ferratella) and Grace (Kio) to watch as much film of Evie and Char as you could, and learn from them and know where you need to be.”
Corning finished with an 8-11 record in Wood’s first season as coach.
This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Horseheads girls earn first trip to NYSPHSAA final four since 2002
Reporting by Andrew Legare, Elmira Star-Gazette / Elmira Star-Gazette
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