Story Created:
Mar 21, 2009 at 9:45 AM EST
Story Updated:
Mar 22, 2009 at 12:29 AM EST
TROY, N.Y. (WKTV) - Eighteen turnovers proved bigger than 25 wins for the Oneonta girls basketball team Saturday as the Lady Yellowjackets' perfect season ended in the state Class B championship with a 39-35 loss to Section I's Nanuet at Hudson Valley Community College.
With top-ranked Oneonta leading 35-34 with 15 seconds left, No. 2-ranked Nanuet took the lead on a baseline jumpshot by Christine Brezovsky. Lady Yellowjackets senior star Madie Harlem brought the ball up with plenty of time remaining, but was forced into traveling with 11 seconds left, turning the ball over. Oneonta fouled Lauren Kahn with 9.1 seconds remaining and got a break when she missed the front end of a 1-and-1, but a jump ball was called on the rebound, and the possession arrow kept it with Nanuet.
Fouled with 5.5 seconds left, K.C. Jentzen made both ends of a 1-and-1 to put the Lady Golden Knights up 38-35. Oneonta still had a chance to tie with its tremendous three-point shooting ability, but Kahn stole the Lady Yellowjackets' inbound pass to seal the victory. She was fouled with 1.8 seconds to go and made one more free throw to officially put it out of Oneonta's reach.
The loss denies Oneonta its third state title and ends its sterling season at 25-1. Nanuet improves to 20-6 and advances to the Federation Tournament.
Harlem led Oneonta with 14 points (six in the fourth quarter) while Wisse added 11 points and seven rebounds and Val Ridgway grabbed 11 rebounds. Jentzen led Nanuet with 14 points (six in the fourth quarter) and Kahn contributed 10 points. Harlem and Wisse were named to the All-Tournament Team and Jentzen was named Tournament Most Valuable Player.
The game started out very slowly for both offenses as both defenses were in top form. Oneonta only led 4-2 nearly five minutes into the game and Nanuet led 8-4 after the first quarter.
Nanuet opened a six-point lead in the second quarter at 17-11, but Oneonta got back within 17-16 at halftime. An early 6-0 run in the third quarter put the Lady Golden Knights up seven at 23-16, but the Lady Yellowjackets got back within 27-26 going into the fourth.
Nanuet once again opened a decent lead at 32-26, but once again Oneonta battled back and finally took the lead with 3:08 left when Wisse hit a three-pointer to make it 33-32. Nanuet re-took the lead on its ensuing possession on a tough rebound and put-back by Jentzen, then Oneonta went back up on a jumper by Harlem with 1:01 remaining. Unfortunately for the Lady Yellowjackets, it would be their last lead of the game.
Oneonta's defense held Nanuet to just 35.9% shooting (14/39) while Nanuet's defense held Oneonta to 38.9% (14/36). The big difference was turnovers as Nanuet's zone schemes led to 18 changes in possession while Oneonta only forced 10.
