by Steve Bradley
The number one seeded HFCS girls team (20-2) had two wins over the past week to earn their way into the Section II semifinals. First up was Broadalbin-Perth, a team that had to win a game to get into the playoffs, then Stillwater, a team the Panthers defeated twice during the regular season.
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Hoosick Falls 61 – Broadalbin-Perth 22
At HFCS, 2/17. B-P never had a chance. After earning the right to face the Panthers in the Panther Den, the most fun the Patriots had with this game was the four hours on the bus ride. When they got off the bus and into the gym, they took a shellacking. Outscored 14-4 in the opening quarter, then held scoreless in the second quarter, the Patriots could not do anything about the Panthers dominance. Far before the second quarter came to an end, with the score at 40-4, the game was essentially over. When the game mercifully came to end, the Patriots were still down almost 40 points. Meg Flynn scored 17 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, Eliza Whitman scored 13 and Ally Burdick added 10 points.
Hoosick Falls 63 – Stillwater 26
At HFCS, 2/20. After defeating Stillwater twice earlier in the season by 30 and 37 points, this game appeared to an easy one. It can be difficult to beat a team three times a season, but this wasn’t to be one of those seasons for the Warriors. Stillwater hung tough with the Panther for the opening minutes, but Lizza Ryan, combined with the inside play of Kelly Pine and Megan Flynn, the Panthers soon overwhelmed the Warriors and HF began to pull away. By the end of the third quarter, the Panthers outpaced the Warriors, 50-18. Lizza Ryan had a great night, offensively and defensively, ending with 25 points, six rebounds and four steals. Meg Flynn had 14 points along with eight rebounds and Kelly Pine added 11 points and six rebounds.
The Panthers faced the (seeded number 4) Voorheesville Blackbirds on Wednesday, February 24, in the semifinals at Averill Park High School, in a game that was held after this newspaper went to press. Should the Panthers prevail in Averill Park, they will face either Glens Falls (seeded 2) or Hoosic Valley (seeded 3) in the Section II Class B championship game. The game will be held at Hudson Valley Community College beginning at 12:45 pm on Saturday, February 27. (Hoosic Valley split wins with HF in their regular season meetings).
The going gets tougher as the team advances through the brackets and the Ladies can always use more support. The girls are playing excellent, exciting ball, so make your plans to attend the games and cheer them on.[/private]